Busan is good

Mayor Park Heong-joon: “Trust in a Global Culinary Tourism City Begins with Food Safety”—Busan Metropolitan City to Conduct Special Crackdown on Manufacturing and Distribution Businesses of Commercial Food Ingredients

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will conduct a “Special Planned Investigation into Illegal Activities at Manufacturing and Distribution Businesses of Commercial Food Ingredients” (hereinafter referred to as the investigation) for six weeks from March 9 to April 17.

This investigation will broadly examine illegal and unsanitary practices that may occur throughout the entire process—from manufacturing to distribution—of various food ingredients such as sauces currently circulating in the market, with the aim of ensuring food safety and preventing unlawful activities.

As increased dining-out demand is expected with the upcoming Family Month in May, the investigation will focus on businesses involved in the manufacturing and distribution of commercial food ingredients that have recently seen rising consumption—such as seasoning foods including sauces, fermented soybean products, and meat—as well as franchise restaurants that purchase and use large quantities of such ingredients.

Targets of the crackdown will be selected by comprehensively considering risk factors, including businesses with previous violations, establishments suspected of poor sanitary conditions, and those that have received complaints or reports related to food labeling, advertising, or country-of-origin labeling. In particular, the city plans to proactively inspect establishments where inadequate food hygiene management or violations of origin labeling are suspected.

The main areas of investigation include violations of food handling standards and specifications, the use of substandard raw materials such as unlabeled or expired products, and false or misleading country-of-origin labeling. On-site inspections will be conducted in parallel with testing by specialized institutions to further strengthen food safety management.

If illegal activities are identified during this planned investigation, strict measures will be taken in accordance with relevant laws, including criminal charges or notification to the competent authorities.

Violations of food handling standards and specifications may result in imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won under the Food Sanitation Act. The storage or use of unlabeled or expired products for the purpose of sale may lead to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won under the Act on the Labeling and Advertising of Foods and the Food Sanitation Act. False or misleading country-of-origin labeling may result in imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million won under the Act on Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products.

Meanwhile, the city’s Special Judicial Police Division is actively receiving reports from citizens. Reports of related illegal activities can be submitted to the Food Investigation Team (☎051-888-3091, 3095).

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “In preparation for the anticipated increase in dining-out demand among citizens, including the upcoming Family Month in May, we have proactively planned this investigation to strictly examine the entire process—from manufacturing to distribution—of various food ingredients circulating in the market.” He added, “Through continuous on-site inspections, we will establish a robust food safety management system and make every effort to enhance the brand value of Busan as a global culinary tourism city.”