./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/KOR/59
5 August 1999
(99-3331)
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, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Food products
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Amendments to the Ministerial
Ordinance of the Food Sanitation Act (175 pages)
5. Description of content:
Eliminate the hygienic handling standards in the Ministerial Ordinance,
Adjust the fee for pre-market inspection and certificates,Increase the rationale and simplify the procedures for electronic documentation for 
import reports:
- The required documents for import reports, such as the temporary permission 
documents for artificial food additives and documents for processing, are 
exempted when electronically reported.
Delete the green import report system,Broaden the range of candidates for food test laboratories and increase the responsibilities
of the officially recognized laboratories,
Adjust the business categories that are required to report or licence,
Mitigate requirements to report the change in business situations and requirements in
relation to the operation of business,
- Foods and food additives such as tea, vinegar and citric acid, are allowed to be 
bottled in small containers
- Contracts with food test laboratory for quality control are not required
- Business reports will be handled immediately
- Food products for immediate sale such as snacks, noodles, Kimchi etc. are 
exempted from self safety-tests
- Requirement for tofu manufacturing processes are eliminated
- The range of food products for immediate sale are broadened to include sweet 
dextrin, tofu, tea (except instant coffee)
Mitigate the shelf-life of food products,
Mitigate the requirement of hygienic education and training,
Amend the import report and inspection,
- Broaden the range of exemption from import reports
- Increase the number of food products subject to document and organoleptic 
inspectionG/SPS/N/KOR/59
Page 2
./.- Reduce the number of food products subject to random laboratory inspection
- Manage the import reports by electronic files
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:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Ministerial
Notification 1999-62 (Available in Korean)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  September 1999
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  September 1999
11. Final date for comments:  30 August 1999
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [  X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
12. Texts available from: [   ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: