10 June 2016
Purpose
To advise Australian exporters of mandatory pre-registration requirements for foreign food facilities involved in exporting processed food, plant products including grains and horticultural products, food additives and food packages/containers/equipment to the Republic of Korea (Korea).
A foreign food facility as described in the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management for grains means grain storage, grain packaging (registered export establishment), etc. For processed products such as breakfast cereals such as oat bran, maize grits, flour, barley malted, etc it includes processing, manufacturing, storing and packaging facilities. For fresh fruits and vegetables it includes growers, packaging and treatment facilities (registered export establishments), etc.
Background
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has been notified that Korea’s Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management (the Act) came into effect on 4 February 2016.
The Act requires all foreign food establishments that produce, manufacture, process, treat and/or store food, plant products including grains and fresh fruit and vegetables for human consumption intended for export to Korea are required to complete a web-based registration process.
Registration must be received at least seven days before an import declaration is raised. An English translation of the portal is available by clicking the language icon on the top right hand corner of the home page. The on-line registration form can then be accessed by clicking through to the Application for Registration of Foreign Food Facility.
Registrations are valid for two years. Applications for registration can be submitted by either the exporting food facility or by the Korean importers who have been granted permission from the food facilities to submit applications on their behalf.
Korea has allowed a six-month grace period until 3 August 2016 for foreign food facilities to register their details with Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Foreign food facilities can continue to export processed food and plant products for human consumption to Korea until 3 August 2016 without registration.
To ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act ahead of the 3 August 2016 enforcement date, Australian facilities involved in exporting processed food and plant products for human consumption to Korea are encouraged to register their details online by 24 July 2016, to allow the application to be processed ahead of the enforcement date. Alternatively, registration applications can be submitted by post. For postal applications, the attached form (Attachment 1) should be posted to:
Food Import Policy Division
Ministry of Food & Drug Safety
187 Osong Saengmyung 2-ro, Osongeup, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
South Korea 363-700
The department will continue to seek further advice on the implementation of the Act and will advise industry of any further developments through the distribution of industry advice notice.
Key Points
- The MFDS may conduct an on-site inspection of a foreign food facility where the MFDS deems that it is necessary. Inspections will be arranged through prior consultation with the government in the exporting country.
- Where the government of an exporting country or a foreign food facility refuses an on-site inspection; or a hazard was found during an on-site inspection, the Minister for the MFDS may suspend the importation of food of that foreign food facility.
- Where a foreign food facility has been suspended by the MFDS - the government of an exporting country (or the foreign food facility/or the importer of foreign food) can propose a solution to the identified food safety issue. Providing that the solution is acceptable, the Minister for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety may revoke the suspension. In such cases, the Minister may request an on-site inspection to ensure the hazard has been reduced to an acceptable level.
If you require further information, please contact the Grain and Seed Export Program on 02 6272 3229 or email Grain Export or email the Horticulture Exports Program at Horticulture Exports Program ACT.
Peter Creaser
A/g Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations
Attachment 1 - Application for Foreign Facility Registration - Sample 
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