Plan for Imported Food Safety Management Using Imported Food Non-compliance and Global Food Hazard Information in Korea

Abstract

This study investigated the hazard factors based on imported food non-compliance and global food hazard information for the last 4 years to suggest imported food safety management. Food safety management on utensils or packaging containers is appropriately managed for the compounds derived from them. Food safety management on health-functional foods, processed foods, and agricultural products is concentrated on ingredient contents, food additives, and pesticide residuals. Additional hazards are illegal compounds, mycotoxins & pesticide residuals, hygiene-indicator microorganisms and food-borne pathogens in health-functional foods, processed foods, and agricultural products, respectively. The continuous increase in hazards related to safety and hygiene in global food hazard information needs additional attention. To reduce the hazard factors, this study proposes that imported food be limited to products certified by HACCP or an equivalent food safety management system because registering foreign food facilities for processed and health-functional foods is mandatory. Additionally, the customs clearance inspections should focus on the hazard factors derived from the global food hazard information system. This study suggests a global food hazard information system that could derive frequently issued hazard factors at a given period and newly issued hazard factors in aspects, such as food items, subcategories, and exporting countries.