The resumption of the U.S. beef imports to the South Korean market will be delayed till early May at the earliest after Seoul verifying data on the latest mad cow case in the United States, South Korean government announced on Friday.

"U.S. beef imports were originally scheduled to resume in mid- April, but this will be pushed back to beginning of May at the earliest," said Kim Chang-seob, South Korean Agriculture Ministry's chief veterinary officer.

The decision was made after the U.S. informed South Korea a mad cow disease case was discovered earlier this week.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the diseased cow was ten years old and was already destroyed.

However, the South Korean government asked U.S. authorities to hold onto the cow's head so a more detailed analysis can be conducted later, including checking its ear tags and other information, Kim said.

Kim said it will take one or two weeks for local experts to review the data. He said Seoul could ask the U.S. for more information if the need arises.

South Korea imposed an import ban after a mad cow case was confirmed in December 2003. It had signed an agreement in January this year to open the market again toward the U.S. beef of cows less than 30-month old.

Kim also added the ministry will send inspectors to the U.S. to conduct on-site inspections starting on Sunday. They were scheduled to look at 33 meat processing facilities for about two weeks.

Since South Korea can import beef only after checking all these facilities, American beef imports will be delayed, added Kim.

In line with the bilateral agreement reached earlier this year, Seoul can impose a ban if the cow was born after April 1998.

Source: Xinhua