,Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has issued Notice No. 2026-194 amending the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management, introducing a more risk-based and precision-focused import control system. The amendment aims to strengthen oversight of high-risk imports while reducing administrative burdens for compliant businesses, particularly Excellent Importers, and rationalizing hygiene training requirements.
A key change is the shift to risk-based intensive inspections. Instead of a fixed number of tests, MFDS may now require up to 20 consecutive inspections for imported foods with recurring or high-risk violations. Products involving dangerous contaminants may undergo the full 20-count inspection, while lower-risk products may face fewer tests based on threat assessment.
The amendment also modernizes compliance procedures. Quarterly hygiene training is replaced with at least one hour of annual training, and paper certificates are no longer required if training records are electronically accessible. For overseas direct-purchase (e-commerce) foods, investigations into raw materials are classified as safety research, enabling faster regulatory action against hazardous substances. Additionally, a deemed application system allows updates in business registration to be automatically recognized for Excellent Importer status, eliminating redundant paperwork.
Overall, the changes tighten control over high-risk imports while streamlining procedures for compliant operators across the food supply chain.
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