CFIA is in the process of finalizing an equivalency arrangement with South Korea. The arrangement will include organic processed products whose final processing and handling occurs within Korea or Canada only.
In preparation for the equivalency arrangement and in order to not delay exports, CFIA accredited CBs who have operators who currently export or wish to export to South Korea are being advised that they will require the correct Korean Labeling and Korean Import Certificates (for which registration is required, and NAQS estimates it should take about 3 days to complete registration).
Korean Import Certificates – All exports of organic products to Korea under the equivalency arrangement must be accompanied by a valid organic certificate issued by a CFIA accredited Certification body and a National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) Import Certificate of organic processed foods issued by the CFIA accredited CB. NAQS import certificate is in an electronic format. Certification bodies must register eNAQS Import Certificate System to issue eNAQS import certificates. It estimates it should take about 3 days to complete registration.
Korean labeling requirements – According to the Table 7 of the Enforcement Rule of the Korean Organic Food Act, organic products sold in Korean market must indicate the name or company name of certified operation, contact number of sales representative who can provide consumer consulting in relation to the product, address of processor, certification number and place of origin. Certification number means a unique code for certified operations issued by their CB and this is not changed if their certification is surrendered or revoked.
Instructions on preparing for these requirements have been issued by the International Affairs Branch, Food Import and Export Division, Food Import Export Modernization Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
