Page 60 - FoodFocusThailand No.190 January 2022

STANDARDS & REGULATIONSNDARDS & REGULATIONS
STA

Special Act on Imported

Food Safety Control in Korea

The Republic of Korea or South Korea is the main trading partner of
Thailand for agricultural and food products export. In 2021, Thailand
exported agricultural products to South Korea for more than 143 million
USD or increased by 17% compared to 2020. The strict control and
regulations import was determined for food safety, protecting living things
both plants and animals as well as preventing environmental impacts.
The regulation related to food safety control is divided into 4 aspects
as follows:

Food Sanitation Act The Food Sanitation Act is the key includes genetically modified or possibly contains genetically modified
1regulation for food safety control in South Korea, protecting ingredients. However, some food products are exempted from the
consumers from ensuring safe food consumption and obtaining suitable labeling requirement of genetically modified (GM) or GMO food, such
nutrition. This regulation is related to food safety regarding pesticide as agricultural products that may contain ingredients produced from
standards, food codes, and food additive codes. As for the agricultural GMOs in a proportion less than 3% by IP handling certificate or
and livestock product, the maximum residue limit or MRLs of pesticide inspection report. Moreover, sugar, alcohol, vegetable oil that cannot
was set depending on the product types, represented as an example be analyzed for protein or transgenic DNA remained in the product
in Table 1. If the MRLs value of agrochemicals is not listed, it was after the advanced processing or purification process.
generally allowed less than or equal to 0.01 ppm (mg/kg) in the product. • Labeling Standard of Health Functional Food: The nutrient
function claim in health and functional food products must comply
Act on the Labeling and Advertising of Food with related regulations and not display exaggerated claims that cause
2The Act on the Labeling and Advertising of Food is intended to misunderstandings and confusion. Three categories of health claims
protect the consumers’ rights for receiving accurate information about can currently be used on food labels: nutrition claims, disease risk or
the product. South Korea has specific labeling for food products and health problem reduction claims, and others such as healing,
food additives for all 29 kinds of food, which must be clearly stated in restorative benefits, and health-promoting properties.
Korean language labels when entering the market. It is classified • Livestock Products Labeling Standards: Livestock products
according to food types such as labeling standards for livestock products, can be classified according to a type of commodities like eggs, chicken
health and functional food, and genetically modified foods. and duck, packaged meat and livestock products, dairy products, and
In addition, these food products must contain eight information: egg products. The labeling of livestock products must completely
product name, product types, name and address of the manufacturer, show nutrition information on calories, carbohydrates, sugars,
manufacturing date, expiry date or best before date or shelf life, net proteins, fats, saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium by
weight, ingredients, and nutrition fact. Food containing allergen as raw giving the name, nutrients content, and percentage of nutrition based
material, ingredient, food additive, or another part of a food must be on the reference.
labeled with the allergen, even only small amounts of allergens
composition. South Korean regulations have recognized a total of 20 Plant Protection Act and Act on the Prevention
food allergens like wheat, eggs from poultry, peanuts, soybeans, milk, 3of Contagious Animal Disease The Plant Protection
buckwheat, mackerel, shrimp, crab, pork, peaches, tomatoes, sulfites Act is contributed to safety and protects the natural environment. Any
(more than 10 ppm), walnuts, chicken, meat, beef, squid, oysters, person intending to import plants in South Korea must attach a
abalone, and mussels. phytosanitary certificate issued by a government authority of the
• Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods: This exporting country. It must also be subjected to plant quarantine
product must carry a disclosure statement that food or its component inspection after entering the country in order to prevent the spread

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