South Korea to establish comprehensive food safety system

South Korea will set up a comprehensive risk communication system by the end the year aimed at providing consumers with real-time food safety information, the government said Monday (May 3).

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that it will take steps to collect, release and share critical food-related information with the general public on par with services provided by the US and Europe.

Europe has a "rapid alert system for food and safety," while timely warnings are issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the US.

"Instead of various agencies issuing alerts that can be overlooked, the plan calls for a centralised risk communications system to be operated by the farm ministry," said Bang Moon-kyu, head of the food industry policy bureau.

He said the plan calls for more and more data to be provided in the coming months. However, other information can be released immediately, such as which foreign meatpacking companies have failed to meet South Korea's import requirements, he said.

Other information, such as products that have levels of residual pesticides that are higher than permitted will be posted on the dedicated Internet site (www.foodsafety.go.kr) for easy reference.

At present, very few details of companies responsible for defective products are released, but in the future, the exact cause of the problem, size of shipment and country of origin will be made public information.

The drive for giving consumers information has gained support as the country has increased the number of inspections of domestic and imported farm and fisheries products.

Bang also said the ministry will engage in closer information-sharing with UN agencies such as the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation.