Intensive Crackdown on Non-Face-to-Face Online Sales of Gulbi, Shrimp, and Refrigerated Myeongtae Ahead of Chuseok

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[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service announced on the 15th that it will conduct a special crackdown on violations of seafood origin labeling from the 16th to the 29th ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

This crackdown will be carried out by special judicial police officers and investigative officials affiliated with 14 regional offices of the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service. At the same time, to eradicate violations at the large-scale distribution stage such as major distribution and processing companies, regional crackdown teams organized by the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service in four regions?Capital area, Central area, Yeongnam area, and Honam area?plan to conduct planned crackdowns concurrently.

The main items targeted for crackdown are dried yellow corvina (jogi), sea bream species, shrimp, and hairtail, which are expected to see increased demand during Chuseok for ancestral rites and gifts. Also included are live red sea bream, whose imports have recently increased, seasonal live whelks, refrigerated pollock, and live scallops, which have seen an increase in origin labeling violations over the past three years.

The primary targets for the crackdown are seafood manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, traditional markets, delivery app franchise stores, and online sales companies. The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service will focus on whether these businesses fail to label origin, violate labeling methods, or provide false labeling.

In particular, considering the expansion of non-face-to-face purchases due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), this crackdown will strengthen guidance and enforcement of origin labeling for online sales through a newly developed delivery application management computer system. This system monitors the origin labeling status of 430,000 businesses registered on major delivery apps such as Baedal Minjok, Yogiyo, and Baedaltong. Based on the monitoring results, the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service will conduct telephone guidance and on-site crackdowns.

Those who falsely label the origin may face imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million won. Those who fail to label the origin will be fined between 50,000 won and 10 million won. Especially, if origin is falsely labeled two or more times within five years, aggravated punishment will be imposed with imprisonment from one to ten years or fines ranging from 5 million won to 150 million won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.