Research Reports
Implementation of the Advanced Food Safety System in Korea
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AuthorChoi, Jihyeon
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Publication Date2004.12.01
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Original
ABSTRACT
Implementation of the Advanced Food Safety System in Korea
In Korea, the rapid economic growth since 1980s has dramatically enhanced the living standards and eliminated most food security concerns. Now, Koreans are more interested in the safety and health value of foods. The recent outbreaks of mad cow diseases (BSE) and the High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have exacerbated the jitters about food safety control. In amidst of such threats, in order to achieve maximum consumer protection, developed countries have implemented the comprehensive and integrated "farm-to-table" approach and the risk analysis system.
The purpose of this study is to analyze current food safety management system, to review the developed countries' food safety systems, and to suggest efficient measures to improve food safety.
In developed countries, the food safety policy is based on new regulations, which address the risks in a scientific and transparent manner. They have also established an independent body dedicated to safeguarding food safety. The emergence of BSE has awakened many countries in the world, including EU, to the importance of food safety. Presently, food safety is regarded as the most significant consumer issue, so that in many countries, consumer-related departments are handling food safety matters. By its nature, food shall be controlled across the entire stages ranging from production to consumption in a consistent manner. That is why the majority European countries are building a comprehensive food safety control system.
The advancement of science and technology has brought about new hazardous materials. The ever-increasing food trade around the world has made the national borders meaningless when it comes to food safety concerns. In this context, individual countries shall strictly follow the international norms in food safety control, including the farm-to-table food safety control system, and the risk analysis.
In order to cope with the changing circumstances, the Korean government should establish a new food safety paradigm. In Korea, the situation is more difficult because the history of food control is quite short compared with many other advanced countries, where the food control scheme has been developed over a century. As such, it will be beneficial for Korea to benchmark developed countries, which have already encountered and successfully overcome the same issues facing Korea, in modeling its own food safety control system.
Some effective policy measures to build the advanced food safety system into the current system are suggested as follows:
1) In order to eliminate inefficiency in food safety management system and to implement the better GAP, HACCP and traceability scheme, the food safety management system should be conducted in a consistent manner.
2) Government could strengthen the risk assessment function by establishing an independent risk assessment body and increasing the investment of R&D for the risk assessment. It is necessary to expand establishment of MRL to check pesticides, heavy metals and antibiotics, since food import has increased.
3) It is essential to develop the consumer's participation program for food safety monitoring because it is best way for consumers to trust food safety policy. It is recommended that “The Consumer Center” be established within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to provide consumer services and take claims related to food safety
4) Food safety management system should be converted into precautionary management system. Pre-inspection service is needed for the imported fresh products. Farmers education about appropriate chemicals and animal medicine use should be strengthened. The local government should play the role as an inspector, while the central government should play the role as an R&D center.
Researchers: Ji-Hyeon Choi, Kyei-Im Lee, Cheol-Min Kim,
Min-Jeong Kim
E-mail Address: jihchoi@krei.re.kr
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