Oh Yu-Kyoung, Ministery of Food and Drug Safety commissioner, said on the 1st that "we will support the global expansion of K-food, K-bio and K-beauty through regulatory design that meets global standards, including halal certification for food, contract development and manufacturing for biopharmaceuticals, and safety assessments for cosmetics."
The Minister said in a New Year's address that "we aim to stand tall as a global food and drug regulatory agency that reassures the public and strengthens industry," presenting the core keywords for the new year as ▲ public safety ▲安心 daily life ▲ growth engine.
The Minister said, "we will shorten the approval and review period for products such as biosimilars from the current 420 days to within 240 days, and introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-based approval and review support system."
The official said, "we will improve the efficiency and accuracy of food safety management through AI-based risk prediction for imported food and detection of foreign substances in meat, and we will scientifically analyze and transparently disclose harmful components in tobacco." The agency also plans to strengthen oversight of illegal distribution of medical narcotics and AI-based fake advertisements by doctors and pharmacists.
The Minister said, "we will support meal safety at all senior and disability social welfare facilities in all cities, counties and districts nationwide, and we will broaden patients' treatment opportunities by having the government directly supply treatments for rare and intractable diseases and by strengthening public production of essential medicines." The official added, "the year of the blue dragon is a symbol not of 'staying' but of 'moving,' and with tireless effort we will produce results in food and drug safety that the public can feel."