South Korea to Impose Tariff Quotas on Pork Imports amid Raging Foot-And-Mouth Disease

South Korea will impose a tariff quota on imported pork to cope with the unstable supply caused by the country's ongoing epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said January 25, 2011.

The ministry said the current tariff of 25 percent on pork used as a raw material for meat processed products will be lowered to zero percent starting this month. A total of 60,000 tons of pork will be subject to the tariff reduction.

The tariff quota allows the government to cut tariff on the import of up to 40 percent in order to stabilize prices or to help certain industries.

The measure will remain effective until the end of June. The ministry said that it will consider extending the cut further depending on market conditions after the target month.

The move is aimed at stabilizing prices of pork as the worst- ever outbreak of FMD has forced South Korea to cull more than 2.5 million livestock, mostly cattle and pigs.