Author: Wu Li, REACH24H Consulting Group, Hang Zhou

August 3, 2016 -the registration deadline of import food and food contact materials manufacturer in South Korean is only one months. After the deadline, all manufacturers which export food and food contact materials to South Korea must have manufacturer registrations before they enter the country. For the manufacturers who don’t register, their products will be prohibited from entering South Korea.

South Korea’s ‘foreign manufacturers’ registration system started from 2015, which came from Korea’s Special Act on the relevant provisions of Imported Food Safety Management issued by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (MFDS). It came into force on February 4, 2016, subjecting to compulsory Enforcement Act. Article V of the Act made ​​it clear for these foreign manufacturers who intend to export food, food additives, food containers, food packaging materials and livestock products to Korean. Foreign manufacturers should take manufacturer registration from MFDS in advance, and it will remain valid for 2 years and during the period. MFDS has the right to take factory inspection with foreign manufacturers. After the formal implementation of the Act, there is a six-month grace period, the final registration deadline is August 3, 2016. From August 4, 2016, when food or food contact materials related products entering Korea take products declaration, the registration must be accompanied by the manufacturer’s information. It is worth noting that foreign food or food contact materials products for the first time exporting to Korea, must take the vendor registration at least 7 days before the product declaration; otherwise MFDS has the right to refuse declaration. In response, manufacturers which don’t take vendor registration, the product may be detained in port or at risk of being returned. And for a single company which has a number of factories related to the production and export of related products in the case of South Korea, it must be registered for each plant.

The measure is similar with the US FDA on import food foreign manufacturer registration, which is benefit to assist in identifying potential locations and causes of foodborne disease outbreaks. In food safety incidents, we can notice manufacturers which may be affected in some ways. MFDS has added import of food contact materials manufacturers on the basis of imported food, including production enterprises for food containers, food packaging materials and raw materials.

China, as an important trading partner of South Korea, should be put in the first place of regulatory attention. Since the Act is enforced, it reminds the relevant manufacturers to prepare in advance, especially for the food contact materials manufacturers who are unfamiliar to this kind of registration.

REACH24H has rich experience in dealing with United States food contact materials (FDA /FCN / 21 CFR) and EU food contact materials (EU 10/2011/BfR) and can make custom-made compliance service for enterprises. If you have further questions, please consult

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