The government is expected to decide how far it will open Korea's market to U.S. beef rib imports as early as Wednesday.

The Ministry of Agriculture is scheduled to hold discussions Wednesday on cattle quarantine measures and revised U.S. beef hygiene standards.

During this meeting, quarantine experts, cattle farmers and consumer representatives will address the extent of market opening and pass on their opinions to the government.

It is said that a measure allowing the import of ribs and boned beef, but restricting the age of cattle to under 30 months old, is likely to come out of the talks.

An official from the government said that because the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has given U.S. beef “controlled risk” status for mad cow disease, there should be no restrictions on beef imports other than on parts susceptible to the disease. However, the official added that in reality, it is difficult to accept all imports from the U.S. under these conditions.

Once the government comes to a conclusion on the issue, Korea and the U.S. will hold technical talks on hygiene standards in their "evaluations of import dangers."

[Photo : ]