Korea MFDS to Revise Foods Labeling Standard

On 26 Nov 2015, Korea MFDS invited public comments on the draft of the revised food labeling standard. The consultation will end on 16 Dec. It mainly includes the following key amendments:

OEM Production

If a Korean food trader entrusts an overseas food manufacturer to produce foods and food additives intended for the Korean market, the trademark of the Korean trader should be printed on the outer-packaging of the OEM products and the term OEM food should be marked in brackets after country of origin labeling on the primary display panel. The font size of the OEM food mark should be greater than 14. OEM products including agricultural, forestry, aquatic and alcoholic products are free from these requirements. 

Canned and bottled foods

Exemption from specific labelling requirements is granted to canned and bottled foods which only require labelling of volume.

Alcoholic products 

The labeling of allergens is optional for alcohol and distilled liquor including arrack, whisky, brandy, common distilled liquor and spirits.

Compound ingredients

The name and type of compound ingredients in foods should be labeled. The names of the first five ingredients should be displayed on the label in descending order of weight (excluding water). The names of the rest of the ingredients should be marked in the OR code or in the instruction.

Other requirements

In order to further guarantee the consumers’ right to know, in cases where the name of the raw material is the same as (or part) the product’s name or the terms extract or concentrate are used it is required to label the name and content of the raw material on the primary displaying panel with a font size greater than 14.