Ottawa, Ont. – The federal government has announced that South Korea has re-opened beef and veal trade with Canada.

The government and the beef industry have been actively seeking re-entry into South Korea since it closed the market due to the discovery of BSE in Canada in May 2003. Prior to that, South Korea was Canada’s fourth-largest export market, selling approximately 17,300 tonnes of beef worth $60 million.

According to Brad Wildeman, chairman of Canada Beef Inc., exports to South Korea could reach 6,500 tonnes worth about $30 million by 2015, with the potential to grow to 14,000 tonnes worth $65 million by 2020.