Increase in Imported 'Origin Items'... Ulsan City Intensifies Seafood Crackdown

Five Joint Inspection Teams Deployed, Must Comply with Revised Law

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ulsan City has launched a "Special Crackdown on Violations of Seafood Origin Labeling" until the 20th to ensure the safety of seafood distribution for ancestral rites ahead of the Lunar New Year.

Ulsan City and district offices have formed a joint inspection team of 15 members in 5 groups to conduct inspections targeting multi-use establishments such as large supermarkets, traditional markets, sashimi restaurants, and eateries.

This crackdown focuses on seafood items with rapidly increasing demand during the Lunar New Year, such as sea bream, croaker, and octopus used for ancestral rites, as well as items expected to see increased imports like red sea bream, scallops, and yellowtail. The inspection will check ▲whether origin labeling is present ▲whether domestic products are falsely represented ▲and whether the labeling method is appropriate.

Those who falsely label the origin face imprisonment of up to 7 years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW, while failure to label the origin results in a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries added 4 items (frozen anchovies, frozen southern bluefin tuna, refrigerated mackerel, refrigerated cod) to the list of imported seafood items requiring distribution history labeling, increasing the number from 17 to 21 items starting January 1 this year.

Additionally, from July 1, the number of seafood items requiring origin labeling in restaurants will increase from 15 to 20, with 5 items (scallops, apple snails, yellowtail, abalone, and flatfish) added. Seafood restaurants and import distributors must comply with these legal amendments and properly label the origin.

An official from Ulsan City stated, "This special crackdown is conducted to preemptively block violations of seafood origin labeling and to establish a sound seafood distribution order," adding, "Consumers must check the origin labeling when purchasing seafood for ancestral rites."