News

Korea Facility Registration

NAEGA is seeking member input on the implementation of the Korean Special Act for Imported Food Safety, which came into effect on February 4 and requires facility registrations by August 4, 2016. The Special Act requires food importers to register facilities with the Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS).  During meetings in May with NAEGA and USDA FAS the MFDS agreed to reverse its decision on facility registration and only require registration of export elevators. NAEGA finds this an important change that should be more practical than registration of grain facilities all the way upstream to point of production as was previously being considered. Following the May meetings, we have been pursuing official notification from MFDS on the decision.  We have recently learned during a briefing for foreign embassies that MFDS indicated that only the final packaging location is required to be registered.

As this may not be sufficient guidance, NAEGA is requesting your advice regarding the following:
What is your understanding of the registration requirements as they are to apply to your company?
Is the direction provided by MFDS sufficient for:
Limiting Registration to the export elevator for bulk FOB vessel loadings?
Defining which facility needs to be registered for container and break bulk shipments?
Is there a need to seek some exemptions or alternative approaches to meeting the requirements of the special act?

Please contact Gary and Ryan if you would like to contribute a response. Your responses will be used as background for NAEGA policy development and as such will be held confidential and no company or individual specific information or advice will be shared beyond NAEGA staff.