Act No. 8755  
 
                               Act on the Traceability of Cattle and Beef  
 
Article 1 (purpose)  The purpose of this Act is to  contribute to the development of the 
livestock industry and to protect consumers by efficiently preventing epidemics and 
ensuring the meat safety through the establishment of the information management 
system of cattle and beef. The information management system allows each step of the 
livestock industry to be identified and traced from the date of birth of cattle to the ir sale.  
  
Article 2 (definition) The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:  
 
1. “Traceability” means that the origin of cattle and beef can be identified and traced, 
if necessary, through the cattle and beef information system that records and 
manage s the detailed information of the cattle and beef including the date of birth, 
import and breeding of the cattle and beef sales.  
2. “Identification Number” is a unique number provided to each cow or bull by the 
Minister for Food, Agriculture , Forestry  and Fis heries in order to identify cattle.  
3. “Owners” are those who own and manage cattle (except those who are assigned for 
the transportation of the cattle).  
4. “Ear Tag” is a tag designed to be attached to the ears of cattle and shows a unique 
Identification Number  in order to track the origin of the cattle. The identification 
number consists of letters, numbers and bar codes (including electronic recognition).  
5. “Identified Beef” is the beef (including primal cuts, trimmed primal cuts and the 
meat ready for sale) pr ovided for eating through the butchering and processing of 
the cattle reported on the Cattle Identification Book.  
 
Article 3 (report of birth)   For the purposes of providing and managing the Identification 
Numbers of cattle, the Owners of cattle shall rep ort the birth or death, import or export, 
and transfer or acquisition (including the slaughter) of cattle to the Minister for Food, 
Agriculture , Forestry  and Fisheries.  
  Butchers (those who are licensed for butchery in compliance with Article 22 of the 
Livestock Processing Act) shall report cattle butchery to the Minister for Food, 
Agriculture , Forestry  and Fisheries. The meat -packers designated by Presidential 
Ordinance ( those who are licensed for meat -packing in compliance with Article 22 of 
the Livestoc k Processing Act) shall report meat -packing to the Minister for Food, 
Agriculture , Forestry  and Fisheries.  
  The method, procedure and period of reporting in accordance with   and   shall be 
decided by Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . 
 
Article 4 (attachment of Ear Tag)   The Minister for Food, Agriculture , Forestry  and 
Fisheries shall provide an Identification Number for the cattle whose date of birth and 
import details were reported and notify the reporter thereof.  
  Those who are provided with an Identification Number shall attach Ear Tags 
containing the Identification N umber to both ears of the corresponding cattle within the 
period designated by Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . However, in exceptional cases described by Ordinance of the Ministry for 
Food, Agriculture, Forestry and  Fisheries , such as cows or bulls without ears, a 
necklace shall be used.  
  In case of the loss of Ear Tags or damaged Ear Tags, the Owners of cattle shall attach 
new Ear Tags containing the same Identification Number.  
  The details regarding Identification Number distribution method, Ear Tag size, Ear Tag 
attachment and its man agement shall be designated by Ordinance of the Ministry for 
Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . 
 
Article 5 (prohibition of forgery, alteration and damage of Ear Tag)   It shall be 
prohibited to forge, alter, remove or damage Ear Tags attached to th e ears of cattle with 
the intention of preventing the Identification Number from being recognized.  
  Unless Presidential Ordinance says otherwise, it shall be prohibited to transfer, acquire 
or import cattle whose Identification Number cannot be recognized  because of the 
absence of Ear Tags or damaged Ear Tags.  
 
Article 6 (creation of Cattle Identification Book)   In the case of providing an 
Identification Number in accordance with Article 4.   , the Minister for Food, Agriculture , 
Forestry  and Fisheries sha ll write the following details for each cow or bull in the Cattle 
Identification Book.  
 
1. Identification Number  
2. Date of birth or import  
3. Sex of cattle  
4. In the case of imported cattle, the importer’s name and address (if the importer is a 
corporation, its name , business registration number and CEO’s name and address)  
5. The location of the breeding facility and the business start date of this facility  
6. An Owner’s name, ID number and address ( if the Owner is a corporation, its name, 
business registration number and CEO’s name and address)  
7. Other details designated for livestock management policy  by Ordinance of the 
Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries   
 
  The Cattle Identification Book in accordance with   shall be recorded and managed by 
magnetic st orage system (including similar methods guaranteed to accurately record the 
required details).  
  The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  may modify or remove the 
records of the Cattle Identification Book in compliance with Article 3.  
  The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  shall preserve the records in 
the Cattle Identification Book from the date of slaughter, the date of meat processing, the 
date of death or the date of export for the period designated by Presidentia l Ordinance.  
  Other details required of the Cattle Identification Book shall be designated by 
Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . 
 
Article 7 (notification of changes) In the case of any changes to the records of the Cattle 
Identifi cation Book, the Owners of cattle shall notify the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  thereof in accordance with the method designated by Ordinance of 
the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . 
 
