South Korea Revises Food Code

The experimental methods of three GMFs of MZIR098, GHB811, and MS11 are specified. One screening test for the genetically modified bean is stated. Six aquatic products are newly approved as food raw materials. Some ambiguous provisions are clarified.

As revealed by MFDS Notice 2020-55 ^[1] on June 26, 2020, South Korea revised the Food Code ^[2]. The main revisions are specified as below.

Introduction of Food Code

South Korea's Food Code regulates the standards of food materials, manufacturing, processing, usage, and storage, etc. It can be deemed as a collection of food specifications and standards, test methods, etc.

1. The Addition of GMF Test

As per Article 12-2 (1) of the Food Sanitation Act ^[3], if the food product contains genetically modified ingredients, it should be sold, imported, displayed, or transported with a GMF (Genetically Modified Foods) label. GMF label application requires that the food undergoes genomic analysis/genetic testing. The methods to test the modified gene are listed in Article 10 of Chapter 8 of the Food Code.

According to the notice, the primers and probes to test the GMFs of MZIR098 (genetically modified corn), GHB811 (genetically modified cotton), and MS11 (genetically modified canola) are added. The details are:

Event	Primers/ Probes	Genome Sequence	Concentration(Nm)
MZIR098 (147 bp)	FE5524	5'-CGA ACG ATC TCA GAC ACC AAA C-3.'	/
MZIR098 (147 bp)	FE5525	5'-GAC TCC CTT AAT TCT CCG CTC AA-3.'	/
MZIR098 (73 bp)	MZIR098 forward	5'-ATC TCA GAC ACC AAA CCG AGA TC-3.'	/
	MZIR098 reverse	5'-ACA CCG TTA GGC TAG TGC CAG T-3.'	/
	MZIR098 probe	5'-FAM-CAA GTG ACA GCG AAC GGA GCT GGT TT-BHQ1-3’	/
GHB811 (144 bp)	PRIM0638	5'-CGA ATA GTT CCA TCA ATT TTA TCA TTT ATG-3.'	400
	PRIM1870	5'-CGC TTT AAC GTC CCT CAG ATT T-3.'	400
	TM2207	5'-FAM-AAG CCT TGA AAC AGA ACA-MGB-3’	200
MS11 (124 bp)	SHA086	5'-CAA GAT GGG AAT TAA CAT CTA CAA ATT G-3’	400
	MDB371	5'-GAA ATC CAT GTA AAG CAG CAG GG-3’	400
	TM280	5'-FAM-CGA CCA TGT ACA TCC TAC CA-MGB-3.'	200

The qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for genetically modified corn, cotton, and canola are applicable for MZIR098, GHB811, and MS11.

Additionally, the screening test method of genetically modified beans is specified individually from the general screening test.

2. The Revision of Food Raw Material List

In accordance with the domestic and foreign evidence that these foods are edible and the certified food safety information, the following six fish products are approved as Food Raw Materials:

No.	Common Name	Scientific Name
A나072350	Mud shrimp	Argis lar
A나013450	Deep conch (Black conch)	Baccinum kushiroensis
A나061450	Osagawai conch (Yellow conch)	Baccinum osagawai
A나023750	Bighead shrimp (Razor mud shrimp)	Solenocera melantho De man
A나091490	Atlantic halibut	Hippoglossus hippoglossus
A나091720	Beaked redfish	Sebastes mentella Travin

3. Updating of the Ambiguous Provisions

Certain specs related to food materials, such as the incorrect scientific name, duplicated items, etc. are modified. The test methods are modified to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the test results, such as deleting the unnecessary steps of the experiment and improving the technique to facilitate the removal of fat and protein.