Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/18/11

The South Korean government on Friday said it will nearly double the amount of tariff-free pork allowed to 110,000 metric tons, up from 60,000 metric tons in the first half of the year, in response to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that has crippled domestic production, according to media reports.

Vice Finance Minister Yim Jong-yong was quoted by Reuters and Dow Jones as saying imports above 110,000 metric tons would be charged the current tariff of 25 percent.

The government was also considering extending the duration of the measure to the second half of this year, Yim said during a weekly meeting of officials, according to Reuters.

The move is the second in the past several weeks to encourage pork imports. Late last month, the government removed a 25 percent tariff on imported pork until the end of June.

More than 3.5 million pigs, cattle, goat and deer have been culled. The roughly 3 million pigs killed so far account for about one-third of the country's herd, according to The Korea Times.

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