On April 2018, KFDA announced the 2018 imported food management plan, which will strengthen the supervision of imported foods during customs clearance and circulation. The regulatory content includes the supervision of imported food circulation, the supervision of new imported foods, and consumer orientated services.
In terms of supervision of the circulation of imported food, the first step of the plan relies on conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis to guide regulatory actions going forward. This initial step will use surveys, questionnaires and other methods. Another major focus is prioritization of foods with a history of compliance violations. Samples of 6310 batches were collected in 2017, and 6400 batches will be sampled in 2018. Inspections will also be conducted on companies which experienced irregularities such as false declarations, and special rectifications will be carried out on the sale and storage of imported food products. In 2017, 574 companies were inspected, and 701 companies were inspected in 2018.
It is also planned to expand the variety of foods subject to traceability requirements, increase traceability requirements for baby foods, health functional foods, formula milk foods, maternal foods, special foods for breast-feeding women, foods for special medical purposes, weight-loss products etc.
For newly imported foods, a major phase of the 2018 food inspection plan will involve the purchase of imported health foods through overseas websites, etc., and test for banned substances. Unqualified products will be banned from circulation in the country. In 2017, 1002 batches of food were inspected and 1,300 batches are scheduled to be inspected in 2018 years.
Another major facet of the 2018 plan is the strengthening of the inspection of food and agricultural products imported from China through parcel delivery services. 1,166 products were inspected in 2017 years and 1,500 products will be inspected in 2018.
In terms of development of consumer orientated service, it is planned to require industry to conduct food safety and health education and to encourage consumers to consult relevant issues on the KFDA portal.
We provide full-scale global food market entry services (including product registration, ingredient review, regulatory consultation, customized training, market research, branding strategy). Please contact us to discuss how we can help you by 