Article 8 (obtainment of  records i n the Cattle Identification Book)   If the Ministry for 
Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  finds any missing records or errors in the Cattle 
Identification Book, he or she may take necessary steps such as advising the Owners to 
provide the correct details.  
  If the Owner of cattle finds any missing records or errors in the Cattle Identification 
Book, he or she may ask the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  to 
correct the details.  
 
Article 9 (publication of Identification Information)   The Ministry for Food, 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  shall make the Identification Information of cattle and 
beef available to the public. An Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry 
and Fisheries  shall decide what details are to be opened to the public , for h ow long , and 
how to make them available.  
  If the information collected in accordance with this Act is personal or is a corporate 
secret, it shall be kept confidential and shall be used only for livestock policy purposes.  
 
Article 10 (display of Identification Number by a butcher)   A butcher sha ll display the 
corresponding Identification Number on the Identified Beef.  
  Unless an Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  says 
otherwise, a butcher shall not slaughter cattle without Ear Tags, with Ear Tags but 
unrecogn isable Identification Numbers and without registration in the Cattle 
Identification Book. If a butcher is asked to slaughter cattle without Ear Tags, he or she 
shall immediately report this to an inspector, who represents the district where the 
butcher is located and works under the supervision of  the Teukbyul mayor or 
Gwanggyok mayor, or the provincial governor or the head of Teukbyul local government  
(hereinafter referred as “Mayor and Provincial governor ”)   Other details required of 
how to display and manage Identification Number by a butcher in accordance with   and 
  shall be designated by Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries . 
 
Article 11 ( Identification Number display b y meat -packers or meat sellers)   Meat -
packers or meat sellers ( those who are licensed for meat sales in compliance with Article 
24 of the Livestock Processing Act) shall display the corresponding Identification 
Number on beef or on a label in accordance w ith the Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . 
  In the case of  , meat -packers or meat sellers shall provide one Identification Number 
to each  piece of  Identified Beef. However, in the case of packing or selling different  
kinds of Identified Beef as one unit, a Unit Number (different Identification Numbers or 
other numbers than the Identification Number or new symbols that replace the numbers) 
may be used in accordance with the Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agricultu re, 
Forestry and Fisheries . 
  On a consumer’s request, meat -packers or meat sellers who dealt with the Identified 
Beef shall provide a receipt or a purchase order with the corresponding Identification Number in accordance with Article 31 of the Livestock Processing Act, or a copy of a 
Livestock Grade Certificate in accordance with Article 40 of the Livestock Processing 
Act. 
 
Article 12 (correction order) In case that the Minister for  Food, Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries  decides that a butcher, a meat -packer or a meat seller does not obey Article 10 
or 11 without justification, he or she may give the corresponding butcher, meat -packer or 
meat seller a correction order.  
 
Article 13 (display of data book)   A butcher and a meat -packer shall record the details 
of cattle slaughter, meat -packing or Identified Beef sale on a data book (including 
electronic methods) and keep the data for two years from the date of recording.  
  A meat seller shall record the Identification Number of beef on the purchase order, 
which must be created in accordance with Article 31 of the Livestock Processing Act and 
keep the data for a year from the date of purchasing the meat.  
  Other details required of how to record on a data book  or on a purchase order in 
accordance with   and   shall be designated by Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . 
 
Article 14 (report, visit and inspection)   When the Min ister for Food, Agriculture, 
Forestry and Fisheries  acknowledges that it is necessary to do so in order to enforce this 
Act, the Owners, importers or exporters of cattle shall be asked to report the required 
details. Additionally, the Minister may have a public officer in charge (including the 
employee of a  public organization assigned with a task in accordance with Article 16) 
visit the corresponding Owners’, importers’ or exporters’ offices and business sites or 
other facilities and inspect the documents and objects related to the corresponding 
business or  sales.  
  When the Min ister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  acknowledges that it 
is necessary to do so in order to enforce this Act, butchers, meat -packers or meat sellers 
shall be asked to report the required details. Additionally, the Mini ster may have a public 
officer in charge to visit the corresponding offices and business sites or other facilities 
and to inspect the documents and objects related to the corresponding business or sales. 
Moreover, a sample (minimum quantity) of Identified Beef may be taken away without 
charge for inspection.  
  When a report, a visit or an inspection is made in accordance with   or  , Owners, 
importers, exporters, butchers, meat -packers or meat sellers shall not reject, interrupt or 
avoid this without justification.  
  The public officer aforementioned in   or   shall show his or her ID card which 
proves his or her authorization to visit, inspect or collect samples when he or she visits a 
business site or a facility for inspection.  
  The Min ister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  may decide the detai ls 
required for inspection methods in accordance with   and  , and publicly announce 
them.  
 
Article 15 (distribution of certificates)   The inspector who inspected the slaughtered 
cattle and the meat processed from the slaughtered cattle in accordance with  Article 11   and Article 12   of the Livestock Processing Act, shall provide those who applied for 
inspection with a slaughter inspection certificate including an Identification Number.  
  The grading test performer, who graded the beef in accordance with  Article 40 of the 
Livestock Processing Act, shall provide those who applied for a grading test with a 
livestock grade certificate including Identification Number.  
 
