“It has been concluded that there are no problems with the safety of U.S. beef,” the source said. “So the ministry will announce the lifting of the ban next month.”

The government plans to negotiate over detailed import conditions with the U.S. within the year, and beef imports would resume during the first half of next year.

U.S. beef was banned here after a case of mad cow disease was reported in December 2003, and resumption was delayed when a fresh case was discovered in June this year.

The U.S. has been pushing for the resumption of imports, citing it as a pre-condition before negotiations for a free-trade agreement can get under way. Korea has said imports can start again once there is scientific proof that U.S. beef is safe.

Before the ban, the U.S. was the biggest source of imported beef in Korea, accounting for 68 percent of the beef imports or 199,443 tons in 2003.

The import ban sent prices skyrocketing by some 20 to 30 percent.

“The current high price of Korean beef is due to ban on U.S. beef,” a livestock official in the Agricultural Ministry said. “Resuming imports of U.S. beef with its competitive price and quality would bring down beef prices.”

The resumption will heat up competition between U.S. and Australian beef, which took the place of U.S. beef after the ban.

(englishnews@chosun.com )