A large amount of narcotic ingredients, including hemp and morphine, were detected in some foods such as jelly and snacks distributed through overseas direct purchases.
On the 2nd, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted special inspections on 50 overseas direct purchase foods sold through online shopping malls in countries where cannabis use is legal, such as the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. The ministry announced that narcotics or ingredients that are blocked from being brought into the country were confirmed in 42 products, leading to their prohibition.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety noted that concerns had been raised about narcotic ingredients such as cannabis, opium poppies, and hallucinogenic mushrooms being brought into the country through overseas direct purchases, prompting inspections of products suspected of containing narcotic ingredients.
This time, a simultaneous testing method for 12 types of narcotics, including morphine, tebuine, and psilocybin, was developed in addition to the existing 49 types of established narcotic testing methods. Morphine, codeine, tebuine, and psilocybin were newly designated and announced as ingredients that are blocked from being brought into the country.
The inspection results confirmed a total of 19 types of narcotic ingredients, including cannabis components (CBD, THC, etc.), narcotics (morphine, codeine, tebuine), and psychoactive drugs (psilocybin, etc.), as well as 4 types of pharmaceutical ingredients such as theobromine and citicoline, and 2 types of raw materials that cannot be used in food, including bacopa.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety took action to ensure that products with confirmed narcotic ingredients would not be brought into or sold in the country by requesting the Customs Service to hold customs, the Korea Communications Standards Commission to block access to online sales sites, and the National Institute of Technology and Quality to suspend sales.
Additionally, to help consumers when purchasing overseas direct purchase foods, information including photos of products containing narcotics has been posted on the Food Safety Korea website under the section 'Buy overseas direct purchase foods correctly.'
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety warned, "If narcotics are contained in overseas direct purchase foods, there could be severe penalties according to the Narcotics Control Act."
Furthermore, they advised, "When purchasing overseas direct purchase foods, be sure to check the website 'Buy overseas direct purchase foods correctly' to confirm whether the product contains ingredients that are blocked from being brought into the country, and do not purchase products that are registered as hazardous overseas direct purchase foods."