- Briefing by: Deputy Minister Park Seong-hoon, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries -

 

 < Safety Management Status of Coastal Waters and Seafood >

 

 

 □ This is the briefing on seafood safety management status, as of July 5th.

 

 

  ○ A total of 47 production-phase seafood radiation inspections were conducted as of yesterday (for a combined total of 4,831 accumulated inspections, year-to-date). All tests returned satisfactory results.

 

 

  ○ The top five species, in terms test volume, are, in the order of, squid (5 cases), flatfish (4 cases), hairtail (3 cases), cuttlefish (2 cases), and croaker (2 cases).

 

 

  ○ There were 18 distribution-phase seafood radiation inspections as of yesterday (for a combined total of 2,615 accumulated inspections, year-to-date), which have all returned satisfactory results.

 

 

 □ The next item we will look at are the test results for public requests submitted via the ‘Citizen Radiation Test Request Bulletin’ as follows.

 

 

  ○ For cases where we have secured samples, we have conducted one test for cuttlefish from a direct sales outlet located in Gimpo City, Gyeonggido, and one test for hairtail from a consigned sales outlet located in Yeosu City, Jeollanamdo, where both have returned satisfactory results.

 

 

  ○ Since the launch of the citizen request bulletin service on April 24th, 98 test cases were identified and 84 tests have been completed, which have all returned satisfactory results.

 

 

  ○ For the remaining 14 cases, we will immediately share the test results and provide an update once we have secured and completed the radiation inspections.

 

 

 □ Next up is a status update on the radiation inspection tests for imported seafood.

 

 

  ○ Four radiation inspection tests for Japanese seafood imports were conducted on July 3rd (for a combined total of 2,887 cases, year-to-date), with no detection cases of radiation.

 

 

< Specific Briefing Update >

 

 

 □ Next, let me brief you on the expanded measures for the special inspection on origin labeling for imported seafood, including seafood from Japan.

 

 

  ○ First, a total of 10,610 tons of Japanese seafood was imported in the first half of 2023, which were reported via the imported seafood distribution tracker system.

 

 

 - Japanese seafood makes up roughly 2 %, relatively a small proportion of total seafood imports.

 

 

  * Total imports of 530,000 tons as of H1 2023 (based on Ministry of Food and Drug Safety statistics) / Russia 33%, China 21%, Norway 8%, Peru 8%, Vietnam 4%, United States 4%, and Japan 2%

 

 

 - As we have mentioned repeatedly, seafood from Japan is only imported from regions that exclude the eight prefectures nearby Fukushima, with thorough radiation inspection conducted for every import shipment.

 

 

 - We would like to reiterate that Japanese seafood subject to issues is not imported into Korea.

 

 

  ○ The top import items are live freshwater clams (4,946 tons), red seabream (2,694 tons), refrigerated pollock (791 tons), live flounder (696 tons), and live sea squirt (398 tons).

 

 

  ○ A total of 20,680 companies have imported and/or distributed such Japanese seafood. After carrying out a comprehensive investigation in May and June of this year on companies that handle such products of national concern, including seafood from Japan, we have discovered 158 firms that have violated the rules.

 

 

  ○ Among the 158 violations, most cases (126) involved the absence of origin labeling, while 32 cases have been identified as false labeling. A majority of the violations were related to high-volume import products, such as red seabream, freshwater clams, and sea squirts.

 

 

  * False origin labeling can result in imprisonment for up to seven years or fines of up to KRW 100 million, while the lack of labeling warrant fines ranging from KRW 50,000 – 10 million.

 

 

  ○ Going forward, the Ministry will conduct an unprecedented 100-day enhanced inspection on seafood origin, to ensure public confidence in purchasing safe domestically-sourced seafood.

 

 

  ○ The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, local governments, the Coast Guard, and honorary monitoring agents will mobilize all available resources, while implementing strict punitive actions without exception for any identified violations.

 

 

  ○ To be more specific, a two-track inspection system will be implemented, where the Ministry and local governments will make at least 3 visits to companies that handle imported seafood, including seafood from Japan, to enforce tighter supervision of origin labeling.

 

 

  ○ Moreover, the special inspections will engage with both the public and private sectors, including stakeholder institutions, restaurant associations, and consumer groups.nted, where the Ministry and local governments will make at least 3 visits to companies that handle imported seafood, including seafood from Japan, to enforce tighter supervision of origin labeling.

 

 

  ○ Through this opportunity, the Ministry will definitively eradicate all violations against origin labeling that undermine public trust in Korea’s seafood products.