Article 16 (delegation)   The Min ister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  may 
delegate the head of an organization, Mayor or Provincial Governor, a county governor or 
a district chairman to perform tasks in accordance with Presidential Ordinance.  
  The Min ister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  may delegate a public 
organi zation, a producers’ association, a corporation dealing with livestock business or 
inspecting organization designated in compliance with Public Organization Operation Act 
(hereinafter referred as “Public Organization”) to perform tasks in accordance with 
Presidential Ordinance.  
  An employee of a Public Organization who performs tasks in accordance with   shall 
be regarded as a public officer when Article 129, 130, 131 and 132 of Criminal Law are 
applied.  
 
Article 17 (cost support) The government or local a utonomous entity may support a part 
of or all of the cost within the range decided by Presidential Ordinance when it is 
required for harmonious enforcement of Article 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13 and 14.  
 
Article 18 (penalty) Those who commit one of the following shall be fined less than 5 
million Won.  
1. False report in violation of Article 3   or   
2. Change, removal or damaging of Ear Tags in violation of Article 5   in order to 
make the Identification Number unrecogniz able  
3. No display or false display of an Identific ation Number in violation of Article 10 
   
 
Article 19 (penalty regulation)   When the CEO, the representative or other employees 
of a corporation violates the rules as referred to in Article 18 regarding the business of the 
corporation, not only the viola tor but also the corporation shall be fined in accordance 
with the corresponding regulation.  
  The representative of an individual or other employees hired by an individual violates 
the rules as referred in Article 18 regarding the business of the individu al, not only the 
violator but also the individual shall be fined in accordance with the corresponding 
regulation.  
 
Article 20 (fine)  Those who commit one of the followings shall be fined less than 5 
million Won.  
 
1. No report in violation of Article 3   or   
2. No attachment of Ear Tags displaying an Identification Number in violation of 
Article 4   or   3. Transfer, acquisition or export of cattle without Ear Tags or with damaged Ear 
Tags in violation of Article 5   
4. Slaughtering of cattle with unclear Identificati on or no registration on the Cattle 
Identification Book in violation with Article 10   
5. No display or false display of an Identification Number on Identified Beef in 
violation of Article 11   and   
6. No distribution of a purchase order displaying an Identific ation Number to a 
buyer in violation of Article 11   
7. Violation of a correction order in accordance with Article 12  
8. No record or false record on a book or failure to preserve the book during the 
designated period in violation with Article 13  
9. No report or f alse report, rejection or interruption of inspection and collection of 
test samples in violation with Article 14  ,   and   
 
  The fine in accordance with   shall be imposed and collected by the Min ister for 
Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries , Mayor  or Provincial Governor, a county 
governor or a district chairman (hereinafter referred as “Imposer”) in accordance with 
Presidential Ordinance.  
  Those who disagree with the fine imposed in accordance with   may lodge a 
complaint to the corresponding Impo ser within 30 days as of the receipt of the 
notification of the fine.  
  When a case described in   occurs, the corresponding imposer shall notify 
immediately the court in charge of the corresponding district and the court shall deal with 
the case in accord ance with the Non-litigation Case Procedure Act.  
  Those who do not lodge a complaint during the period described in   and do not pay 
the fine shall be fined in accordance with the taxes and rates payment delay penalty.  
 
Article 21 (association in charge o f traceability)   An Association in charge of 
Traceability (hereinafter referred as “Association”) shall be created under the supervision 
of the Min ister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  for the purpose of answering 
the Minister’s questions ab out major polices related to the cattle and beef Traceability.  
  The Association shall consist of individuals with expertise in the livestock business, 
veterinary science, meat distribution and consumer protection.  
  Other details required for the creation  and operation of the Association in accordance 
with   and   shall be decided by Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, 
Forestry and Fisheries . 
 
                                                  Subsidiary Act  
Article 1 (enforcement date) This Ac t shall be enforced one year after the announcement. 
However, Article 3  , Article 10,11,12,13, 14   and 15 shall be enforced one year and 
six months after the announcement.  
 
Article 2 (exemption of application)   The cattle owned by Owners during the 
enforcement of this Act (hereinafter referred as “Existing Cattle ”) shall be reported and 
Ear Tags shall be attached to them in accordance with Article 3  ,   and Article 4 within six months as of the enforcement of this Act. However, Article s 18, 19, 20 shall  
not be applied during this period.  
  In accordance with the promotion business of the Traceability system in compliance 
with the Livestock Processing Act during the enforcement of this Act, Existing Cattle 
whose dates of birth were reported and Ear Tags w ith an Identification Number were 
properly attached or corrected (and reported) shall be regarded as their dates of birth 
having been reported and Ear Tags with an Identification Number hav ing been properly 
attached or corrected (and reported) in accordanc e with Article 3, 4 and 7 of this Act.  
  The cattle to wh ich Ear Tags were attached to test for brucellosis in cattle in 
accordance with the Livestock Epidemics Prevention Act as well as in accordance with 
promotion of calf production, livestock inspection , livestock development and livestock 
deduction in compliance with the Livestock Processing Act shall be regarded as their Ear 
Tags displaying an Identification Number hav ing been correctly attached in accordance 
with Article 4 of this Act.