G/SPS/N/KOR/776  
10 March 2023  
(23-1779) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  REPUBLIC OF KOREA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Food and Drug Safety  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Foods  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed Amendments to the Regulation on the 
Inspection for Imported Food Products, etc. . Language(s):  Korean . Number of 
pages:  21 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/KOR/23_1816_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The main proposed amendment seeks to:  
A. Improve the inspection procedures, etc., for the agricultural products that are 
imported in bulk shipments;  
B. Establish the application process for the expedited approval of the notification on the 
raw materials that are used for self -manufacturing purposes (food additi ve flavoring, 
raw materials for refining/processing);  
C. Stipulate the processing procedure for cases where re -declaration for importation is 
notified after voluntary withdrawal (or return by the MFDS) for random sampling test;  
D. Revise the name and adjust the items for the agricultural products that may be used 
for purposes other than as food products;  
E. Adjust the number of pesticides that are test items for the laboratory inspections 
conducted on the newly imported agricultural products by reflecting the non -
compliance records, etc.;  
F. Adjust the list of food products, etc., that the Minister of Food and Drug Safety 
recognizes as safe by reflecting the non -compliance records.  
7. 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.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial num ber of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  G/SPS/N/KOR/776  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Expected for adoption on May 2023 (to be 
determined).  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : Expected for adoption in May 2023 (to be determined).  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 9 May 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
availab le) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Documents are available from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety website at  
http://www.mfds.go.kr . Also available from:  
International Cooperation Office  
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety  
#187 Osongsaengmyeong2 -ro, Osong -eup, Heungdoek -gu Cheongju -si 
Chungcheongbuk -do 
Tel: +(82 43) 719 1569  
Fax: +(82 43) 719 1550  
E-mail: intmfds@korea.kr