Notifications for Republic of Korea (388 notifications)

The main proposed amendment seeks to:A. Improve “Same company Same Imported Food” criteria for imported fishery products;B. Adjust the number of pesticides that are test items for the laboratory inspections conducted on the newly imported agricultural products for test items of random sampling inspection (as all items of pesticides multi-component test method);C. Exclude substances that are not designated as food additives in Korea but are used in foreign countries from hazardous substances;D. Adjust the list of food products, agricultural products, that the Minister of Food and Drug Safety recognises as safe by reflecting the non-compliance records;E. Classify specific action criteria for nonconforming livestock products according to the hazard of the detection material.

The Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the "Standards for Recognition of Temporary Standard and Specifications for Foods".The regulations on applying for temporary standards and specifications of new food additives have been improved as following;1) The safety evaluation report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) will be accepted as a toxicity test documents on the submission for temporary standards and specifications of food additives;2) Applicant have to submit repeated-dose 90-day oral toxicity study and genotoxicity test data and then if there are safety concerns, additional toxicity test data will be required;3) The ingredients and mixing ratio will be included in the scope of change for food additives that have already been recognized as temporary standards and specifications but have no safety issues.

For the purpose of protecting consumer safety, this amendment requires that imported apparatus, containers and packages made from renewable raw materials (referring to the raw materials treated for the reuse of apparatus, containers, and packages that have already been used) obtain recognition from the Minister of Food and Drug Safety for the raw materials used according to Article 9-2 of the Food Sanitation Act.

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 Articles 4 and 6 of the Ministerial Ordinance of the Plant Protection Act.The APQA notified to add 21 quarantine pest species from August 2025. The information is detailed in the attachment.

This revision is to expand the application scope of change of purpose of raw materials so that an importer of raw materials can apply for change of purpose when requested to supply its imported raw materials by another domestic manufacturer that had not been secured raw materials due to changes in the international situation such as wars, infectious diseases, or natural disasters;This revision is to prepare a legal basis to issue not only paper export health certificates but also electronic export health certificates for food products. etc.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, notified the “Emergency phytosanitary measures on Fresh pineapple fruit to prevent the introduction of Cryptophlebia leucotreta” on 13 January 2013 (G/SPS/N/KOR/436).APQA has added distributed countries of False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), one of the prohibited quarantine pests of the Republic of Korea, which is based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). To prevent introduction of False Codling Moth into the Republic of Korea, APQA prohibits fresh pineapple fruit from Eswatini and Mali. This measure will be applied to consignments shipped on and after 1 June 2025.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has added host plants and distributed countries for the False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), a prohibited quarantine pest in Korea, based on the results of a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA).To prevent the introduction of False Codling Moth into Korea, APQA has decided to include Rosa spp. plants (only if flowers or flower buds are attached) as host plants of False Codling Moth and prohibit the import of such host plants from the following areas where False Codling Moth is known to occur: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'lvoire, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Israel, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.False Codling Moth is a serious pest that can cause significant damage to Korean agriculture. Rosa spp. plants have been newly identified as host plants of False Codling Moth, and their flowers and flower buds have been identified as a primary pathway for False Codling Moth entry into Korea when imported.This measure will be applied to consignments shipped on and after 1 June 2025.

Amendment of import health requirements that stipulates quarantine details for the import of raw hides and skins derived from cloven-hoofed animals in line with changes in livestock hygiene conditions:Revision of scope: exclude fresh hide, endothelium which are at risk of animal contagious disease transmission;Adding four diseases (lumpy skin disease, classical swine fever, sheep pox and peste des petits ruminants) to the list of disease-free status requirements and deleting a globally eradicated disease (rinderpest).

The Minister of Food and Drug Safety may defer the acceptance of the import declaration in cases where it is deemed inappropriate to accept such declaration due to reasons, for example, the distribution of the declared products in the domestic market may cause the violation of domestic law, and etc.

