MFDS Monitors Prices of At-Home Test Kits on Online Malls... "Block Measures if Issues Arise"

Additional Supply of 16.46 Million Units Planned by the 6th
Export Restrictions Also Considered if Domestic Supply Falls Short

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is strengthening monitoring to ensure the stable supply of COVID-19 self-test kits.

The MFDS announced on the 4th that it has designated COVID-19 self-test kits as "public health emergency response medical products" to effectively prepare for public health crisis situations.

Accordingly, the MFDS will continuously monitor necessary distribution management information such as sales locations, sales volume, and prices for about 40 retailers distributing these products, along with the three companies currently manufacturing and selling self-test kits.

They will also actively respond to cases where the same self-test kits are sold at inflated prices on some online shopping malls. The MFDS has already requested online shopping platforms to block posts from sellers arbitrarily selling at significantly higher prices, and stated that they will continue to take measures such as blocking requests if similar issues arise in the future.

At the same time, the MFDS explained that there is no need to excessively stockpile self-test kits in advance. In cases where COVID-19 testing is required, individuals can not only purchase self-test kits but also receive free testing at public health centers, screening clinics, and temporary screening stations.

An MFDS official said, "We will monitor the distribution volume and price trends of self-test kits online, and if price disruption continues, we will consider extraordinary measures to stabilize prices if necessary."

Meanwhile, the quarantine authorities also promised stable supply of self-test kits during the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) on the morning of the same day. According to the CDSCH, as of the 2nd, a total of 21.86 million self-test kits have been produced, and an additional 16.46 million kits will be supplied to screening clinics, pharmacies, and others by the 6th. Lee Ki-il, the first controller of the CDSCH, said, "We will secure additional supply to meet testing demand in February and March. We will expedite approval of new manufacturers, adjust planned export volumes and schedules to prioritize domestic distribution, and consider export restrictions if domestic supply is insufficient."

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