Labeling

Korea

Effective June 13, 2001, the Korea Food & Drug Administration will require labelling on processed foods that use soybean, corn or soybean sprout enhanced through biotechnology. Labelling is required only in cases where GM corn, soybean or soybean sprout is among the top 5 ingredients of a processed food product. Minor ingredients are exempt from labelling requirements. Threshold level of unintentional contamination of GMO to those three ingredients is 3%.

Exemptions:

Foods that do not contain novel DNA or proteins as a result of genetic modification are exempted from labelling requirements, even if ingredients were derived from GM crops. Currently, soy souce and edible oils such as soybean and corn oils are exempted from GMO labelling.
Products derived from GM crops other than corn or soybeans, and crops that are genetically modified through processes other than recombinant DNA technologies, are exempt from labelling requirements. However, labelling of potatoes will be required as of March 2002, and labelling regulation for potato-based processed foods will be implemented sometime this year.

Labelling as 'Non-GMO' or 'GMO-free' is permitted only if a product is 100 percent free of any biotech components. 'Non-GMO' or 'GMO-free' labelling is subject to a maximum threshold allowance of 0 (zero). In other words, practically, no products can carry 'Non-GMO' or 'GMO-free' labels
Korea's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also requires labelling for commodity shipments of corn, soybeans and soybean sprouts if the shipment is destined for direct consumption and if it contains a biotech-enhanced component of three percent or higher.

KFDA is in charge of inspecting GMO labelling of both raw materials and final products at the port of entry. IP handling certificate is required for no labelling. In terms of inspecting GMO labelling of the products on local market, MAF is in charge for raw materials and KFDA is in charge for processed products.

(For more details, go to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Report on the Republic of Korea Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Subject Report: KFDA Biotech Labelling Standards for Processed Foods. http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200108/125681734.pdf This report is a compilation of updated information on the Korean labelling requirements for processed food products that may or may not contain biotech-enhanced ingredients.)

Biotech Labelling for Unprocessed Potatoes

Effective March 1, 2002, the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry requires unprocessed potatoes enhanced through biotechnology be labeled if the shipment contains a 3-percent or higher biotech-enhanced component. Other such commodities include corn, soybeans and soybean sprouts
(For more details, go to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Report on the Republic of Korea Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Subject Report: Biotech Labelling for Unprocessed Potatoes. ) http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200203/135683693.pdf

Other countries:

1. Saudi Arabia
2. Australia
3. Brazil
4. Canada
5. China
6. Czech Republic
7. European Union
8. Hong Kong
9. Israel
10. Japan
11. Malaysia
12. Russia
13. Switzerland
14. Taiwan
15. Thailand
16. USA

Related article:

1. Pocket K No. 5 - Labeling GM Foods - View

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