The government of South Korea has asked for help from the U.S. dairy industry to ensure a smooth transition when its new food safety policies go into effect this summer. IDFA is working with the U.S. Dairy Export Council to encourage member companies exporting dairy products to South Korea to confirm their registration information by April 4, so they can continue to export products without interruption.
Background
The Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management (Special Act) was passed in the National Assembly of South Korea last year and went into effect on February 4, 2016. The Special Act provides a framework for important food policies and requires foreign food facilities and livestock establishments, which includes dairy plants, to register with Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
To minimize potential trade disruptions, the Ministry will continue to recognize dairy facilities that have exported to Korea any time between June 1998 and February 4, 2016, as registered facilities. These facilities will not need to register again once the plant list requirement is implemented on August 4, 2016.
However, the Korean government wants to ensure that this list of plants with a history of export to Korea is accurate. It has asked U.S. dairy exporters to review the Ministry’s draft list of registered dairy plants and to complete a response form confirming the following:
- Plant name and address is correct as listed; OR
- Plant name and address requires modification; OR
- Plant should be removed from the list (duplicate or incorrect listing); OR
- Plant should be added to the list (see page 2 of response form for Omitted Dairy Plants with an Established Record of Exporting to Korea).
Active plants are also required to include whether the plant has a HACCP, ISO or other food safety system in place.
Responses are due by April 4, 2016, to korealist@usdec.org. Companies should check this list again on April 8, 2016, at www.usdec.org to ensure all corrections have been made.
All dairy plants can export to Korea until August 3, 2016. Starting August 4, Korea will only accept exports from registered dairy facilities.
Companies Not Yet Exporting
The registration process for dairy plants without a history of exporting to Korea will be provided later because details are still being negotiated.
The confirmation instructions apply only to plants producing products that fall under Korea’s Livestock Code, which are all basic dairy products. Facilities producing products that are regulated by Korea’s Food Code, such as whey protein body-building blends, colostrum and cheese sauces, will follow a different registration process to come.
Members with questions may contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.