'Import Seafood Distribution History Management' Transferred from 'Korea Customs Service to Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Starting Next Month

From October 1, Reporting to the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service is Required

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 24th that it will take over the operation of the 'Imported Fishery Products Distribution History System' from the Korea Customs Service starting October 1.

The Imported Fishery Products Distribution History System is a system that requires mandatory reporting of transaction details at each distribution stage when importing fishery products designated and announced by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, as well as when trading those fishery products domestically. Failure to report will result in a fine of up to 5 million KRW.

Management of distribution history for imported goods is handled by the Korea Customs Service under the Customs Act. Among these, imported fishery products will be transferred to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ National Fishery Products Quality Management Service as of October 1. To this end, the Ministry and the Quality Management Service have established related announcements and built the 'Imported Fishery Products Distribution History Management System' to track and manage the distribution process from import customs clearance to retail stages.

The reporting target items include 17 imported fishery products such as eel, frozen croaker, and grass carp. Importers or distributors who are obligated to report must submit sales details by transferee within 5 days from the date of transfer through the distribution history management system. If electronic reporting through the system is difficult, it is also possible to report in writing to the relevant branch office of the Quality Management Service.

The Ministry plans to form a 'Distribution History Review Committee' mainly composed of related experts and consumer groups. Through this, before the designation period for these 17 items ends in late July 2021, the Ministry will comprehensively review the possibility of origin violations and public health risks for each imported fishery product and extend the designation period or add designated items accordingly.

Lee Kyung-gyu, Director of Fisheries Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "By unifying the management authority to the Quality Management Service, which currently handles domestic fishery product distribution history management, it is expected that fishery product safety management will be performed more quickly and efficiently." He added, "We will make every effort to implement the related system to protect consumers through transparent fishery product distribution information."

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