New Ban in South Korea: 2 Ingredients Painful with Capillusine and Hat Pillarine Banned, Restrictions on Import of Foreign Food!

On August 23, 2024, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued an announcement No. 2024-392. The announcement updates the Guidelines for Designating and Lifting the Ban on the Import of Raw Material Ingredients of Domestic and Overseas Food Products, and adds katong and hyphenine as raw material ingredients of overseas food products that are prohibited to be imported into Korea.

Katong, derived from the leaves of "Mitragyna speciosa," a plant endemic to Southeast Asia, is rich in a variety of bioactive compounds, including components such as capillarine, which have opioid-like effects on the human body. When ingested in moderation, catarrhal pain may trigger stimulatory effects similar to caffeine; On the other hand, when ingested in excess, it may induce a sedative effect similar to that of opioids. Due to the potential health risks and addictions associated with the abuse of ketamine, it has been classified as a controlled substance in some countries, and its use in the medical and recreational fields is controversial. As a key bioactive ingredient in the leaves of kantong, capilline also has opioid effects, which may produce analgesic and sedative effects. At present, the mechanism of action and its potential medical value are still under in-depth study. Similar to catarrh, the overuse or abuse of capilline may also pose a health risk.

See the table below for details.