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*This article was originally published on May 8, 2023, and was updated on September 15 and September 26, 2023. The updated contents are marked in red below.
Updates on September 15: New policy about electronic sanitary certification of livestock products are added.
Updates on September 26: New policy about digital inspection for imported foods is implemented.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) held its second positive administrative committee1 on May 2, 2023, deliberating and resolving several issues of great concern, including expanding the scope of fast clearance for imported foods and streamlining the management of disposable utensils, such as disposable cups and spoons.
Firstly, the fast customs clearance for planned imports will be expanded.
Background information The fast customs clearance for planned imports is a system that allows imported food products whose safety has been confirmed as safe to be cleared quickly within 5 minutes, if the annual planned import volume is approved in advance. The fast customs clearance was limited to foods imported by good importers registered under the Imported Food Act2. The normal customs clearance usually takes 2 days. |
MFDS decided to expand the scope of fast customs clearance to the internationally widely used flavorings (which belong to food additives) that have no history of import non-conformity, and the semi-finished products including raw sugar, crude oil, crude liquor, and sea salt, which need to be produced in South Korea as final products of sugar, edible oil, liquor, and salt through reprocessing. This movement is expected to help smooth the supply of raw materials and reduce logistics costs.
Additionally, MFDS planned to improve the inspection of six types of disposable utensils (disposable cups, spoons, chopsticks, forks, knives, and straws). If these disposable utensils are made in the same material and are from the same manufacturer but only differ in shape, they only need go through the inspections once. For example, when Company A imports plastic spoons and forks made of the same material by the same manufacturer, the forks can be imported without a separate inspection if the inspection result for the spoons is appropriate. This measure will help ease the economic burden on business entities by reducing inspection costs.
Updates on September 15, 2023: South Korea to allow the electronic sanitary certification of livestock products imported from EU
South Korea and the European Union (EU) signed an agreement for cooperation in the electronic sanitary certification of livestock products on September 13, 2023 at Brussels, Belgium, where the EU headquarters is located.
Livestock products imported from the EU account for approximately 28% of South Korea's total imported livestock products. With the agreement between the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and two EU agencies, the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and the Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE), cooperation for the introduction of electronic sanitary certification between the two regions has been formalized. It is planned that electronic sanitary certification will be applied in the customs inspection process for livestock products imported from the EU's 27 member countries as early as the first half of 2025.
The key points of the agreement include the recognition of the importance of electronic sanitary certification and harmonized cooperation on certification documents, as well as the development and implementation schedule of the electronic sanitary certification system.
MFDS has been collaborating with the EU to transition to the electronic exchange of livestock product sanitary certificates since December 2021. This collaboration has included the exchange of common formats (drafts) for certificates, the establishment of administrative agreements (drafts), and the organization of working-level meetings. The aim of this agreement is to utilize digital technology in import inspections and improve the inspection system.
The signing of this agreement marks a significant step toward the modernization of the inspection system through the use of digital technology in import inspections of livestock products. It is expected to enhance food safety and facilitate trade between South Korea and the EU.
The South Korean government has already applied electronic sanitary certification to livestock products imported from Australia, Chile, and Thailand. In addition to the agreement with the EU, South Korea has also signed agreements on electronic sanitary certification cooperation with Brazil and New Zealand earlier this year and is in the process of establishing computer systems for these partnerships.
Updates on September 26, 2023: South Korea Implements the digital inspection for imported foods
As the provisions related to digital inspection on imported foods are officially included to the Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act and became effective on September 14, 2023, the foods with low risks can undergo a digital inspection.
The imported foods subject to a digital inspection shall meet the below criteria:
Repeatedly imported foods which are subject to documentary inspection;
No additional on-site, thorough, or random sampling inspections required;
Deemed suitable based on electronic review results.
The digital inspection system can automatically inspect the documents and issue a certification of import declaration confirmation if the products comply with Korean laws. The review of import declaration documents is expected to be realized within 5 minutes anytime without working hour limitations.
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