[Editorial] The introduction of a traceability system for goat meat should be expedited

As demand for healthy food and the ban on dog meat have led to an increase in demand for goat meat, imports have surged. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute, goat meat imports increased by 5.2 times from 1,570 tons in 2015 to 8,143 tons last year. Meanwhile, domestic production increased by 1.8 times from 1,988 tons to 3,630 tons over the same period. Consequently, the self-sufficiency rate for goat meat fell from 77.3% in 2019 to 37.7% in 2023. As goat meat imports have surged, the number of domestic goat slaughters has been decreasing annually. It stood at 161,700 in 2020, dropped to 123,700 in 2022, and further decreased to 114,100 last year. Given this situation, restaurants that openly sell goat meat under the label 'farm direct' have been frequently caught selling it mixed with cheap Australian meat. This is because imported goat meat loses moisture during import and distribution, resulting in a significantly inferior taste compared to domestic goat meat. The ...