Korea implemented a new Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management (The Act) on February 4, 2016 which includes a foreign facility registration component. For livestock facilities, implementation of this bill is scheduled for August 4, 2016. Similar to the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), dairy facilities exporting to Korea must register with Korea’s Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) through the U.S. government to be eligible to export to Korea. However, those dairy facilities that have exported products to Korea before February 4, 2016, will be considered to have registered their facilities and exempt from facility registration. 

MFDS has prepared a list of livestock facilities that are considered registered based on a history of exporting to Korea from June 1998 to February 4, 2016. They have shared this list with USDEC, and all members are encouraged to review the list and confirm its accuracy by April 4, 2016 (see Member Alert). New facilities that wish to export to Korea after February 4, 2016 will have to register with MFDS through the U.S. government. The process for registration of new livestock facilities is under discussion. Instructions will be posted in Volume 2 of the Export Guide when they are available.  

Please note that any products that are regulated by Korea’s Food Code (colostrum, whey protein body-building formulas, cheese sauce, etc.) will still be subject to foreign food facility registration with MFDS, but will not be grandfathered based on a history of export to Korea. These plants will need to register with MFDS, and the registration will be valid for two years. See Volume 2 of the Export Guide for instructions on registering foreign food facilities.

All dairy plants and food plants regardless of registration status can continue to export to Korea until August 3, 2016. Starting on August 4, Korea will only accept imports from registered dairy facilities. 

Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers on the new measure. Please contact Matt McKnight (mmcknight@usdec.org) or Sandra Benson (sbenson@usdec.org) with any additional questions.

Q1) Which types of individuals may register a dairy facility?

A1) Only an individual manufacturing facility should register. Importers cannot register for exporters. If a trader stores dairy products in its facility it should also register, whereas if it does not store products, it does not need to register.

Q2) Can an exporting dairy facility register directly with MFDS?

A2) No. The Act requires dairy manufacturers to register with the government. Therefore, U.S. exporters will register with the U.S. government, and the U.S. government will provide facility information to MFDS. Dairy manufacturers should not register directly with MFDS.

However, non-livestock foreign food facilities making products regulated by Korea’s Food Code have to register directly with MFDS individually, not with the U.S. government. 

Q3) What is the registration requirement if a plant manufactures products that are regulated by Korea’s Livestock Code and Food Code?

A3) Plants must be registered both in the list of livestock facilities and foreign food facilities.

Q4) If a dairy facility has a history of exporting to Korea before Feb 4, 2016 what should it do to confirm that it is included in the list of grandfathered facilities for which registration with MFDS is not required?

A4) See the Member Alert dated March 22, 2016 and confirm to USDEC whether the details of the historical registration are accurate by April 4, 2016. 

Q5) What is the validity period of facility registration with MFDS?

A5) Once a livestock facility is registered, it does not need to re-register as long as its registration information remains the same. If registration information changes, it should modify the appropriate details through the U.S. government.

However, non-livestock foreign food facilities under the Food Code have to re-register with MFDS every two years.