Complete Guide to South Korean Pet Food Regulations: Strategies for Successful Export by Chinese Enterprises

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As a major pet food exporter, Chinas understanding of regulatory policies in South Korea—one of its key markets—is particularly crucial. This article will analyze South Koreas pet food regulatory system to help exporters better comprehend and comply with relevant regulations for smooth market entry.

Regulatory Authorities

South Korea classifies pet food as feed, with safety management overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). This ministry is responsible not only for fostering the feed industry and regulating supply-demand balance but also for feed safety and quality management. Key responsibilities include:

Feed Quarantine:Handled by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA).

Feed Inspection:Managed by the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS), including the designation and oversight of feed testing institutions.

Residual Pesticide Testing for Imported Feed:Conducted by agricultural cooperatives/associations.

Major Legislation

South Koreas pet food regulations are primarily governed by the Feed Management Act and its supporting legislation, including:

Enforcement Decree of the Feed Management Act and Enforcement Rules of the Feed Management Act:These regulations supplement and detail matters related to feed supply, quality management, and safety assurance.

Standards and Specifications for Feed, etc.:Covers feed types, processing methods, ingredient registration, and labeling requirements.

Other Relevant Legislation:Such as the Feed Inspection Standards, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Standards for Feed Factories, and Post-Import Feed Management Standards, ensuring the quality and safety of imported feed.

Feed Classification

South Korea classifies feed (including pet food) as follows:

Single Feed:Plant-based, animal-based, or mineral substances used directly as feed or as ingredients for compound feed.

Mixed Feed:Substances produced by proportionally blending or processing single feed, supplementary feed, etc.

Supplementary Feed:Substances added to improve feed efficacy or prevent quality deterioration.

How to Enter the Korean Market

For successful export to South Korea, Chinese enterprises need to follow these steps:

(1) Pre-registration and Notification:Overseas production enterprises must register with China Customs, and the General Administration of Customs will notify the South Korean side.
(2) Obtain South Korean Government Approval:Obtain approval from the South Korean government through on-site inspections or other methods.
(3) Compliance with Import Requirements:According to the Feed Management Act, exporters must submit to the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs:Import Customs Declarationfeed lists, ingredient registration certificates, basic import declaration requirement checklists, feed inspection certificates (excluding first-time precision inspections), Korean label information, trade documents, and related animal disease prevention documents.
(4) Legal Sales:Products can only be sold in the South Korean market after passing inspection. Non-compliant products will be returned or destroyed.

Enterprises must fully understand South Koreas regulatory requirements for feed (including pet food) before exporting to avoid unnecessary trade losses. By preparing in advance and following these guidelines, enterprises can effectively enter and establish themselves in the South Korean pet food market.