RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/KOR/19
11October 1995
ORGANIZATION
(95-3036)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: REPUBLIC OFKOREA
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Ministry ofHealth andWelfare
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Food, Food
Additives, Apparatus forFood Additives, Apparatus forFood, Packaging and
Containers andFood.
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document:
Establishment ofinspection guidelines forimported foods.
5. Description ofcontent:
-Foods whose failure ratesinlaboratory testing havebeenhigharesubject tostrict
inspection, while foods withnopasttestviolations aresubject torandom sampling.
-Food testswillfocus onsuchhazardous items asheavy metal, foodadditives,
antibiotics andpathogenic organisms, etc.
-Thelaboratory testing procedures willbeexpedited forfresh fruits, vegetables and
fishandshellfish products which arehighly perishable atnormal temperature, aswell
asforfoods imported urgently forthepurpose ofprice stabilization.
-Fresh foodproducts from thesame exporter, product type, country ororigin and
packaging facility willbeexempted from laboratory testing fortwomonths following
non-violative testresults.
-Foods presented withtestcertificates issued bydomestic and/or international
inspection institutions which meetthefollowing conditions (aorb)canbeexempted
form laboratory testing:
(a) Tests inaccordance withtheKorean Food Sanitation Act; or
(b) Thetesting methods anditems etc.aremutually recognized according to
international convention.
- Even incasetestcertificate cannotbeapplicable toconditions mentioned above, a
headofquarantine office canuseittoadjust inspection items.
./.G/SPS/N/KOR/19
Page2
6. Objective andrationale:
Toprovide detailed inspection guidelines forimported foods inaccordance withthe
revision oftheMinisterial Ordinance oftheFood Sanitation Law.
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents: Government Notice No.1995-76 (29August, 1995)
9. Proposed date ofadoption andentry intoforce: 1January 1996
10. Final date forcomments: 11November 1995
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress andtelefax number ofother
body: Food Circulation Division
Ministry ofHealth andWelfare
1Choongang-dong, Kwachon-city, Kyunggi-do
Republic ofKorea
Tel.No:8225046026
Fax.No:8225046207