The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 23rd that the European Union (EU) will lift the 'Ethylene Oxide (EO) Control Strengthening Measure' on Korean instant noodles and other instant noodle products after 18 months.
EO is a substance used as a sterilizer for agricultural products in the United States and Canada.
The EU decided to lift this measure on Korean instant noodles imported from July this year. Considering the transportation period, the relaxed standards will apply to products shipped from Korea in May to June.
In August 2021, 2-chloroethanol (2-CE), a reaction product that can be generated from EO, was detected in Korean instant noodles exported to the EU. As a result, the EU implemented the EO control strengthening measure from February last year.
Accordingly, the EU required Korean companies to submit test and inspection certificates from accredited testing and inspection agencies that can prove compliance with the maximum EO residue level regulations, as well as official certificates from the Korean government.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety continuously requested postponements of the implementation date of the control strengthening measure to minimize difficulties for domestic companies caused by document submission. Since June last year, they held video conferences with the EU Health and Food Safety Directorate to request a review of the measure.
Subsequently, in November last year and last month, the Ministry dispatched Korean delegations to the EU Health and Food Safety Directorate to request the lifting of the measure, the Ministry explained.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety expects that related companies’ export revenue will increase by more than 18 million USD (approximately 23.8 billion KRW) due to the EU’s decision. They also anticipate an increase in exports of Korean instant noodles to Taiwan, Thailand, and other countries that adopt the EO standards as is.
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