Notifications for Republic of Korea (388 notifications)

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 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 Articles 4 and 6 of the Ministerial Ordinance of the Plant Protection Act. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency notified to add 33 quarantine pest species as follows: No.       Scientific name          Group  Category1          Bactrocera minax      Diptera            Prohibited Pest2          Diaporthe helianthi   Fungus            Controlled Pest3          Guignardia musae     Fungus            Controlled Pest4          Phoma pinodella        Fungus            Controlled Pest5          Pseudonectria buxi    Fungus            Controlled Pest6          Pyrenopeziza brassicae         Fungus            Controlled Pest7          Raffaelea lauricola     Fungus            Controlled Pest8          Seiridium cardinale   Fungus            Controlled Pest9          Avocado sunblotch viroid      Virus   Controlled Pest10        Dendrolimus pini       Lepidoptera    Controlled Pest11        Harrisina brillians      Lepidoptera    Controlled Pest12        Adelges tsugae           Hemiptera      Controlled Pest13        Aleurocanthus camelliae      Hemiptera      Controlled Pest14        Antestiopsis orbitalis Hemiptera      Controlled Pest15        Bactericera trigonica Hemiptera      Controlled Pest16        Brachycaudus cardui Hemiptera      Controlled Pest17        Cavariella aegopodii  Hemiptera      Controlled Pest18        Delottococcus confusus        Hemiptera      Controlled Pest19        Dysmicoccus texensis           Hemiptera      Controlled Pest20        Greenidea ficicola      Hemiptera      Controlled Pest21        Hyadaphis foeniculi   Hemiptera      Controlled Pest22        Phenacoccus madeirensis     Hemiptera      Controlled Pest23        Piezodorus guildinii   Hemiptera      Controlled Pest24        Siphoninus phillyreae           Hemiptera      Controlled Pest25        Sitobion fragariae      Hemiptera      Controlled Pest26        Trioza apicalis            Hemiptera      Controlled Pest27        Vryburgia amaryllidis            Hemiptera      Controlled Pest28        Epitrix hirtipennis      Coleoleptera   Controlled Pest29        Cephalcia abietis        Hymenoptera Controlled Pest30        Eurytoma schreineri  Hymenoptera Controlled Pest31        Echinothrips americanus      Thysanoptera Controlled Pest32        Haplothrips gowdeyi  Thysanoptera Controlled Pest33        Meloidogyne partityla            Nematode       Controlled Pest

For a foreign testing laboratory that meets the designation requirements of its own government, it may be evaluated on modified criteria outlined in laboratory quality assurance scheme evaluation sheet.

The main proposed amendments of the "Regulation of imported fishery products" are as follows1. Establish simplified procedure for import declaration of fishery products which are imported only for obtaining foreign currencies (except for tourism purpose); 2. Establish a new form such as net-content test results, etc.;3. Establish management of foreign establishments in countries where bi-lateral sanitation agreement has not been made; and 4. Revise object items to be inspected on veterinary drugs, etc.

Enforcement Rules of the Aquatic Life Disease Control Act will become effective on 1 April 2018 as several countries requested extension of the Rule implementation date regarding the measures circulated in the notification G/SPS/N/KOR/554 and G/SPS/N/554/Corr.1.This notice is available in Korean at:http://www.mof.go.kr/article/view.do?articleKey=15739&boardKey=47&menuKey=526¤tPageNo=1 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/KOR/17_1676_00_x.pdf

The proposed amendments seek to: 1. Develop procedures for the use of approved ingredients of vitamins and minerals [Table 6]; 2. Add new ingredients approved for use in accordance with the Table 6 to the "Standards and Specifications of Health Functional Foods"; 3. Add calcium ascorbate with added threonate to the list of the approved ingredients of Vitamin C; 4. Add the testing method for calcium ascorbate with added threonate.

The regulation for the labelling of livestock products has been revised in order to simplify labelling method and prevent the confusion of obligators: 1. Change of labelling information on eggshells from the name of the producer to the name of the egg farm: - The information must be labelled in ten days from the laying date; 2. Exceptional labelling of net content of cheese, ham etc. other than on the front of package: - In case where it is difficult to display the information on the front of package, the fact and the alternative location of labelling information must be stated on the front of package; 3. Providing an example of how to write the expiration date and the date of production in English in order to avoid any confusion; 4. Creation of new provision on precautionary labelling for flaxseed when used as a raw ingredient: - The new provision requires to indicate the acceptable daily intake and intake per serving and content of flaxseed in CAUTION when using flaxseed, a food ingredient permitted for limited use as the raw ingredient.

