*Note: This article was published on June 12, 2023, and has been updated on July 3, September 27, November 29, December 22, 2023, March 20, 2024, March 27, 2024, April 19, 2024, July 8, 2024, August 9, 2024, and August 30, individually, following the latest regulation information. The revised contents are marked in red below.
As released by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on June 12, 2023, nine ingredients are designated as prohibited ingredients in foods1. Foods cannot be imported to South Korea via general trade or overseas online platforms if the foods contain any of the nine ingredients following the newly revised Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act2.
The details are as below:
No. | Ingredient/Raw Material Name |
1 | Amphetamine |
2 | Dexoxy-D2PM |
3 | Ephedrine |
4 | Fenfluramine |
5 | Lorcaserin |
6 | Phenibut |
7 | Zopiclone |
8 | Cannabis specified under the Article 2 (4) of Narcotics Control Act3 |
9 | Poppy specified under the Article 2 (2) a, b, d, e, and f of Narcotics Control Act3 |
The salts, isomers, and salts of isomers of the above ingredients and raw materials are also forbidden.
Updates on July 3, 2023
MFDS published a notification on July 3, 2023, to further crack down on food raw materials and ingredients that cannot be imported to South Korea via CBEC.
The designated raw materials and ingredients include 139 medicinal ingredients and herbal medicines, such as melatonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and myrrh, and 134 kinds of raw materials and ingredients that cannot be used in food. The complete list of 273 prohibited raw materials and ingredients is at the end of this article.
Until now, 282 raw materials and ingredients are designated as food raw materials and ingredients that cannot be imported to South Korea via overseas online platforms.
Food raw materials and ingredients prohibited by MFDS include:
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Updates on September 27, 2023
One substance is newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification No. 2023-470):
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Updates on November 29, 2023
One substance is newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification No. 2023-556):
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Updates on December 22, 2023
Two substances are newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification No. 2023-582):
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Updates on March 20, 2024
One substance is newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification No. 2024-133):
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Updates on March 27, 2024
One substance is newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification):
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Updates on April 19, 2024
Two substances are newly prohibited from entering South Korea, while two previously prohibited ingredients are canceled by MFDS (MFDS Notification).
Ingredients newly designated as prohibited:
Ingredients removed from negative list:
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Updates on July 8, 2024
One substance is newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification):
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Updates on August 9, 2024
One substance is newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification):
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Updates on August 30, 2024
Two substances are newly prohibited from entering into South Korea by MFDS (MFDS Notification):
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ChemLinked Interpretation
The market size of “foods purchased via overseas direct online shopping channels (해외직구식품)” continues to increase for the lower price and convenience. As products purchased directly by the consumers are deemed as private goods, these products are not subject to general custom clearance inspection, making it difficult to be regulated by the food standards and specifications under Food Sanitation Act4 as the generally imported foods. However, foreign foods may contain materials that harm humans and should be prohibited from importation.
Therefore, MFDS modified the Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act on June 9, 20235, specifying the provisions to designate prohibited ingredients in “foods purchased via overseas direct online shopping channels”.
According to the Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act2, foods with seven kinds of ingredients, including narcotics, drug’s effective ingredients, non-compliance food ingredients or raw materials, non-noticed functional ingredients, internationally reported ingredients with hazard risks, ingredients derived from ruminants from BSE countries, and other ingredients deemed as potentially harmful by MFDS, are prohibited from being imported to South Korea.
The above-mentioned prohibited ingredient list is established per the revised Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act2. This revision may affect the global online platforms targeting South Korean consumers and online purchase agencies for imported foods. For global platforms based outside of South Korea, although selling foods with prohibited ingredients won't lead to any administrative penalties, the product delivered to South Korea will be blocked by Customs, resulting in customer’s loss. Besides, online purchase agencies for imported foods, which help customers purchase items after receiving orders online, will also be affected. The agencies are located in South Korea and under the charge of MFDS. If they helped buy foods with prohibited ingredients, they would be subject to a suspension of business for up to 15 days.
Compliance and internal review are necessary for business entities conducting online business targeting Korean consumers.