MFDS "Mask Supply Stable"... Support for Developing Masks for Visually and Hearing Impaired (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Commissioner Lee Ui-kyung) announced on the 29th the supply and demand trends of masks for the 4th week of September (September 21 to September 27), stating that mask supply is proceeding smoothly.

In the 4th week of September, a total of 263.44 million non-pharmaceutical masks were produced, including ▲194.8 million health masks ▲52.74 million droplet-blocking masks ▲15.9 million surgical masks.

Mask prices have remained stable both online and offline. The selling price of KF94 health masks recorded 1,109 won online on the 17th but showed a downward trend to 1,017 won as of the 24th. Offline prices were similar, from 1,570 won on the 17th to 1,561 won on the 24th.

The selling price of droplet-blocking masks decreased from 643 won online on the 17th to 605 won on the 24th. Offline prices were similar, from 716 won on the 17th to 713 won on the 24th.

Additionally, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety supports the development of new mask products for visually and hearing-impaired individuals.

To help visually impaired people easily check mask information, the ministry is developing packaging with braille or QR codes for voice conversion in collaboration with the Korea Blind Union and mask manufacturers, with plans to release them sequentially by October.

Yang Jin-young, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, said, "For hearing-impaired individuals who need to communicate by lip-reading, we are conducting pilot production and performance reviews for the development of non-pharmaceutical transparent masks for sign language use (Lip View masks)." He added, "If the sign language transparent masks are applied for approval as non-pharmaceutical masks, we plan to expedite the approval process."