Number of Approvals and Reports for Quarantine Supplies Like Masks and Disinfectants Returns to 2019 Levels Amid Endemic

by Byun Seonjin

Published 27 Apr.2023 10:42(KST)

On the 20th, when the mandatory mask-wearing policy on public transportation such as buses, subways, and taxis was fully lifted, a notice was posted at Gyeongbuk Subway Station in Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Approvals and registrations of quarantine supplies such as masks and disinfectants, which surged due to the impact of COVID-19, have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety published the '2022 Quasi-Drug Approval Report' on the 27th, containing the status of quasi-drug approvals and registrations last year. The total number of quasi-drug approvals and registrations last year was 2,029, a 60.0% decrease compared to the previous year (5,067 cases). This is slightly higher than the 1,370 cases in 2019, before the pandemic. Mask approvals and registrations sharply decreased from 4,127 cases in 2021 to 1,337 cases last year, and topical disinfectants also dropped from 147 cases to 55 cases during the same period.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained, "As the demand and supply of quarantine supplies stabilize and the mandatory mask-wearing is gradually relaxed, the total number of quasi-drug approvals and registrations is returning to pre-COVID levels." Among all quasi-drug approvals and registrations last year, health masks (53.5%) and droplet-blocking masks (11.5%) ranked first and third, respectively.

Among all quasi-drug approvals and registrations, domestically manufactured products accounted for 1,937 cases, representing 95.5%. This ratio is similar to the previous year (96.3%). The proportion of domestically manufactured products has been on the rise since 2018 (85.3%).

Regarding this, an official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety interpreted, "This shows the high quality competitiveness of domestically manufactured products, especially quarantine supplies such as health masks related to COVID-19."