South Korea effectively suspended U.S. beef imports in early August when it halted the inspections over mad cow concerns after a shipment was found to contain banned parts. Without such inspections, the beef cannot be brought to market.

The ministry said in a statement that it decided to restart the checks following U.S. inspections of four meat-processing facilities where shipments containing the banned parts originated.

South Korea shut its doors to American beef in December 2003 after mad cow disease -- or bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- was found in cattle in the U.S. It partially reopened its market last year but agreed to accept only boneless meat from cattle under 30 months old, thought to be less at risk of carrying the illness.

Source: Business Week