South Korea and the United States agreed that alleviating safety concerns is the key to Seoul's lifting of a ban on US imports, a government official was quoted as saying Friday.

South Korea imposed the ban in December 2003 following the discovery of the first US case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy,commonly known as mad cow disease. Experts from the two countries held their second meeting here Tuesday through Thursday to address the issue.

The United States uses animal-protein-based feed for its chicken and pigs, although such feed is not officially given to cattle, a South Korean official said.

He said a third meeting of experts will be held in early June, while consumer group representatives will visit US farms, feed factories and butchering and processing sites in May.

He said that once experts agreed it was safe to import US beef,talks on resuming imports will begin.

The official said that even if such talks began, it might take some time before imports take place.

"If there is scientific backing to ensure that US beef is safe,imports can begin more quickly. Otherwise, it could take some time," he said.

Source: Xinhua