Notifications for Republic of Korea (388 notifications)

Amendment of Quarantine Pest List The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has amended the quarantine pest list which is based on the result of a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) and in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 and 6 of the Ministerial Ordinance of the Plant Protection Act. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency notified to add 5 quarantine pest species as follows: No.                   Scientific name                            Group                             Category 1                  Ascochyta fabae                             Fungus                        Controlled Pest 2              Cacao swollen shoot virus                   Virus                          Controlled Pest 3              Capsicum chlorosis virus                     Virus                          Controlled Pest 4               Strawberry crinkle virus                      Virus                          Controlled Pest 5              Oenanthe pimpinelloides                    Weed                          Controlled Pest

This requirement has been drafted to minimize the risk of contagious animal disease such as rabies from imported captive or wild mammals, the orders of Canivora, Chiroptera and Rodentia. This requirement set out specific rules for born and raised conditions, notification of export facilities and certification of rabies free status or rabies vaccination for imported captive or wild mammals. The proposed import measure for rabies vaccination is considered to be trade facilitatory, as Korea will continue to import captive or wild mammals from an OIE approved country, even if a country's rabies status changes.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has newly added and modified host plants of Xylella fastidiosa (see the attachment), one of the prohibited quarantine pests of the Republic of Korea, which is based on the result of a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA).The import of relevant parts of host plants and the vectors associated with Xylella fastidiosa from the regions will be prohibited from the consignments with Phytosanitary Certificate, shipped on and after 20 August 2020.Please find the attachment of previous notification (G/SPS/N/KOR/622) for more details of host plants, the vectors and distributed areas.［Attachment］ Newly added and modified host plants of Xylella fastidiosa

Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the "Standards and Specifications for the Food Additives". 1) In order to manufacture the powder type flavouring products, the definition of flavouring substances is revised. 2) The use level of food contact surface sanitizing solutions is revised. 3) The analytical methods for the following 10 food additives and 2 general test methods are revised. (Food additives) L-Carnitine, , Crude magnesium chloride(sea water), ?-Glycosidase, Grapefruit seed extract, Magnesium phosphate(dibasic), Nitrogen, Poly-?-glutamic acid, Sodium hydroxide solution, Xylitol, Yeast extract (General test methods) Atomic absorption spectrophotometry, Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy 4) English name of Vitamin D2 is changed.

Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the "Standards and Specifications for the Food Additives". 1) Maximum use level of food colours used in combination is newly established.

Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the Approval of Temporary Standards and Specifications for Food etc. 1. The approval process of genetically modified food additives is revised.2. The approval period of natural food additives is unified with the approval period of food additives.3. New provision to reject illegally submitted application is added.4. Other requisites including application forms etc. are revised.

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Republic of Korea added both Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) and Decapod Iridescent Virus1 (DIV1) to the designated diseases in Article 2(6) of Aquatic Life Disease Control Act and Article 1 of Enforcement Rule of the same Act. Given the recent outbreak of emerging fish diseases overseas, it is to preemptively stop the introduction and spread of the diseases in the country. By adding the two diseases as above, the following is required: 1. Listed species to be quarantined for TiLV and DIV1 are as follows: · Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) : Live species belonging to Genus Oreochromis, Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis mossambicus, Oreoochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Coptodon zilli(=Tilapia zilli), Tistramella simonis(Tristramellasimonis intermediate), Osphronemus goramy · Decapod Iridescent Virus1 (DIV1) : Live or chilled/frozen Litopenaeus vannamei(=Penaeus vannamei), Fenneropenaeus chinensis(=Penaeus chinensis), Penaeus monodon, Marsuenaeus japonicus(=Penaeus japonicus), Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Macrobrachium nipponense, Macrobrachium superbum, , Exopalaemon carinicauda; Live Cherax quadricarinatus, Procambarus clarkii 2. Listed species to be quarantined for TiLV and DIV1 should be attached with health certificate issued by the competent authorities of exporting country meeting the requirements as follows: · To test only in facilities officially authorized by the competent authorities of the exporting country · To not show any clinical symptom related to the designated diseases that Korea requires quarantine · To conduct lab-test based on OIE Aquatic Animal Diagnostic Manual or diagnostic methods that Korea authorizes?the result of the test showing no pathogenic agents of TiLV and DIV1 Attachment: Public Notice on Specification of Aquatic Animal Disease (unofficial translation,pdf), Quarantine Standard for Designated Species of Imported/Exported Aquatic Animals (pdf)

Standards for import declaration and laboratory tests of livestock products will be unified into the standards for the same livestock products from the same company pursuant to article 2.2. Also, the same livestock products imported after non-compliance is detected will be subject to the first laboratory test to inspect substances as well as non-compliance substances that have been detected. And the substances subject to the first laboratory test could be posted on the MFDS website.

