South Korea Lifts Ban on U.S. Beef

South Korea lifted a ban on U.S. beef imports Thursday, following weeks of protests in that country against such a move, the Associated Press reported.

Many South Koreans concerned about the possibility of mad cow disease had protested following an April deal between the two countries that would have placed few restrictions on beef shipments, AP said.

The lifting of the ban came after South Korea won extra safeguards on the shipments, limiting imports to beef from cattle younger than 30 months, believed less susceptible to the disease, AP reported.

U.S beef has been banned by South Korea — the third-largest overseas market for U.S. beef — for the past four and a half years, after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease was discovered in late 2003.

The lifting of the ban could boost business to U.S. firms that haul beef.