The country banned Korean imports in 2000 due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and hog cholera. JoongAng Daily reports that the resumption of trade is expected to help local farmers increase the production and sales.

The sale to Japan of pork from Jeju Island off Korea’s southern coast will resume on 28 September, while two other local food companies that were officially granted the right to export to Japan will start next month.

"The decision to allow pork shipments was effectively reached in August at a bilateral quarantine and sanitation meeting," a ministry official told Yonhap. "The resumption of exports will help the local hog industry and stabilize many farmers suffering from cheap imports affected by the Korea-EU free trade agreements."

Total pork exports were $339.8 million a decade ago, but tumbled to $22.2 million after the Japanese ban was imposed in 2002. Last year total volume dropped again, to $10.4 million.

Now the government is hoping to help pork exports recover to $500 million by the year 2014. Part of the plan involves declaring more "hog cholera-free regions" and funding more research and development to come up with ways to export pork strategically.

Further Reading

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Find out more information on FMD and Hog Cholera by clicking here.