On the 10th of September 2013, The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety notified the World Trade Organization Committee of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of a number of draft proposals to amend the standards and accompanying specifications for food additives, food utensils, containers, packages and functional foods (health foods). All the draft revisions with the exception of the functional food standard revisions will be subject to public comment until the 9th of November 2013. The specific areas earmarked for change are as follows:
Food Additives:
1) The standards and specifications of the following 3 food additives are newly established: Sodium fluoride, potassium iodate, butane.
2) The specifications of 18 food additives are revised: Nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, hypochlorous acid water, transglucosidase, natural flavoring substance, crude magnesium chloride, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, modified food starch , isomalt, phosphoric acid, pectin, yeast extract, grapefruit seed extract, carotene, enzymatically modified stevia, pancreatin, poly-alpha-glutamic acid, mixedpreparations of sodium L-glutamate.
3) The standards for the use of the following 9 food additives are revised: Sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sodium sulfite, sodium hydrosulfite, sodium selenite, sodium selenate, natamycin.
4) The standards and specifications of Lactic acid preparations, as a food contact surface sanitizing solution, are newly established and the specificatis of hypochlorous acid water are revised
Food Utensils, Containers and Packages:
The Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the Standards and Specifications for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages:
1) A provision for lubricant for food machinery and utensils in common manufacturing standards is newly established.
2) A provision for recycled synthetic resin of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN) in common manufacturing standards is newly established.
3) The following 4 test methods to improve the precision of the analysis are revised:1-Hexene and 1-octene test method, primary aromatic amine (in compliance with only the aniline, 4,4-methylenedianiline and 2,4-toluenediamine) test method, amine (in compliance with only the triethylamine and tributylamine) test method, diphenylcarbonate test method.
Functional Foods:
According to the obligation of follow-up and management of records on functional health foods, business operators who manufacture or import functional health foods for sale prescribed by the Ordinance of the Prime Minister shall register the relevant functional health foods. These health foods should be registered with the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, upon meeting registration standards.The proposed changes are due to enter into force on the 14th of February 2014.
For more information email: wtokfda@korea.kr
