XMain Revision of Plant Protection Act of Republic of Korea
A.Expansion of regulated article: Import inspection on article of concern over pest introduction 
(newly Enacted Provision of Article 2 Subparagraph 7-2 and Article 12-3)
   Background:  With increasing risks of introduction of high risk pests into the Republic of 
Korea along with climate change and expanded intranational trade, there is a 
increased need for inspection on general articles, including wooden furniture 
which a pest is easily associated with.
   Revision content:  In accordance with the provision, a phytosanitary officer may conduct an 
inspection on an article of concern, as a result of pest risk assessment, and the 
phytosanitary officer may order to disinfect and discard the article where 
regulated pests or provisionally regulated pests are detected.
   
B. Review of documents necessary for on-site Inspection, including a ship (newly enacted Article 
7-3 (3) and (4))
   Background:  Currently, a phytosanitary officer boards a ship and an aircraft to inspect 
imported articles, but it takes long time as it is hard to check detailed 
information of the articles subject to the inspection only with import declaration 
and application.    
   Revision content:  In accordance with the provision, a phytosanitary officer may check the list 
of consignments along with an import declaration in the case of conducting on-site inspection by boarding a ship, an aircraft, etc. 
C. Introduction of e-phytosanitary certificate (newly enacted provisions of Article 8 and Article 
28 (1) and (2))
    The introduction is intended to improve civil conveniences by allowing the use of 
e-phytosanitary certificate for import or export inspection application along with paper phytosanitary certificate where e-phytosanitary certificate is being used in the case of 
agreement between counties in accordance with the International Plant Protection 
Convention.YD. Approval import of prohibited articles for re-export (newly enacted provision of Article 10 (2) 
3)
   Background: Technically, it is prohibited to import prohibited article. There is an opinion, 
however, that it is too rigid to apply the same provision of prohibition to the plants imported for re-export. 
   Revision content:  In accordance with the provision, a prohibited article may be imported, 
provided that a prohibited plant is imported only for re-export; that the plant 
may be imported with permission by Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Affairs with place for re-package & processing, period and appropriate measures 
to prevent scattering or spreading pests.
E. Prohibition on smuggling and carry-out of prohibited articles permitted for import with limited 
condition (newly enacted provisions of Article 10 (4) and (5))
    To prevent quarantine pests from spreading in the Republic of Korea, as to a person who 
smuggles and carries out the prohibited article which is imported with limited condition by 
the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural affairs from the place designated shall be restricted import for a certain period not exceeding two years, or be ordered to retrieve and 
discard the prohibited article.
F. Establishment of inspection on courier (newly enacted provisions of Article 12 (7) through 
(9))
   Background: The volume of articles imported via international courier is increasing, but the 
importer of couriers may not aware obligation to declare an article subject to 
the phytosanitary measures.
   Revision content:  In accordance with the provisions, the carrier of couriers shall, upon 
receiving a courier that contains or is likely to contain a regulated article subject 
to the phytosanitary measures, notify it to the head of the National Plant 
Protection Organization (NPPO) so that a phytosanitary officer conducts an inspection on the courier concerned.  ZG. Introduction of registration of agent for application of inspection (newly enacted provision of 
Article 12-4)
   Background:  As there are many cases where agents poorly apply for phytosanitary inspection 
due to lack of knowledge with respect to phytosanitary measures, there is a increasing dissatisfaction of importer and concern of quarantine security.
   Revision content: An agent who carries out application of an article subject to plant 
quarantine inspection shall complete the phytosanitary education session and 
register to the head of the NPPO, and there are the measures of restriction on 
the agent for example, an order to suspend the operation of business may be 
issued to the agent if it is confirmed that he/she makes declaration by fraudulent or other wrongful means in accordance with the provision.   
H. Requirement of attachment of a tag to nursery stocks of trees subject to post entry quarantine 
(PEQ) (newly enacted provisions of Article 13 (2), (3) and Article 16 (2) 2) 
   Background:  Nursery stocks of trees subject to PEQ are frequently taken out from an PEQ 
facility illegally. To prevent the illegal movement a tag is required with relevant informations.
   Revision content:  A person who intends to import nursery stocks of trees subject to PEQ 
shall attach a tag that contains the name of commodity, import date, the name of importer, and origin of country, and an order to discard and return to origin 
may be issued for the consignment without tag or with tag in violation of the 
requirement in accordance with the provisions. 
I. Designation of professional test agency for plant pest (newly enacted provision of Article 15-2)
   Background:  Currently, the NPPO has conducted all tests necessary for phytosanitary 
measures for imported plants. There is increasing civil inconveniences, 
including delay of inspections, due to growing workload and lack of manpower 
for quarantine works. 
   Revision content:  The provision allows the accreditation of an agency for the test who 
satisfies the requirements in terms of facility, equipment and human resources to 
conduct technical and professional tests including test for virus & bacteria [necessary for phytosanitary inspections.  
J. Requiring treatment and disinfection mark of wood packing materials (newly enacted 
provisions of Article 28-3, 48 subparagraph 8-3 through 8-5)
    Wood packing materials for an article to be exported shall be applied with phytosanitary 
treatment and the mark by a registered treatment provider. A person who violates the 
foregoing shall be punished in accordance with the provision.
K. Tailored export inspection by importing country (newly enacted provision of Article 28-4) 
   Background: It is difficult to satisfy quarantine requirements requested by importing countries 
only via standard export inspections as the quarantine requirements have been 
diversified.
   Revision content: To satisfy the requirements of importing countries, the head of the NPPO 
may conduct continuous quarantine management and inspection on growing areas  
by designating export area/place/field subject to the inspection if necessary in 
accordance with the provision. 
 L. Reports obligation of outbreak of quarantine pest (newly enacted provision of Article 30-2)
   Background: The provision is intended to improve and complement the shortcomings of 
current institution by laying a legal ground for quarantine pest reports 
obligation. A person who fails to report by intention or serious negligence shall 
be fined and the compensation may be reduced or excluded.
   Revision content: A grower of a plant where pests subject to official control or potential 
official control measures are founded shall promptly notify to the Minister of 
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the head of local government. This provision also provides legal ground to compensate farmers who rent land for 
their losses incurred by official pest control measures.