On January 28, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea announced that: Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, MFDS has carried out non-contact investigations on overseas manufacturers during the past two years, but plans to comprehensively carry out on-site inspections this year.

Taking into account the COVID-19 epidemic prevention policies* of each country, MFDS plans to conduct on-site inspections in countries that can visit the plant first, and conduct non-contact investigations (document and video inspection) in countries that cannot visit the plant due to entry restrictions in exporting countries.**.

*Whether the exporting country lifts the quarantine by itself when entering the country, checks the safety measures of the personnel, and completes the vaccination, etc.

**After obtaining and reviewing data that can confirm the hygiene management status from overseas manufacturers, use smart glasses and other equipments to remotely confirm the status of the production plant in real time.

This year's inspection targets are more than 490 overseas manufacturers in 35 countries that produce products with high potential for harm such as pathogenic bacteria, products with risk information in Korea and overseas, and products with high consumption in a specific period.

Last year, MFDS conducted a non-contact investigation of 460 foreign manufacturers due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The results showed that measures were taken to suspend imports or strengthen import inspections for 18 companies with poor hygiene management, suspend imports for 25 companies that did not accept the non-contact investigation, and cancel the registration for 24 companies that had been confirmed to be closed.