Joint Inspection of Livestock Product Traceability System... Focused Checks on Online Transactions

The government is conducting a joint inspection of the Livestock Product Traceability System. Authorities plan to focus on inspecting businesses suspected of violating price, grade, and country of origin regulations, especially for livestock products traded online and through other channels.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on April 26 that, for three weeks until May 15, it will carry out a joint inspection of livestock product traceability, grading, and origin, together with the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, and local governments.

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This joint inspection will focus on businesses that have previously violated the Livestock Product Traceability System, as well as those suspected of violating price, grade, and country of origin regulations for livestock products traded online and elsewhere. In particular, if on-site inspections raise suspicions of falsified traceability numbers, DNA identity tests will also be conducted.

Until now, the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation has conducted on-site inspections of the Livestock Product Traceability System and used the results to improve work processes. Under the newly established notice, cases of violations or suspected violations discovered during on-site inspections must be reported to relevant enforcement agencies, such as the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, which is expected to further strengthen the effectiveness of enforcement.

In the first quarter of this year, violations committed by 20 businesses-including 9 that were caught more than twice within one year-were made public. The names of the violating businesses, details of the violations, dates of disposition, and the nature of the dispositions can be found on the Livestock Product Traceability System website.

Jeon Ikseong, head of the Livestock Distribution Team at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "We will continue to strengthen inspections and enforcement of violations related to the Livestock Product Traceability System to eradicate the illegal distribution of livestock products and ensure a safe and reliable supply to consumers."

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