G/LIC/N/2/KOR/15  
 
12 November  2019 
(19-7686) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF  THE AGREEMENT1 
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 
  
The following notification , dated 7 November 2019 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Republic of Korea . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Republic of Korea  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control  
3 Date of Publication  
 03/02/2015  
4 Date of entry into force  
 04/02/2016 
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  http://www.law.go.kr/LSW/eng/engLsSc.do?menuI d=2&section=law
Nm&query=Special+Act+on+Imported+Food+Safety+Control&x=0
&y=0#liBgcolor2  
 
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  
 [X] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[ ] No.  
 
7 Type of notification  [X] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure2; (please answer 
question 8 to 14)  
 
[ ] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been previously 
notified in document: ______________ ;  ( please answer question 
15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  - The purpose of this Act is to contribute to  a sound trade order  and 
improv e people 's health by ensuring the safety of imported food etc., 
promoting the quality of such imports  and providing proper 
information.  
 
-  Products subject to the Food Hygiene Law such as foods, except for 
the following  specified below , may be imported as long as they meet 
the standards and specifications under Article 7 or 9 of the Food 
Hygiene Act, and  must report to the Commissioner of Food and Drug 
Safety each time they are imported . 
 
                                              
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to  any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/KOR/15  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
-  Food or food additives shall be reported to the Commissioner of the 
local Food and Drug Administration in accordance with Article 20 of 
the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management . 
 
-  The following may be reported to the Commissioner of the local 
Food and Drug Administration in accordance with the provisions of 
Article 20 of the Act on Health Functional Foods, Article 14 and 15, as 
well as the provisions of Article 20 of the Speci al Act on Imported 
Food Safety Management.  
 
-  Food items must be reported to the Director  of the  Agricultural and 
Livestock Quarantine Headquarters (including the Director of 
Quarantine Inspection Office) in accordance with Article 20 of the 
Special Act o n Imported Food Safety Management.  
 
-  Imports under the  food hygiene law may be carried out  only as long 
as they meet the standards and specifications under Article 7 or 9 of 
the Food Hygiene Act.  
 
-  Food hygiene law shall be reported to the Commissioner of the local 
Food and Drug Administration pursuant to Article 20 of the Special 
Act on Imported Food Safety Man agement.  
 
-  Imports under The Food Hygiene Act may be carried out  as long as 
they meet the standards and specifications under Article 7 or 9 of the 
Food Sanitation Act.  
 
-  When imported from a country designated by the Commissioner of 
the Korea Food and  Drug Administration with respect to mad cow 
disease (BSE) etc., manufactured and processed ruminant a xis as raw 
materials cannot be imported due to interim import declaration s. In 
the case of importation, the importer can attach a certificate  stating  
that he / she did not use any raw materials from a country which has 
been suspended under  the temporary import declaration . 
 
-  Food and food additives may be imported as long as they meet the 
standards and specifications separately announced by the 
Commissioner of the Korea Food and Drug Administration.  
 
-  Other products  may be imported only with the confirmation of the 
competent director.  
 
-  Appliances, containers and packaging that  have come into contact 
with food, food additives, nutraceuticals or livestock products shall be 
reported to the Commissioner of the local Food and Drug 
Administration in accordance with Article 20 of the Special Act on 
Imported Food Safety Management.  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic: [ ]  
 
Non-Automatic: [ X] 
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
 G/LIC/N/2/KOR/15  
 
- 3 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications   
 Ministry/authority and Department:  Ministy of Food and Drug Safety  
Address: 187, Osongsaengmyeong 2 -ro, Osong -eup, Heungdeok -gu, 
Cheongju -si, Chungcheongbuk -do, Republic of Korea  
Website: www.mfds.go.kr   
Telephone: +82-43-719-1564 
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department:  Ministy  of Food and Drug Safety  
Address: 187, Osongsaengmyeong 2 -ro, Osong -eup, Heungdeok -gu, 
Cheongju -si, Chungcheongbuk -do, Republic of Korea  
Website: www.mfds.go.kr   
Telephone: +82-43-719-1564 
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure  There is no related regulation . 
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages   The purpose of this Act is to contribute to a sound trade order and 
to improve people ’s health by ensuring the safety of imported food 
etc., promoting the quality  of such imports and providing proper 
information.  
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official languages)  
  
 
 
 
__________