KUALA LUMPUR – South Korea has started exporting its first batch of halal-certified Hanwoo (premium Korean beef) to Malaysia since Thursday.
The republic’s Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Ministry (Mafra) said in a statement yesterday that the first batch of ten heads of cattle to be officially exported will be for menus featuring Hanwoo in local hotels and restaurants.
“A tasting event will be held to introduce Hanwoo to Malaysian consumers who may be unfamiliar with it. Local chefs who have tasted Hanwoo have highly praised its unique rich flavour and tender texture, expecting it to receive great attention in the Malaysian market,” the statement read.
With the pathway for the first-ever halal-certified Hanwoo exports now open, the number of countries eligible for Hanwoo export has expanded to a total of four, the statement read.
“Mafra’s plans to promote Hanwoo extensively, including selling Hanwoo in major department stores to coincide with the timing of local food exhibitions in Malaysia, allowing more consumers to experience Hanwoo,” it said.
South Korean Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Chung Hwang-keun had also personally met with Malaysian government officials, with the assurance that all Hanwoo meat has traceability management.
Mafra Deputy Food Policy Office and Coordination Minister Kim Jung-hee was quoted in the statement as saying that the successful export of Hanwoo to Malaysia, after seven years of negotiations on beef quarantine, will be a stepping stone towards the halal market.
She hoped that it will provide some assistance to Hanwoo farms that have been facing difficulties due to supply uncertainties.
As this is the product’s first entry into the Southeast Asian market, Kim said efforts will be made to enhance quality and safety management of Hanwoo products to expand further into other overseas markets.
South Korean news agency Yonhap, quoting Mafra, reported on Thursday that last month, the two nations signed the first contract to facilitate the export of South Korean beef to Malaysia that meets halal standards, after reaching an agreement on quarantine negotiations in March following seven years of talks.
The ministry reportedly said that starting with the first contract, the country is expected to export a total of 1,875 tonnes of Korean beef over the next three years, or about 2,500 heads of cattle per year, in which the volume is more than 13 times the 44 tonnes shipped overseas in 2022. – Bernama, July 1, 2023
