Additional Shipping Fees for Remote Mountainous Areas Must Be Clearly Notified Before Payment

Fair Trade Commission Revises Notice on Information Provision of Products in Electronic Commerce

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Starting next year, shipping costs including additional delivery fees must be accurately displayed before payment for goods through telecommunication sales such as internet and TV home shopping.

The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 22nd that it has finalized the revision of the "Notice on Information Provision of Products in Electronic Commerce" and will implement it from January 1st next year.

The current Enforcement Decree of the Electronic Commerce Act requires that any additional consumer charges beyond the product price be indicated in the contract, but shipping costs are not specified as a detailed item to be displayed. As a result, consumers who order online to remote island areas such as Jeju Island have only been notified of additional delivery fees during the shipping stage after payment, leading to complaints or disputes.

Accordingly, the Fair Trade Commission requires telecommunication sellers to accurately display shipping cost information, including additional delivery fees, at the product information provision stage before payment.

Additionally, the Fair Trade Commission newly established categories for household chemical products and biocidal products. The current product information provision notice did not separately regulate the display items for household chemical products and biocidal products that may harm consumer health, such as humidifier disinfectants. These were classified as "other goods," providing only brief product information, and essential information such as chemicals used in the product, usage precautions, manufacturing date, expiration date, and volume (weight) was sometimes not disclosed.

Therefore, the Fair Trade Commission ensures that key information directly related to consumer life and safety, such as chemicals used in household chemical and biocidal products and safety precautions, is provided in advance.

Labeling for food products has also been improved. From now on, when telecommunication sellers sell food products, they must provide product information on the telecommunication sales platform that complies with the labeling standards of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Also, when selling automotive products via telecommunication sales, the number of the inspection certificate for additives and catalysts must be mandatorily displayed on the product information screen, allowing consumers to check this information before purchasing the product.

The Fair Trade Commission plans to grant a three-month grace period for businesses to prepare for compliance and implement the revised notice from January 1st next year. Telecommunication sellers must reflect the changes in product information and transaction condition displays according to the revised notice on their online product sales pages and other telecommunication sales channels by the end of the year.

The Fair Trade Commission will actively promote the revisions to telecommunication sellers through relevant business organizations to ensure that the changes in transaction conditions and product information display are quickly established in the rapidly growing electronic commerce environment after the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it plans to strictly sanction any violations detected through continuous monitoring.