Korea Major Food Regulatory Updates in 2017

Introduction

This article deals with the main food regulatory updates in the Republic of Korea in year 2017 and it is divided in three parts and a brief conclusion. The first part is about main food laws revised in 2017; the second one is about food labeling and the third one covers import-export provisions.

The main revisions in 2017 include the introduction of sodium content comparison system, heightened nitrogen residue requirements and increased supervision on imported foods.

1. Main Food Safety Laws Amended in 2017

Main Food Safety regulations revised in 2017 are presented in the following table:

“Food Sanitation Act and its Implementation Order and Rules”

Republic of Korea's Food Sanitation Act and its implementation order and rules constitute the most basic food laws in Korea, in analogous way to China's "Food Safety Law" and its implementation rules. The law consists of 13 chapters covering various aspects like general rules for food, food additives, food contact materials and packaging, labeling, Food Code, self-inspections, management, penalties and other provisions.

Food Sanitation Act:
-Sodium content comparison and identification system is put into practice;

-Penalties are clarified.

Implementation Rules:

-Expanded scope of HACCP certification, adding biscuits, sweets, frozen drinks, bread, chocolate and other children favorite food;

-Expanded scope of mandatory nutrition labeling to include ready meals and soups, oatmeal and processed cocoa products;

- Strengthened punishment for producers that exceed liquid nitrogen residue in food;

-Increased penalties for producers that in order to increase food weight and price add wax, ice, agar, lead and other foreign matter to food adulterating it.

“Revision of Food Code”

Republic of Korea's Food Code provides general standards for food as well as product standards for most types of food, pesticide and veterinary medicine residues, etc. After December 2016 revision, all standards included in "Animal Products Code" were incorporated into the Food Code.

-Amended the errors caused by 2016 amendments expanding the use of raw food materials and renewing or modifying the relevant standards on pesticides and veterinary medicine residues;

-The use of food raw materials standards and catalogues were modified to introduce raw material numbers;

-Clearer definition of food formulations;

-Clostridium Perfringens in eggs and Staphylococcus Aureus in preserved meats are now regulated according to qualitative standards;

-Room temperature beverages are allowed to be sold frozen and standards on preservation and circulation of frozen foods are modified;

-Added new categories food categories fish oil and others.

“Food Additives Code”

South Korea's Food Additives Code provides standards for the production of food additives, their use, their storage and distribution, specifications and test methods.

-Added standards and specifications for black carrot extract and other five food additives;

-Revised composition specification of Protease, red algae extract, powdered vitamin A and other 20 food additives;

-Revised product standards for sodium metabisulfite, KI and other 158 food additives;

-Expanded Scope for some additives, allowing sodium saccharin in cakes, seasonings, etc., and zinc sulfate in other alcoholic drinks;

-Strengthened nitrogen standards, clearly stipulating that the final product can’t contain liquid nitrogen.

“Health/Functional Foods Code”

Health/Functional Foods Code covers common standards and specifications for health/ functional foods and for various types of nutrients and functional ingredients.

-When health food raw ingredients are not mentioned in national regulations, standards set by Codex Alimentarius and other international bodies shall be followed;

-Added health food raw ingredients;

-Modified daily nutrient intake;

-Modified vitamin D and chromium minimum content.

2. Food labeling provisions revised in 2017

Main Food labeling provisions revised in 2017 are presented in the following table:

Name

Main Revised Contents

"Sodium content comparison identification standards and methods"

-Sets easily identifiable Sodium Content labeling items and methods as well as Standard logo.

“Labeling standards for food and other products”

-Label requires production date and shelf life in English and examples of abbreviations;

-Amended alcohol beverage labeling rules;

-Flaxseed product need to show safety notice;

-Modified identification of composite ingredients, it is now possible to choose between ingredient name or food category;

-Clear indication of the type of food irradiation used.

To be implemented in 1 January 2020

3. Food import-export provisions revised in 2017

Main Food import-export provisions revised in 2017 are presented in the following table:

Name

Main Revised Contents

“Implementation Rules of Special Law on Imported Food Safety Management” and related supporting documents

-Increased administrative sanctions: a single violation in the fields of corruption of civil servants and inspection agencies, false or improper method of import declaration and sophistication of inspection results will result in a cancelled company registration;

-Prescribed on-site inspection hygiene standards,
detailed standards for various kinds of hygiene items and inspection methods. Also introduced on-site inspection assessment standard and measures to be taken according to results;

-Loosened Registration requirements;

-Overseas manufacturing companies that register premium import companies can be exempted from on-site inspection and have priority registration when able to submit audit results within one year;

-Premium import companies and overseas manufacturing companies applying for registration renewal will get priority registration if the government of exporting country confirms compliance with the registration criteria.

"Countries (regions) allowed to export animal products to Republic of Korea and Hygiene requirements"

-Added terms of export hygiene certificate for products passing through countries not included in the list;

-Clearly defined the deadline for the importation of egg products.

"Inspection of imported food and other relevant provisions"

-Products introduced in the Country as samples for exhibitions and similar activities will be exempt from import declaration;

-Clearer definition of random sampling inspection items and rationalization of pesticide types list (from 232 types to 212);

-Kitchen appliances or containers re-imported for after-sales maintenance can be exempt from inspection when identifiable.

Future Prospects

The Republic of Korea is continuously updating its food safety regulations and planning its next steps to the point that it already designed the upcoming food policies for year 2018, as we wrote in a recent article. The attention of policymakers seems directed at regulating health food, packaging and labeling, residues etc. and it’s very receptive towards what goes on beyond its borders and at the same time willing to adhere to international standards.