G/SPS/N/KOR/543  
 
8 August 2 016 
(16-4236) 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 i n national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Food products  
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 Comprehensive Amendments to the 
Standards and Specifications for Foods   Language(s): Korean   Number of pages: 725 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/KOR/16_3169_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: The proposed amendments seek to:  
1. Combine the standards and specifications for foods and livestock products;  
2. Reorganize compilation system of the Standards and Specifications for Foods;  
3. Adjust the classification of food types based on the content of the raw materials and 
additive ingredients;  
4. Simplify and reclassify food types;  
5. Clarify the requirements for raw materials;  
6. Add metabolites to residue definition for veterinary drugs;  
7. Rationalize storage and distribution standards;  
8. Improve microorganisms and introduce statistical concepts;  
9. Modify terminologies and wordings such as refining the definitions of food type;  
10. Revise the methods of sampling and sample hand ling; 
11. Establish and revise the general test methods; and  
12. Establish and revise the maximum residue limits for pesticides in agricultural 
products.  
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 number of Codex 
standard or related t ext)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number)    G/SPS/N/KOR/543  
 
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  [X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant inter national 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: 
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Advance Notice No. 2016 -294, 2 August 2016  
(available in Korean)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 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/o r (dd/mm/yy) : 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) : 7 October 2016  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ]  National  Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
International Cooperation Office  
Ministry of Food and Drug safety  
#187 Osongsaengmyeong2 -ro, Osong -eup, Heungdoek -gu Cheongju -si 
Chungcheongbuk -do 
363-700, Korea  
Tel: +(82 43) 719 1559  
Fax: +(82 43) 719 1550  
E-mail: wtokfda@korea.kr  
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, Oson g-eup, Heungdoek -gu Cheongju -si 
Chungcheongbuk -do 
Tel: +(82 43) 719 1559  
Fax: +(82 43) 719 1550  
E-mail: wtokfda @korea.kr