South Korea Eases Restrictions on Zilpaterol in Beef

Apr 01, 2014

South Korea officials said Tuesday that it will soon tolerate certain levels of the livestock feed zilpaterol in beef.

In October, South Korea announced that it planned to adjust its zero tolerance policy on zilpaterol-type products and agreed to phase out tariffs on U.S. beef products over the next 15 years.

The feed additive is produced by Intervet, a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Zilpaterol is added to feed cattle in the last three to six months before slaughter. Concerns were raised about the drug’s side effects on cattle, after a video surfaced in the United States, which showed cattle that had been fed the drug having trouble walking.

Beginning June, South Korea plans to allow 1 part per billion of traces of zilpaterol in beef muscle and 5 ppb in beef liver. Several countries in Asia and Europe have banned zilpaterol in imported beef products.

South Korea is the third largest importer of U.S. beef.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.