The document entitled "Proposed Amendments to the Standards and Specifications for Livestock Products" notified in G/SPS/N/KOR/559 (dated 15 March 2017) is available in Korean: http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/KOR/17_1289_00_x.pdf

The proposed amendment seeks to: 1. Establish and revise the methods of egg washing and storage temperature requirement for shell eggs; 2. Establish a provisory clause on the set point of shelf life of shell eggs; 3. Modify phrase to clarify the set point of shelf life for mixed or simple processed products; 4. Permit the distribution and sale of defrosted cheese and butter; 5. Revise the methods of egg washing and establish the standard of storage for industrial eggs; 6. Revise the standard of storage and usage for egg contents after egg breaking; 7. Prohibit the centrifuging and crushing methods to obtain egg contents; 8. Establish and revise the microbiological testing method; 9. Modify the wording related to 'industrial egg' in the standards and specification for livestock products.

1. Add temporary standards and specifications for food additives other than natural additives. 2. Clarify submitted data for safety evaluation on food additives.

The proposed amendment seeks to: 1. Establishment of import declaration exemption for imported food, etc. used as samples or taste testings at Exhibition; 2. Specification of pesticide test items for random sampling test; 3. Establishment of laboratory test exemption for re-imported parts of apparatus, containers and packages; 4. 232 kinds of single component pesticides for inspection are adjusted to 208, and the names of pesticides are modified to match with food code; 5. Adjustment of the scope of foods that a Minister of Food and Drug Safety recognizes as safe among foods, etc. that have no inadequate history after inspection; 6. Addition of field test item and judgment criteria for garlic.

The proposed amendment seeks to: Establish the standard for coliform and E. coli in the general standards and specification of foods; Establish and revise the maximum residue limits for 39 pesticides in agricultural products; Establish and revise the maximum residue limits for 18 veterinary drugs in foods; Establish the general testing methods for 36 veterinary drugs.

The Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the "Standards and Specifications for the Food Additives". The wording of the general provisions regarding "Definition" and "Test" are revised. The standards and specifications of the following food additives are newly established: (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt, branching glycosyltransferase, black carrot extract. The definition of following two food additives are revised: Protease, furcelleran. The standards for the use of the following 21 food additives are revised: Sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, calcium sorbate, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, calcium benzoate, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sodium sulfite, sodium hydrosulfite, disodium 5'-uridylate, propylene glycol, potassium hydroxide, liquid paraffin, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, calcium diosodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The preparations of sample solutions regarding analytical methods for arsenic are revised.

In the notification G/SPS/N/KOR/554, information regarding items 5 and 8 was provided in error. Item 5. should read: 5. Title of the notified document: Enforcement Rules of the Aquatic Life Disease Control Act. Language(s): Korean. Number of pages: 6 Item 8. should read: 8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard: [ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text): [X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number): OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code, Chapter 5.9 and Section 9 [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number): [ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard? [X] Yes [ ] No If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard: Moreover, the previously notified document need to be replaced with the attachment within this corrigendum: http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_5269_00_x.pdf

In the notification G/SPS/N/KOR/553, information regarding item 5 was provided in error. Item 5 (Title, number of pages and language of the notified document) should read as follows: 5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act. Language(s): Korean. Number of pages: 58

In the notification G/SPS/N/KOR/552, the previously notified document need to be replaced with the attachment within this corrigendum. http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_5173_00_x.pdf

MOF has revised Article 25 and 28 on Enforcement Rules of the Aquatic Life Disease Control Act. This notification provides the newly-introduced measures to all countries as follows: - As chilled or frozen shrimp is newly included in designated quarantine items, it shall be accompanied with health certificate for import; - Wild aquatic animals shall be accompanied with health certificate for import; - Designated quarantine items carried by passengers shall be accompanied with health certificate for entry.

The proposed amendments seek to integrate processed livestock products with processed foods in order to clarify the overlapping regulations that impose a double burden of licensing and the necessary follow-up according to each regulation. For example, pork cutlets with less than 50 percentage of meat content are currently regulated by the Food Sanitation Act, instead of the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act.

The proposed amendments seek to: - Establish the general testing method for four pesticides (Picarbutrazox, Benzovindiflupyr, Methoxyfenozide and Sulfoxaflor); - Establish and revise the maximum residue limits for 74 pesticides in agricultural products; - Revise the maximum residue limit for dithiocarbamates in ginseng; and - Establish and revise the maximum residue limits for two pesticides (Methoxyfenozide and Sulfoxaflor) in livestock products.

The "Import Health Requirements for hatching eggs" notified in G/SPS/N/KOR/547 (dated 12 August 2016) was promulgated and entered into force on 6 October 2016. Please find the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Notice No. 2016-112, 6 October 2016 (available in Korean and English): http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_4688_00_x.pdf http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_4688_00_e.pdf

The "Import Health Requirements for poultry" notified in G/SPS/N/KOR/544 (dated 12 August 2016) was promulgated and entered into force on 6 October 2016. Please find the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Notice No. 2016-89, 6 October 2016 (available in Korean and English): http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_4684_00_x.pdf http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_4684_00_e.pdf