Due to COVID-19, Export Seafood Processing Vessels Unable to Enter Korea Face 'Mandatory Sanitation Inspection' Exemption

Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act Passed at the Cabinet Meeting

Effective from the 15th

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Starting from the 15th, export-oriented seafood processing vessels that cannot enter the country due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will be exempt from mandatory hygiene inspections.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that the amendment to the "Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act Enforcement Decree," which includes this provision, passed the Cabinet meeting review on the 8th and will be enforced from the 15th.

Until now, under the existing Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act Enforcement Decree, registered production and processing facilities (vessels) for export seafood were required to undergo mandatory hygiene inspections at least once every two years. Violations of this requirement resulted in administrative measures such as suspension of seafood production or cancellation of registration.

However, this year, due to the special circumstances of COVID-19, 67 out of 97 vessels subject to inspection, accounting for 69%, are overseas, making it impossible to undergo mandatory hygiene inspections.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries amended the Enforcement Decree of the Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act to allow adjustment of the hygiene inspection cycle for registered production and processing facilities (vessels) for export seafood in unavoidable situations such as the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 or natural disasters, thereby preventing issues such as export suspension.

At the same time, the standards for administrative measures based on hygiene inspection results of seafood production and processing facilities were improved. Previously, even minor violations such as not providing handwashing soap were subject to administrative measures, which led to excessive administrative effort and delayed corrective actions, reducing efficiency. In fact, in 2019, out of a total of 576 export-registered facilities, 216 facilities (37.5%) received administrative measures, of which 98.6% (213 facilities) were for minor violations. Minor violations require 30 to 60 days for hearings, administrative measures, corrective actions, and verification.

Therefore, through this amendment, minor violations can now be corrected immediately on-site without administrative measures. However, if three or more minor violations occur, administrative measures will be applied as before.

Myeong No-heon, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Through this amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act, we hope to reduce the burden on the seafood export industry struggling due to COVID-19 and contribute to revitalizing seafood exports by easing excessive regulations."

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