Decision to Discharge Contaminated Water from Fukushima... Seoul City Activates 'Continuous Investigation System' for Imported Seafood

Special Inspection of Imported Seafood Origin Labeling Until May 12... Radioactive Food Safety Sampling and Testing from May 10 to June 30
Seoul Civil Affairs Police Special Investigation Team Operated Separately, Joint Investigation with National Fishery Products Quality Management Service and Customs Service

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has recently activated a year-round, continuous investigation system related to the origin labeling of imported seafood to alleviate citizens' anxiety caused by Japan's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and to ensure food safety. Additionally, special inspections on origin labeling and emergency radiation tests will be conducted targeting seafood retailers and restaurants.

According to Seoul City on the 25th, from April 23 to May 12, a "special inspection on origin labeling" of imported seafood distribution products will be carried out, and from May 10 to the end of June, "radiation food safety sampling and testing" will be conducted. The "special inspection on origin labeling" will be carried out jointly by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, 25 autonomous districts, the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, and honorary monitors. The inspection targets include seafood retailers and restaurants such as Noryangjin Fish Market that have imported scallops, refrigerated pollock, skate, and live red sea bream within the last month.

The main focus of the inspection is on fraudulent labeling and sales practices that disguise imported seafood as domestic products, as well as failure to label the origin. Violations will result in strong administrative measures such as prosecution and fines. False origin labeling is subject to prosecution (imprisonment of up to 7 years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW), and failure to label the origin will incur fines ranging from 50,000 KRW to 10 million KRW.

Continuous inspections of imported seafood will be conducted going forward. Since violations of seafood origin labeling can lead to consumer distrust and poor sales, the city plans to respond promptly to promote voluntary compliance with origin labeling.

In particular, the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Civil Life Judicial Police Unit has formed a special investigation team within the Food Safety Investigation Team, staffed by investigators with extensive experience in the food sector, to exclusively investigate harmful offenders violating seafood origin labeling. While previously, planned investigations related to origin violations were mainly concentrated during specific periods such as holidays, the system will now shift to a year-round continuous investigation system for imported seafood. Cooperation with the Korea Customs Service and the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service will also be strengthened to enhance the effectiveness of crackdowns.

After the completion of the current sampling and testing, Seoul City plans to continuously monitor the distribution channels and volumes of seafood to maintain a thorough management system. Furthermore, to encourage direct citizen participation, various application channels such as online, telephone, email, and fax are being operated to activate the "Citizen Participation Radiation Testing Request System."

Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "Seoul City will conduct continuous inspections and monitoring of origin labeling and foods suspected of radiation contamination to ensure the safety of imported seafood and other food products. We will disclose results to citizens to reduce anxiety and take strong administrative actions against violations to strengthen food safety management."

Park Byung-hyun, Head of Investigation Team 2 of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Civil Life Judicial Police Unit, said, "Recently, citizens have been very anxious about Japanese seafood. Seoul City will do its utmost to provide safe food by thoroughly tracking and blocking criminal acts that compromise food safety and deceive origin labeling, including distribution and sales companies."

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