South Koreas Food Safety and Import Policy Developments in the Second Quarter of 2023

This article analyzes the important reforms and decisions of South Korea in food safety and import policies in the second quarter of 2023, including the Food Standard Expert Council with China, reducing import tariffs on some agricultural products, strengthening the safety management of overseas direct - purchased food, and import inspections of summer food ingredients. The implementation of these policies aims to improve food safety, reduce the economic burden on consumers, and improve the efficiency of import inspections.

On May 31, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea announced that it would hold the Korea - China Food Standard Expert Agreement Meeting with the Chinese government. This meeting will discuss and update food safety standards. After the meeting, South Korea will explain South Koreas food standards and specifications, as well as the new management system for the list of veterinary drug residues, at a seminar participated by Chinese food safety management agencies, food enterprises, etc.

To ease the economic pressure on families caused by price increases, South Korea decided at the 22nd State Council Meeting on May 30, 2023, to reduce the import tariffs on 8 types of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products starting from early June. These products include pork, mackerel, and sugar. This decision has a positive impact on both consumers and food importers.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea issued a notice on June 9, 2023, stating that it would take a series of measures to strengthen the food safety management of overseas direct purchases, including revising the enforcement rules of the special act on imported food safety management, rationally rectifying customs inspection conditions, and newly setting up business compliance items for online purchasing agents.

To ensure food safety, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea issued an instruction on strengthening the import inspection of summer ingredients in 2023 on June 7, 2023. This inspection will be carried out from June 14 to August 14, 2023, to improve the quality and safety of food.

On June 9, 2023, the website of the National Law Information Center of South Korea issued a notice on revising the Enforcement Rules of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management. The new regulations came into effect on June 11, 2023. The main contents of the revision include the standards and procedures for designating and canceling domestic import raw material components to be intercepted, expanding the planned import fast - track clearance projects, improving the classification requirements for the same imported food from the same company, and the administrative handling standards for violations of recall orders, disposal orders, etc.