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 living and fresh underground parts of Allamanda spp. from the regions or countries specified below will be prohibited, and this measure will be applied on consignment shipped on and after 2 January 2025.- Products covered: Relevant parts of host plants (available in English, 1 page) associated with Radopholus similis- Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  North America:  Canada, Mexico, United States of America  Central America:  All countries   South America:  All countries (except Chile)  Africa:  All countries  Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (restricted areas: Guangzhou City, Maoming City and Shenzhen City in Guangdong, Fujian; and Hong Kong, China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanese Republic, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Yemen  Europe: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden  Oceania and the Pacific: Australia (except Tasmania), Cook Islands (New Zealand), Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue (New Zealand), Norfolk Island (Australia), Palau, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, TongaFull information of prohibited host plants and countries (regions) related to Radopholus similis, can be found in the Attachment 1 (available in English):

The proposed amendments seek to: 1. Establish the limit for cadmium in Cocoa products or chocolates; 2. Establish the standard and specifications of Nutritional formulas for patients with liver cirrhosis; 3. Revise the specifications of foodborne pathogens in the Meal kit for meat; 4. Revise and establish the maximum residual limits of pesticides in food [137 pesticides including Napropamide]; 5. Revise the maximum residual limits of veterinary drugs in food; 6. Revise and establish the general test methods; 7. Revise other provisions.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has added prohibited areas (Peru) regarding host plant of Xylella fastidiosa and the vectors, 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 Peru will be prohibited from consignments shipped on or after 9 December 2024.Please find the attachment for more details of host plants, the vectors and distributed areas:

Commodity/Product and Recommended Specification for Acrylamide: The recommended specification for processed cereal products and ready-to-eat foods have been revised to apply only to roasted, baked, or fried. Operating period: From 1 February 2025 Action for Exceeding Recommended Specification 1. Encourage manufacturers, processors and importers of products exceeding the recommended specification to comply with and improve the recommended specification (notify inspection results to manufacturers, processors, or importers, refrain from importing the products, etc.) 2. Disclosure of information** when improvement measures are not implemented* for products exceeding the recommended Specification * (Distribution food) Determined after six month in collection and inspection of same product / (Imported food) Exceeded recommended Specification twice or more. ** Food Safety Korea website (MFDS)> Professional information> Products exceeding the recommended Specification.Acts and subordinate statutes for Recommended SpecificationArticle 7-2 of the Food Sanitation Act (Illustrations of Recommended Specification, etc.)

The Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the "Standards and Specifications for Food Additives". 1) [Steviol Glycoside] (corresponding to INS No. 960c) obtained by the enzymatic treatment of stevia extract or purified stevia extract will be permitted as a food additive (sweetener);2) Fermented ethyl alcohol (spirits) will be permitted as a manufacturing solvent for the manufacturing of [Xanthan Gum] and [Gellan Gum];3) The analytical methods for [Invertase] and [Ferulic Acid] will be revised:   - For invertase, the wavelength for activity measurements will be specified as 515 nm;   - For ferulic acid, the indicator will be specified as bromothymolblue (BTB).

The proposed amendments seek to:Revise and establish the standards and specifications of Milk formulas and Formulas;Revise the maximum residual limits of pesticides for agricultural products.

The closure of business can not be reported not only during the business suspension period but also during a period from the time when a prior notice of disposition pursuant to Article 21 (Prior Notice of Disposition) of the Administrative Procedures Act is reached and the disposition becomes effective.The basis for delegation is prepared so that the matters regarding imported food, etc. by original equipment manufacturing (OEM) to be observed by business entities are determined through Ordinance of the Prime Minister.  The basis for the planned import approval system is prepared in the law to allow the omission of documentary and field inspections during import declaration for the imported foods, etc. of which safety has been ensured for a long period, provided that such products have the annual import plan approved in advance.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, notified the “Measures to prevent Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) from entering and spread within the Republic of Korea” on 17 July 2023 (G/SPS/N/KOR/783) and 19 June 2024 (G/SPS/N/KOR/783/Add.2).  APQA has added distributed countries (regions) of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), as a one of the quarantine pests of Korea, which is based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). The below five countries(regions) have been added as ToBRFV distributed countries(regions) and the import of seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum from ToBRFV distributed countries (regions) will need to meet certain conditions for import to Korea (see Attachment 1 for details).  Five countries (regions): Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia (Region: South Australia)  This measure regarding the added countries (Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia (Region: South Australia)) will be applied on consignment shipped on and after 15 November 2024.

Import health requirements such as quarantine requirements and sanitary conditions of the exporting country with regards to pet food that are exported from a foreign country into the Republic of Korea.

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 Articles 4 and 6 of the Ministerial Ordinance of the Plant Protection Act.The APQA notifies to add 36 quarantine pest species from June 2025. The information is detailed in the attachment.

For directly purchased imported foods, etc., the information of products which contain or are likely to contain narcotic raw materials or ingredients should mandatorily be published on the official website at least once a year.    Mandatory inspection should be conducted on directly purchased imported foods, etc. which are likely to contain narcotic raw materials or ingredients .   Mandatory fact-finding surveys should be conducted at least once a year for directly purchased imported foods, etc. which contain or are likely to contain narcotic raw materials or ingredients.