The proposed amendments seek to: replace the "sell-by date" in food labelling with "use-by date"

1. Establish new health claim of ‘chromium' 2. Establish testing method of appearance 3. Revise the testing methods

Establish new "Warning notice for intake" of beta-carotene, vitamin K, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, biotin, potassium, chromium

1. Establish the "Meal kit" as a new food type 2. Revise the standard for using food ingredients 3. Revise and establish the Annex 1 ‘Ingredients Approved for Use in Food' and Annex 2 ‘Ingredients Approved for Limited Use in Food' 4. Revise and establish the maximum residual limits of pesticides in agricultural products [128 pesticides including Afidopyropen] 5. Revise and establish veterinary drugs[7 pesticides including Lincomycin] 6. Revise the maximum residual limits in livestock and fishery products[Glyphosate] 7. Revise and establish the General Test Methods

1. Revise the "Food for Special Dietary Uses" and establish the "Meal for special medical purpose" as a new food type 2. Establish "Elderly-friendly foods" as a new food type 3. Revise and establish the maximum residual limits of pesticides in agricultural products [59 pesticides including Iminoctadine]

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has added host plants of Radopholus similis, one of the prohibited quarantine pests of Korea, which is based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). The import of cuttings, scions and living underground parts of Philodendron spp. from the regions specified as below will be prohibited from the consignments with Phytosanitary Certificate, shipped on and after 16 June 2020.- Products covered: Relevant parts of host plants (available in English, 2 pages) associated with Radopholus similis- Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: * North America: Canada, Mexico, United States * Central America:  All countries  * South America:  All countries * Africa:  All countries * Asia: Brunei, China (restricted areas: Guangzhou City, Maoming City and Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province, Fujian Province and Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Yemen * Europe: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia * Oceania and the Pacific: Australia (except Tasmania), Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Polynesia, American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga

The restriction on import into Korea as follows: - Wild animals that are considered possible intermediate hosts for CIVID-19 transmission, including Snakes (suborder Serpentes), Bats (order Chiroptera), Racoons, Budgers, Civet cats (family Viverridae), Pangolins (family Manidae). - However, regarding CITES-listed species, in situations where the exporter provides a sanitary certificate (a veterinary export certificate), which will prove the animal does not carry the virus, through more thorough inspections,   the import permit into Korea may be issued by the Ministry of Environment.

The Republic of Korea proposes the amendment of the "Special Act on Management of Children's dietary Lifestyle". It is revised by including the statement that the results of nutritional ingredients, such as sodium and sugar content will be disclosed to the web, etc. and the validity period of the quality certification could be extended.

The proposed amendments seeks to: 1. Expand the manufacturing method and health claim of "Probiotics" 2. Apply the company's own test method 3. Revise the health claim in "Vitamin E, Vitamin C" 4. Add new health claim and daily intake amount in "Ginseng"

The proposed amendment seeks to: 1. Revise and establish the maximum residual limits of pesticides in agricultural products [117 pesticides including Iminoctadine] 2. Revise the General Test Methods

Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the "Standards and Specifications for the Food Additives". 1) The provision for the natural occurrence of propionic acid is newly established. Propionic acid detected below 0.10 mg/kg in food except the ingredients of animal origin can be judged as natural occurrence * The amounts already recognized as natural occurrence by the MFDS can be applied for the judgment of natural occurrence. 2) The specifications of the following 3 food additives are revised: Beeswax, D-Sorbitol solution, Sodium saccharin preparations 3) The analytical methods for the following 43 food additives and 5 general test methods are revised. (Food additives) Ammonium phosphatides, Azodicarbonamide, Calcium caseinate, Calcium pantothenate, Caramel color, Carmine, Casein, Cochineal extract, Curdlan, L-Cystine, Dammar gum, Dextran, Disodium glycyrrhizinate, Enzymatically modified stevia, Food starch modified, Gellan gum, Glucomannan, Guar gum, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, Iron reduced, Isomalt, Locust bean gum, Lysozyme, Magnesium oxide, Milt protein, Oleoresin paprika, ε-Polylysine, Potassium caseinate, Potassium hydroxide, Psyllium seed gum, Pullulan, Riboflavin 5'-phosphate sodium, Saffron color, L-Serine, Sodium caseinate, Sodium hydroxide, Sodium pantothenate, Sodium saccharin preparations, Steviol glycoside, Tamarind gum, Triacetin, Xanthan gum, Yeast extract, (General test methods) Arsenic limit test, Softening point measurement, Mercury test, Viscosity, Coloring matter aluminium lake test 4) The standards for the use of the following 24 food additives are revised: Aluminium ammonium sulfate, Aluminium potassium sulfate, Benzoic acid, Calcium benzoate, Calcium ferrocyanide, Calcium sorbate, Manganese gluconate, Potassium benzoate, Potassium ferrocyanide, Potassium metabisulfite, Potassium nitrate, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Sodium bisulfite, Sodium ferrocyanide, Sodium hydrosulfite, Sodium metabisulfite, Sodium nitrate, Sodium nitrite, Sodium saccharin, Sodium sulfite, Sorbic acid, Sulfur dioxide, Titanium dioxide, Zinc gluconate 5) The name of regulation applied for manufacture equipment of food additives is changed.

APQA prohibits the import of pollen for pollination of Pomoideae, Prunus genus and Rubus genus from the distributed regions (countries) of E. amylovora. This decision is based on detection of E. amylovora from apple pollen for pollination imported to Rep. of Korea. Therefore, the import of pollen of host plants from the regions specified as above will be prohibited, shipped on and after 14 April 2020.