A bulletin for the Australian Food Industry October 1995
Contents: Raw-milk cheese and listeriosis | Food additives in Japan | Exporting to Korea | Australian and New Zealand food standards to merge | Safe Food Handling- HACCP | Modified Atmosphere Packaging
Exporting to Korea
Australian food exporters can experience difficulties in complying with importing countries' requirements. A particular problem with exports to Korea has been the Korean Government's policy of nominating the shelf-life of certain foods. This has included chilled and frozen foods.
Australia is not the only country that has faced this problem and a dispute between the US and Korea over the shelf-life of chilled meat products has received considerable publicity. In 1994 US trade officials filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), seeking an investigation into alleged unfair practices involving Korea's shelf-life regulations.
South Korea and the United States have now resolved this dispute with the result that chilled and frozen foods may now carry shelf-life dating in line with that accepted in other countries.
A comprehensive revision of the Korean Food Code is being undertaken by its Ministry of Health and Welfare. Proposed changes include the introduction of a manufacturer-determined shelf-life labelling system by the deletion of mandatory shelf-life requirements from the Food Code, except those for highly perishable items. Thus the dairy industry could continue to have problems with exports to Korea.
Food Science Australia
PO Box 52, North Ryde 1670. Tel +61 2 9490 8397 Fax +61 2 9490 8499
Email enquiries@csiro.au