[Press Release, Nov 12, 2020 / unofficial translation ] Strengthened safety control with the mandatory application of HACCP to imported cabbage kimchi - Pre-announcement of partial amendment of the Enforcement rule/decree of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control - □ The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS, Minister Kim Ganglip) makes a pre-announcement on November 12 of partial amendment of the Enforcement Rule/Decree of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, which mandates the application of HACCP to imported cabbage kimchi. ○ This amendment is to provide detailed requirements for applying HACCP to imported food products since the legal basis for this mandatory application has established(promulgated in April 2020, enacted in July 2021) under the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control. ○ In the amendment of the Enforcement Decree, the Korea Agency of HACCP Accreditation and Services is entrusted with accreditation, inspection and evaluation related to HACCP for imported food products. - In the Enforcement Rule, it stipulates ▲ cabbage kimchi as the subject item of the mandatory application of HACCP ▲ the requirement/procedure for certification, alteration and extension of the validity period ▲ the method and procedure of inspection/evaluation, and▲ cause for revocation. ○ The mandatory application of HACCP will be gradually extended according to the import quantity of cabbage kimchi from 2022. □ With this amendment, MFDS expects “only the cabbage kimchi whose safety has been ensured from the production stage of foreign food facilities will be imported and distributed in the domestic market” and plans to hear the public opinions during the period of pre-announcement. ○ For the details of the amendment, please visit the official website of the MFDS (www.mfds.go.kr) or Law Making Center (opinion.lawmaking.go.kr).