Korea launched new biotech labeling requirements

Beginning February 4, 2017, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety began enforcing biotech labeling requirements that were finalized on February 3, 2016. This report summarizes the new requirements and includes translations of a guideline and Q and A document published by the ministry to provide additional clarity.

Overview

The Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (hereinafter referred to as MFDS) implemented new biotech labeling requirements beginning February 4, 2017. In accordance with the revision of the Food Sanitation Act, which was finalized on February 3, 2016 with one year grace period, this new labeling requirement expanded mandatory biotech labeling to all detectable products. Please also see Post’s most recent reporting on this issue, included in our 2016 Biotechnology Annual KS1646. To provide guidance and details on the new biotech labeling requirements, MFDS also published the Guideline on Labeling of GM Food (hereinafter referred to as Guideline) on January 25, 2017. A translation of the Guideline and Q&A prepared by MFDS is provided in the appendix of the report.

Major changes in the new biotech labeling scheme include:

• Expansion of mandatory biotech labeling to all detectable products (i.e. detectable biotech proteins): Under the previous Act, biotech labeling was required for products that contain detectable biotech component as one or more of the top five ingredients. However, the new Act requires biotech labeling for products that contain any detectable biotech component even for a minor ingredient.
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• Increase of the font size of biotech labeling: The font size was increased from 10 point to 12 points. The label shall be made on the principal display panel or an ingredient panel using stickers, printed label or stamp.
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• Prohibiting Non-GMO or GMO Free claims: For products that do not have biotech counterparts, MFDS prohibits the use of Non-GMO or GMO-Free claims on the product label. For example, a claim of Non-GM rice or Non-GM banana is prohibited.
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• Allowing Non-GMO or GMO Free claims: As for products that have biotech counterparts, if a Non-GM ingredient is the top ingredient or contents of Non-GM ingredient is 50% or more of total ingredients, Non-GMO or GMO Free claim are allowed. However, in this case, adventitious presence of GM component in the finished product is not accepted and a zero tolerance applies.
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• Exempting non-detectable products from mandatory biotech labeling: MFDS continues to exempt mandatory biotech labeling for products that do not contain foreign DNA or protein. Exempted products are cooking oil, sugar (glucose, fructose, taffy, sugar syrups, etc.), soy sauce, modified starch, alcoholic beverages (beer, whisky, brandy, liqueur, distilled spirits, etc.). No supporting document is required to get exempted from biotech labeling requirements for the listed products.
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• Exempting processing aids and carriers from mandatory biotech labeling: Processing aids (enzyme(s) made of GM microorganism), carriers, diluents, and stabilizers including emulsifiers are excluded from biotech labeling requirements. In this case, manufacturers are required to provide a document that proves the use of raw ingredients for the aforementioned purpose.

Download the full report here.