KOREA

Capital: Seoul
Population:  48,324,000
Currenc:: Won
Official Language(s): Korean

I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)

    Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.

II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION

    A. Chemical residue standards:

      Korea uses its own standards. The Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) is responsible for regulating pesticide residues in foodstuffs, in accordance with the maximum residue levels (MRLs) set in the Food Code.   As of July 2006, KFDA had set MRL in foods for 370 pesticides.  If an MRL is established in the Food Code for a given agricultural chemical, other tolerance levels, such as Codex. are not accepted.  However, for agricultural chemicals where tolerance levels have not been established in the Koran Food Code, the CODEX standards shall apply first.  If there is no CODEX standard, then residue levels set by other foreign countries may be taken into consideration, prior to making a decision on whether the level detected would be acceptable or not. 

      The final judgment about what to do with a product containing an agricultural chemical not listed will be made after studying the factors listed above. When an agricultural chemical is detected that is not allowed, Korea will take strict action.

    B. Monitoring chemical residues:

      Korea actively monitors chemical residues in imported fruits.

    C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

      Korea allows the use of five different types of wax as food additives: beeswax, petroleum wax, carnauba wax, rice bran wax and candelilla wax. These five waxes do not have a tolerance level (MRL) set.  Food additives which are listed in the Korean Food Additive Code but do not have a MRL set, should be used following good manufacturing practices.

III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS

Imported produce to be labeled in Korean as organic must receive certification from an official agency recognized by the National Agricultural Products Quality management Service (NAQS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).  NAQS has officially designated 31 Korean certification agencies.  No foreign entities have been designated.  Produce certified as organic by U.S. entities still needs to be certified by NAQS approved agencies in order to carry a Korean language organic label.  A foreign language organic label (such as the USDA organic logo) is permitted as long as "organic" is not included in the Korean language label.

IV. TARIFFS

    Effective January 1, 2004, the applied tariff rates are as follows:

    Apples       45% (WTO concessive rate)
    Pears             45% (General tariff)
    Cherries         24% (WTO concessive rate)

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

    A. Labeling requirements:

      All imported food products are required to have Korean language labels.  For agricultural products that are packed in a box or container such as bagged or boxed cherries, Korean language labels should contain the following inscriptions printed in letters large enough to be readily legible:   product name, producer, packing date, contents and other items such as storage condition.  The Korean Customs Service now requires Country of Origin marks on packing containers.

      Products on which Korean labels can be omitted:  Agricultural products which are not put in a container and package and are in the natural state are exempted from Korean label requirements.

      Korea requires that Country of Origin (COOL) labels be on each apple and pear.  The COOL indication may be an edible ink stamp or a sticker.  Cherries are exempt from this requirement.

    B. Licenses and quotas:

      An importer must be a licensed businessman.   Once an importer receives a license to conduct foreign trade business, he is free to import without requiring any further licensing.

    C. Currency Issues:

      Korean foreign exchange transactions are strictly controlled by the Foreign Exchange Control Law.

    D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:

      Apples and pears from the United States are not allowed to be imported due to alleged phytosanitary concerns.

      Cherries must be fumigated, according to requirements outlined by USDA APHIS, accompanied by federal phytosanitary certificate and inspected on arrival in Korea.  As of May 12, 2003, entry of all varieties of fresh sweet cherries from specific counties in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington is approved.

      Cherries are permitted from the following states and counties in the Northwest:  Idaho - Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Twin Falls and Washington; Oregon - Umatilla and Wasco; and Washington - Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima.  Fumigation requirements may be obtained from state departments of agriculture commodity inspection representatives in each state.

E.  Solid Wood Packing Material (SWPM) Regulations:

VI. SUBSIDIES

None.

VII.  OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental: 

VII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

U.S. apple and pear imports are prohibited due to alleged phytosanitary concerns such as codling moth and fire blight. However, the key reason for exclusion of apple and pear imports is protection of domestic production.

105 South 18th Street, Suite 105
Yakima, Washington 98901, USA
Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615

E-mail general@nwhort.org