'South Korean Diagnostic Kits' Supply Contract Signed with the US... "Shipping as Early as Next Week"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the supply contract for Korean-made diagnostic kits for COVID-19 to the United States has been finalized.

On the 8th, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters, "Contracts with the U.S. federal government have been finalized with companies that received prior approval from the United States," adding, "If all goes well, the diagnostic kits are expected to be shipped as early as next week."

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that three domestic companies whose diagnostic kits received interim FDA approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are now able to export to the United States.

The 'COVID-19 Response Quarantine Supplies Overseas Expansion Support Interagency Task Force (TF),' led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been closely coordinating with the COVID-19 response TF established within the White House.

The interim approvals granted to the three companies are procedures authorized at the White House level to enable exports in response to the COVID-19 situation, differing from the FDA’s regular approval process which requires a lengthy period.

Before making the interim approval decision, the U.S. side reportedly requested information from Korea regarding whether an application had been submitted to the FDA, the quantity available for procurement, and prior European approvals.