An import of 655 live cows has been allowed to enter South Korea by the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) after they passed checks for symptoms of “blue tongue” disease (ovine catarrhal fever).


The animals were examined for the disease after it was revealed yesterday that eight Australian cattle from a previous import of 663 last month were infected with the disease. The eight infected cows will now be returned to Australia or destroyed.


As part of its efforts to protect domestic livestock from contracting the disease, the NVRQS revealed that all cows imported from Australia will be subject to a thorough quarantine check.