. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/KOR/68
28 April 2000
(00-1720)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying :  REPUBLIC OF KOREA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health and Welfare
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Foods
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Amendment of Ministerial
Ordinance of Food Sanitation Act (Available in Korean, 41 pages)
5. Description of content:  The proposed amendments are taking into account the
amendments of the Food Sanitation Act of 12 January 2000.  The major purpose of the
amendment is to mitigate restrictive controls on food businesses and allow toll
manufacturing for all food products.  The proposed amendments are as follows:
− Delete provisions related to pre-market inspection for selected foods and related to
food safety managers in food businesses.
− Promulgate provisions to identify cases for reporting of imported foods.
− Enlarge the foods subject to release before finishing inspection.
− Promulgate a provision related to education/training courses for employees and
employers of food businesses.  The order will be made when the business fails to
comply with safety requirements or when the possibility of adverse public health
effects from foods are increasing.
− Widen the labelling criteria for functional and physiological effects.  Nutritional
claims can be provided for foods.
− Increase the category of foods, etc. subjected to document inspection and decrease
the category of foods, etc. subjected to laboratory inspection.
− Fortify the requirements on raw animal materials for human consumption.  It is
prohibited to process or manufacture wild animals, captured through violation of
the Protection of Wild Animal and Hunting Act, for foods.
− Mitigate the facility requirements for selected food businesses.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:G/SPS/N/KOR/68
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The Food Sanitation
Act, Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification 2000-26, Official Gazette (2000.03.27)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  June 2000
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  July 2000
11. Final date for comments:  May 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
Division of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety
Health Policy Bureau
Ministry of Health and WelfareTel:  82-2-503-7557
Fax:  82-2-504-1456
E-mail:  ksc7008@mohw.go.kr
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Division of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety
Health Policy Bureau
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Tel:  82-2-503-7557
Fax:  82-2-504-1456
E-mail:  ksc7008@mohw.go.kr