[Updated] Imported Foods Subject to Inspection Order in South Korea

To enhance the safety of imported food and reinforce the responsibility of importers, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) may order an importer to undergo inspection by a designated inspection agency if the imported food falls under any of the following categories, as outlined in Article 22 of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control. Importers may only proceed with the import declaration after passing the inspection.

Imported food products containing hazardous substances as determined by the MFDS
Imported food products that repeatedly show non-compliance as a result of import inspection
Other imported foods that pose a risk of harm domestically or internationally

An inspection order typically remains in effect for a specified duration. Before the inspection order period ends, the MFDS will review and analyze the inspection results. Based on the occurrence of nonconformities, the MFDS may lift, partially lift, or redesignate the inspection order. More details about compliance with inspection orders can be referenced in the Regulations on Inspection Orders for Imported Foods.

In this article, ChemLinked updates the current status of imported foods subject to inspection orders. Stakeholders are advised to pay close attention to inspection orders to ensure compliance during inspections.

Updates on April 9, 2025

The MFDS announced the redesignation of certain imported foods to the inspection order due to repeated occurrences of non-compliance. The details are highlighted in red.

Period	Imported Foods	Exporting Country	Inspection Items
2016.02.29 ~ 2026.02.28	Natural spice (powder products)	India	Metallic foreign bodies
2018.10.22 ~ 2025.10.21	Berry (blueberry, lingonberry, bilberry), and jam and processed fruit products manufactured with the above berries	Poland, France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Austria, Sweden	Radioactivity (Iodine, Cesium)
2019.04.23 ~ 2026.04.22	Sarcodon aspratus mushroom	Russia, Ukraine	Radioactivity (Iodine, Cesium)
2020.06.25 ~ 2025.06.24	Basil (leaf)	Thailand	Pesticides (Dimetomorph)
2020.10.22 ~ 2025.10.21	Powder natural spice	China (2 manufacturers)	Metallic foreign bodies
2021.03.31 ~ 2026.03.30	Tuna (fishery products to be eaten raw)	Japan (exporting country)	Salmonella
2021.10.22 ~ 2025.10.21	Snack foods (limited to sealed products, except for fermented products or products containing lactic acid bacteria)	India (4 manufacturers)	Bacteria number
2022.03.31 ~ 2026.03.30	Other Salt	Pakistan	Insoluble powder
2022.06.27 ~ 2025.06.26	Frozen confectioneries	Thailand (2 manufacturers)	Coliform
2022.09.30 ~ 2025.09.29	Health Functional Food using Probiotics as functional ingredients	U.S., Canada (2 manufacturers)	Probiotics number
2022.12.24 ~ 2025.12.23	Dried wood ears (Fruiting body)	China	Pesticide (Carbendazim)
2023.03.31 ~ 2026.03.30	Chilli peppers (fruits)	Vietnam	Pesticides (Diniconazole, Tolfenpyrad, Tricyclazole, Permetrin, Dimethoate, Isoprothiolane, Metominostrobin, Monocrotophos)
2023.06.30 ~ 2025.6.29	Solid tea	China	Pesticides (Pyridaben, Dinotefuran, Othophenylphenol, Prochloraz)
2023.09.27 ~ 2025.09.26	Snack foods (limited to foods processed with oil treatement)	Indonesia (3 manufacturers)	Acid value
2024.03.29 ~ 2026.03.28	Processed vegetables (unsterilized product)	China (2 manufacturers)	Coliform
2024.06.28 ~ 2025.6.27	Bread	China (7 manufacturers)	Preservatives
2024.09.30 ~ 2025.09.29.	Pickles (excluding products that have been sealed and subjected to heat sterilization or pasteurization)	Vietnam (7 manufacturers)	Tar colorants
2024.12.30 ～ 2025.12.29	Frozen yellow croaker	China	Ethoxyquin
2025.3.31 ~ 2026.3.30	Reishi Mushroom	China	Pesticides (Malathion, Cypermethrin, Cyhalothrin, Acetamiprid, Acetochlor, Imidacloprid, Iprodione, Carbendazim, Chlorfenapyr, Chlorpyrifos, Triazophos, Trifloxystrobin, Fenpropathrin, Phorate, Prochloraz)

Data source