The government said on the 30th that it held a "briefing on certification systems and technical regulations in the food sector" to expand K-food exports.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources' Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Export Plus Support Team said they held the briefing with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Korea International Trade Association at KOTRA's Invest Korea Plaza (IKP) in Seoul, sharing global certification trends in the food sector.
At the briefing, the government introduced an integrated management strategy for value-consumption-based certifications—such as vegan (excluding animal-derived ingredients) and gluten-free (excluding wheat ingredients)—along with Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification, which is essential for global retailers' supply chain management. It also provided guidance on slaughter methods and segregated process control standards under the food halal certification systems that are being strengthened as import approval requirements in the Middle East.
The government also shared safety demonstration requirements that must be secured before entering the European market, including major revisions to food contact materials (FCM) regulations related to expanding the share of recycled content in plastic food containers in Europe, as well as alternative food approval procedures and labeling compliance.
Meanwhile, starting with the Seoul briefing, KATS's Overseas Certification Support Team and the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Export Plus Support Team plan to provide tailored certification information aligned with region-specific product groups in major regions nationwide, including Daejeon on the 18th of next month, Seoul on June 18, Wonju on July 9, Daegu on Sept. 30, Busan on Oct. 22, and Gwangju on Nov. 26.
Yu Beop-min, deputy head of the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Export Plus Support Team, said, "In food exports, overseas certification is not a simple choice but an essential element for market entry," adding, "Amid rising protectionism worldwide and tightening food regulations, the government will provide close support so that our corporations can preempt the global market based on quality competitiveness."
Seo Young-jin, Director General of KATS's Overseas Certification Support Team, said, "Food regulations in major countries are expanding beyond technical standards to the entire value chain, including carbon neutrality and animal welfare," adding, "KATS will provide real-time guidance on the latest overseas certifications and technical regulations through an AI-based information portal, and will strengthen one-on-one customized support by overseas certification experts to shorten certification acquisition periods and reduce expense for our export corporations."