The Republic of Korea and Taiwan have heightened inspection measures on imported chili, including from Vietnam, in a joint effort to maintain the safety and quality standards of these food products entering their markets.
The decision to increase inspections comes as both countries aim to safeguard consumer health and ensure the integrity of imported chili products. This move underscores their commitment to stringent quality control measures.
According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Republic of Korea, the South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has issued a notice regarding the re-designation of imported food items subject to inspection upon entry into the market due to high rates of nonconformity. As part of this measure, chili products from Vietnam, including cayenne, capsicum, chili pepper, red pepper, and tabasco, will undergo inspection for residues of seven pesticides.
The inspection order, effective from March 30, 2024, to March 30, 2025, aims to address concerns arising from imported foods consistently failing to meet established standards and specifications. Importers are required to furnish testing results from MFDS-approved laboratories to facilitate imports into Republic of Korea.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei has also received notification from Taiwanese authorities regarding heightened inspection protocols for all imported chili products. This initiative, initiated this month, seeks to bolster quality management in light of safety apprehensions following the detection of banned cancer-causing dye additives in some chili shipments from China.
Products subject to increased scrutiny include fruits of the genus capsicum, crushed or ground, and other dried fruits of the genus Capsicum.
Taiwan has imposed bans on the customs clearance of chili from specific enterprises, including 21 from China, one from Vietnam, one from Thailand, and one from Mexico, according to TFDA's notice.
Despite these measures, Vietnam remains a significant player in the chili export market, with exports totaling US$72 million in 2023, representing a 34.5% increase compared to 2022.
#ITCNewsUpdate #FoodSafety #QualityControl #ImportInspection #InternationalTrade #MarketRegulation #BreakingNews #InternationalTradeCouncil
