Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Korea steps up inspection of imported seafood from Japan
Korean protesters blast Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, March 19, calling on the government to restrict imports of Japanese seafood. Korea Times file
By Kwak Yeon-soo
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The government will strengthen its country-of-origin inspections of fishery products imported from Japan, China and other countries to protect public health, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) said Tuesday.
The ministry said it will tighten controls on eight seafood products ― pollack, red seabream, ascidian, bonito, scallop, mackerel, eel and octopus ― from Sept. 5 until Oct. 31.
The move is widely seen as the latest in a series of responses to Japan's export restrictions on key materials used to manufacture semiconductors and display panels as a protest to Korea's Supreme Court ruling ordering Japanese companies to compensate Korean victims of forced wartime labor.
Japan is the second largest seafood exporter to Korea, accounting about 19.4 percent of the total, after China (31.6%). Other main exporters include Taiwan, Vietnam and Canada.
Korean consumers have called on the government to more closely inspect Japanese fishery and agricultural products, raising concerns over possible radioactive contamination of the imported food.
“The tightening of country-of-origin inspections is to ensure the health and safety of the people,” the ministry official said. “The decision reflects the public concern about the contamination of seafood.”
The fisheries ministry will impose stricter rules to crack down on distribution channels as well as food processing, restaurants and large retail stores.
The ministry officials will work in conjunction with police officers. Suppliers that do not have “country-of-origin” labels on their products will be fined up to 10 million won ($8,225). If the country of origin is fabricated, those responsible can be sentenced to 10 years in prison or fined 150 million won.
It will be decided whether the measure will be continued after the results are checked in October.
In August, Korea announced it would tighten its environment and safety inspections for recycling waste imported from Japan, in another apparent countermeasure to Japan's trade restrictions.