Korea Welcomes Food Safety Cooperation Deal with China

The Korea Food Industry Association has welcomed a new food safety cooperation document signed between South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and China's General Administration of Customs. The agreement, finalized on August 20 during the 2026 APEC Customs-Business Dialogue in Dalian, China, is seen as a significant step toward resolving long-standing export challenges for Korean food companies.

This accord builds upon a memorandum of understanding signed in January, paving the way for expanded exports to China. Key provisions include improvements to the registration process for Korean food manufacturers exporting to China. Companies will now be able to register and apply through South Korea's integrated 'Food Safety Korea' portal, a unified system that will streamline approvals and significantly reduce processing times. Previously, companies had to apply individually to Chinese authorities.

For Korean ramen manufacturers, the agreement eases hygiene requirements. Previously, even trace amounts of meat ingredients could lead to export bans due to concerns over animal diseases. Under the new terms, Korean ramen can be exported to China if it uses raw meat approved by China and meets specific heat-treatment standards. This allows Korean companies to export the same products sold domestically, reducing the need for separate production lines and improving efficiency.

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Complex registration requirements, regulations on raw meat in ramen, and paper-based certificate issuance were major hurdles requiring significant time and cost for companies preparing to enter the Chinese market.

Furthermore, the agreement introduces electronic certificates for aquatic product exports, replacing traditional paper documents. This transition to an electronic system, facilitated by inter-governmental system linkage, is expected to speed up customs clearance, enhance security against forgery, and save approximately 3 billion won annually in associated costs previously incurred for international mail delivery of certificates.

The Korea Food Industry Association plans to work closely with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to ensure these changes are implemented effectively. They will actively inform member companies about the revised registration procedures and specific hygiene requirements for ramen exports. Association Chairman Park Jin-sun stated that the agreement significantly expands customs convenience and reduces administrative burdens, enabling both large corporations and SMEs to enter the Chinese market more quickly and stably.

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With this cooperation document, customs convenience has been greatly expanded, and the administrative burden on companies has been reduced, allowing large enterprises as well as medium and small enterprises to enter the Chinese market faster and more stably.