S. Korea halts imports from Nebraska beef plant

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea said today it would suspend imports of beef from a U.S. slaughterhouse after inspectors found three bone fragments in a shipment, a violation of an agreement related to mad cow disease.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said the shipment containing the bone fragments originated from Premium Protein Products LLC in Hastings, a beef processing plant in Nebraska.

The move came a week after Seoul suspended U.S. beef imports from a Kansas slaughterhouse after a tiny piece of bone was found in a shipment.

South Korea, which had banned U.S. beef for almost three years over mad cow disease fears, in September said it would allow shipments under strict regulations.