MFDS Orders Inspection of Imported Chinese Infusion Tea... "Submission of Residual Pesticide Test Results Required"

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 29th that starting from the 30th of this month, a 'testing order' will be applied to infusion teas imported from China, requiring prior proof of safety before they can be brought into the country.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The testing order is a system that selects imported foods where harmful substances have been detected or non-compliance has repeatedly occurred, requiring importers to undergo detailed testing at testing institutions designated by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, and only allowing import declarations if the products pass the tests.

The Ministry explained, "This measure is to strengthen the importers' responsibility for safety management due to repeated non-compliance with residual pesticide standards found in customs inspections of Chinese infusion teas."

Accordingly, infusion teas imported from China must undergo testing for residual pesticides such as pyridaben, pyraclostrobin, dinotefuran, lufenuron, hexaflumuron, and orthophenylphenol, and can only be imported if they receive a suitable evaluation. Importers must submit the test results to the relevant local food and drug safety office at the time of import declaration after requesting the inspection of the product.

Meanwhile, the Ministry currently designates 16 items, including Chinese-flavored oils, as subjects of the testing order. With the addition of Chinese infusion teas, the total number of items will increase to 17.

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