G/SPS/GEN/1242  
 
24 April 2013  
(13-2153)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
SPS-RELATED GOVERNMENT AGENCY CHANGES IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA 
The following communication, received on 23 April 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Korea. 
 
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 1.  The Republic of Korea is changing its SPS-related functions within and among government agencies. 
2.  There was a reshuffling of Korean government agencies dealing with issues related to the SPS 
Agreement on 23 March 2013. Certain functions and responsibilities of those agencies have also changed. 
 The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) now has a role in animal health 
and phytosanitary functions including import quarantine measures for animals, livestock products and plants; and laboratory tests and import quarantine-inspections for animal, 
livestock products and plants. 
 T h e  M i n i s t r y  o f  F o o d  a n d  D r u g  S a f e t y  ( M F D S )  n o w  h a s  a  r o l e  i n  f o o d  s a f e t y  i n c l u d i n g  
laboratory tests and import inspections for chemicals and veterinary drug residues in both domestic and imported products such as foods of plant origin, beef, pork, poultry meat, 
and fishery products. 
 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) now has a role in aquatic health control 
including import quarantine measures as well  as the safety of export fishery products. 
3.  The new acronyms of the Ministries are as follows and their certificates will be changed in due 
course: 
 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is MAFRA; 
 Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is MFDS; 
 Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is MOF. 
4.  The names and acronyms of the Ministries will  be phased in over time. Brands, official seals 
and logos, etc. used on official certificates will be updated as soon as possible by the competent 
authorities. 
5.  The relevant enquiry points have been changed as follows: 
Korea, Republic of  
Animal and plant health including import quarantine measures for animal, livestock products 
and plants: 
General Division of International Cooperation 
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) 94, Dasom 2-ro, Sejong-Si, 339-012 
Korea, Republic of G/SPS/GEN/1242 
 
- 2 - 
 
   Telephone:  +(8244) 201 2020/2021 
 Telefax:  +(8244) 868 0431 
 E-mail/Internet:  wtoagri@korea.kr 
 Website:  http://www.mafra.go.kr  
   
Food (excluding feed) Safety including f oods of plant, animal and aquatic origin: 
International Cooperation Office 
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Osong Health Technology Administration Complex  
187, Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro 
Osong-eup, Cheongwon-gun Chungcheongbuk-do, 363-700 
Korea, Republic of 
 Telephone:
 +(8243) 719 1554/1559 
 Telefax:  +(8243) 719 1550 
 E-mail/Internet:  wtokfda@korea.kr 
 Website:  http://www.mfds.go.kr  
  
 
Aquatic health including import quarantine measures for fishery products and safety for 
exporting fishery products: 
Division of International Commerce and Trade Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries 
94, Dasom 2-ro, Sejong-Si, 339-012 
Korea, Republic of 
 Telephone:
 +(8244) 200 5380/5386 
 Telefax:  +(8244) 200 5390 
 E-mail/Internet:  wtomof@korea.kr 
 Website:  http://www.mof.go.kr  
 
 
Division of Trade Affairs 
Ministry of Health and Welfare (MW) 
Hyundai Building, 75 Yulgong-ro, Jong no-gu Seoul 110-793 
Korea, Republic of 
 Telephone:
 +(822) 2023 7244 
 Telefax:  +(822) 2023 7240 
 E-mail/Internet:  healthcare@korea.kr 
 Website:    
 
6.  The Korean SPS-related authorities will continue to deal with the same level of services domestically and overseas. 
 
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