SOUTH KOREA – Food Regulations Update

Thanks to Lorraine LI and Chemlinked for this amazing and useful recap about South Korea food regulation updates. Hope to keep up the cooperation.

Food Regulation Updates

South Korea Amends the MRLs of Pesticides (August 4, 2020)

MFDS disclosed the revised Food Code on August 4, 2020. The requirements on the MRLs of iminoctadine and other 116 pesticides were modified to align with the Pesticide Management Act.

South Korea Designates New Imported Food Subject to Inspection (August 13, 2020)

On August 13, 2020, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) released a notice to designate the “Fish oil product made from Antarctic krill (Euphausia Superba)” as imported food subject to an inspection order. The importers of these fish oil products shall submit an inspection report to MFDS to undergo the inspection before importation. This inspection will last for one year from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021.

South Korea to Revise the Registration and Management Standard of Good Importer and Good Foreign Food Facility (August 25, 2020)

MFDS released an exposure draft of the Registration and Management Standard of Good Importer and Good Foreign Food Facility for public opinion on August 25. This draft is to optimize the regulation of on-site inspection. The on-site inspection could be delayed when the foreign food facility hasn’t been producing foods for over one year or when the facility location’s environment is not proper for on-site inspect due to the pandemic, terrorism, etc. Stakeholders can send suggestions to MFDS prior to September 14.

South Korea Amends the Standards of Inspecting the MRLs in Meat (August 26, 2020)

On August 26, 2020, MFDS unveiled the revised the Standards of Inspecting the MRLs in Meat Products. It enhanced the management of MRLs remained in meat. The new standard prohibits shipping risk livestock products before the final inspection result is obtained. The possible areas for collecting samples are expanded from “kidney” to “kidney or muscle.” These amendments will come into force from September 30, 2020.

South Korea Cracks Down on Online Sales of Formulas that use False Advertising (ChemLinked News) (August 27, 2020)

Since January 1, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) had been inspecting 1,099 infant formula sold online and released the inspection result on August 27, 2020. In the MFDS notification, 479 issues were identified to be in violation of food advertising requirements. The relevant webpages will be blocked, and the business entities in violation would be punished with administrative penalties.

South Korea to End the Grace Period for Evaluation the Packaging Materials Recyclability Grade  (ChemLinked Article) (August 28, 2020)

On December 25, 2019, South Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) enacted the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources and required enterprises to evaluate the packaging material grade. The grace period is set to end on September 24, 2020.