South Korea Revises Food Contact Material Standards

SG 116/24

South Korea has revised the nation's standards and specifications for food contact materials and articles. The amendment became effective on June 21, 2024.

In March 2024, we informed you that the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued Public Notice No. 2024-97 to consult over its intention to revise the nation's 'Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging' (MFDS Notification No. 2022-97, December 29, 2022) by improving and supplementing some of its deficiencies (SafeGuards 50/24 and references therein).

Among the proposed changes under Public Notice No. 2024-97 were:

• Clarifying that the requirement of less than 0.1% lead used in the manufacture or repair of the food contact parts in utensils, containers and packaging includes solder
• Emphasizing that if the material and color of the main body and accessories are identical, testing is to be conducted on the main body

On June 21, 2024, the MFDS issued Notice No. 2024-29 to partially revise 'Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging'. This amendment essentially implements the proposed changes under Public Notice No. 2024-97 and became effective on the day of its publication.

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