Korea maintains qualifications for export of marine products, chicken, and honey products to the European Union

 

- Overcoming stringent EU regulatory barriers with diplomacy through collaboration between the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)
- Recognition by EU that Korea’s antibiotic safety management system is world-class
- Securing momentum for K-food to enter countries other than the 27 EU member states

 

 MOF, MAFRA, and MFDS disclosed that they are proactively responding to the EU's regulation to strengthen the import of antibiotics for animal-based foods* from December 2022, maintaining Korea's eligibility to export animal-based foods to the EU.

 

 On June 28, the EU released to the World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries the first list of 72 import-eligible countries including Korea. The first list is scheduled to be finalized in September, and only countries included in the list will be able to export animal foods to the EU beginning September 2026.

 

 Earlier, the EU enacted a new regulation* banning antibiotics for the human body and antibiotics for growth promotion of food animals, which are raw materials for animal foods exported to the EU from non-EU countries. It then notified WTO member countries of the regulation in December 2022 and announced it in February 2023.

 

 Afterward, in May 2023, the EU began evaluating antibiotic safety management systems in import-eligible countries including Korea. Accordingly, the Korean government, in collaboration with related ministries (MOF, MAFRA, and MFDDS), submitted data* on the domestic food and antibiotic safety management system and status to the EU five times in April this year to prove Korea's excellent safety management capabilities.

 

 * Regulation, permit, and use status related to antibiotics in fishery products, chicken, and honey

 

 Korea's inclusion in the EU's list of countries from which the import of animal food is allowed is another example of Korea successfully overcoming the EU's stringent food safety regulatory barriers. This follows the first export of samgyetang (Korean chicken soup) to the EU last May.

 

 The Korean government believes that the EU's recognition of Korea's level of antibiotic resistance management will provide K-food with a good opportunity to expand overseas markets by entering countries other than the EU.

 

 The Korean government plans to strengthen regulatory diplomacy efforts with major trading partners to support the revitalization of the Korean food industry's export markets. Through close communication with the industry, the government will also proactively respond to changes in the international trade environment.