Agriculture ministry sets new rules for Hanwoo industry support

The agriculture ministry had set detailed rules to support a carbon-neutral transition in the Hanwoo industry, including new restrictions on corporate entry into cattle production. The regulation implements a new law intended to promote the industry's sound development and stabilize farm management.

Companies above a certain size entering Hanwoo production must comply with livestock, manure-management and animal-disease-prevention laws. They must prepare low-carbon farming and forage-crop production plans and a cooperation plan assessing effects on existing farmers and regional economies and setting out coexistence measures.

The calf-production stabilization program will cover only Hanwoo calves born in Korea to Hanwoo cows. The rules also set eligibility for ministerial appointees to the Hanwoo Industry Development Council, which will deliberate on medium- and long-term supply policies and comprehensive industry-development and support plans. Eligible candidates include employees recommended by livestock-environment management, consumer and livestock registration or testing organizations, as well as people with at least 10 years of Hanwoo industry experience. The regulation took effect Aug. 21, the date of its promulgation.

"Hanwoo is third after pork and rice in production value, and it has the greatest number of farms in the livestock sector, so its impact on the rural economy is substantial," Ahn Yong-deok, the agriculture ministry's livestock policy director, said.

He added, "Taking the enactment of the Hanwoo industry support law as an opportunity, we will upgrade the system for Hanwoo industry development and support to further strengthen competitiveness, and continue to identify and implement support measures for farm management stability."