South Korea Releases Partial Amendments to the 'Regulations on Declaration and Inspection of Imported Foods, etc.'

On June 13, 2024, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) officially issued Official Notice No. 2024-26, making necessary revisions to the existing "Regulations on Declaration and Inspection of Imported Foods, etc."

The key revisions are as follows:

1. The scope of planned imported raw materials has been appropriately expanded to cover raw materials used for producing the company's own products as well as raw materials for foreign exchange acquisition. Applicants need to submit relevant test and inspection reports when submitting applications to ensure the quality and safety of the raw materials.

2. For foods such as mung beans, millet, red beans, persimmons, burdock, and pumpkins imported from China, the MFDS will implement more stringent detailed inspections and random sampling inspections. This aims to further ensure the quality and safety of these imported foods and protect consumer health rights.

3. In accordance with the implementation requirements of the consumption period labeling system, the relevant wording in the regulations has been modified to better suit the actual operational needs.

4. To enhance the detection capability for pesticide residues in imported foods, this revision has increased the number of pesticide inspection items in the initial detailed inspection from the original 113 to 128. This will help more comprehensively detect and monitor the pesticide residues in imported foods, ensuring food safety.

The release of these revisions aims to further strengthen the supervision of imported foods and ensure the safety and stability of the food market. Food companies should closely follow these new regulations and be prepared accordingly to ensure their business compliance. As consumers, we should also remain vigilant and choose safe and reliable imported foods. Let's work together to safeguard the food safety of South Korea.