Seoul, South Korea ? South Korea on Friday approved resuming imports of U.S. beef after repeated delays in implementing an earlier decision to lift a 2003 ban imposed because of mad cow fears.

South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry said 36 U.S. slaughterhouses designated to handle meat for export to South Korea met required safety measures, clearing the last hurdle to the resumption of imports. The country had previously been the third-largest market for U.S. beef.

South Korea will notify the slaughterhouses of the approval Monday, and the beef can start to be sold in the South Korean market some 25 days later, the ministry said in a statement.