. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/KOR/95
11 June 2001
(01-2872)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  REPUBLIC OF KOREA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Foods
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Amendment of Food
Sanitation Act (36 pages)
5. Description of content:  In order to ensure food safety, a proposal was submitted to amend
the Food Sanitation Act.  The proposed provisions are as follows:
− Recognizing to be necessary for public health, the Korea Food and Drug
Administration (KFDA) can perform safe ty evaluation on genetically modified
products which are imported, developed, or manufactured for human consumption.Genetically modified food, which was not conducted safety evaluation on or was
proven to be unsuitable for human consumption can not be sold.
− The imported food, which was verified and notified by KFDA to accord with
related provisions, could be exempted from all or part of inspections.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [    ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  MOHW Advanced
Notice No. 2001-41;  Official Gazette, 18 May 2001 (Available in Korean only)(http://www.mohw.go.kr/silkuk/view2.html?no=2937)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/KOR/95
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  30 June 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [    ] National notification
authority, [  X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
12. Texts available from: [    ] National notification authority, [    ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Division of Pharmaceutical and Food Policy
Health Policy Bureau
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Tel:  +(82 2) 503 7557
Fax:  +(82 2) 504 1456