SKorea resuming U.S. beef imports despite protests sparked by mad cow fears

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea plans to resume imports of U.S. beef despite fears of mad cow disease that have led to large street protests.

Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun says the government is easing quarantine regulations on U.S. beef in accordance with an April 18 agreement with Washington.

The new rules will take effect in a few days after they are published in a government journal.

Thursday's announcement was the final administrative step necessary to resume U.S. beef imports.

It has been delayed several times in recent weeks amid anti-government protests calling for scrapping the deal.

© The Canadian Press, 2008