Strengthened X-ray and Detection Dog Inspections, On-site Crackdowns Conducted Throughout November
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on the 31st that it will operate a special quarantine period throughout November in preparation for an increase in the import of prohibited items through overseas direct purchases during major distribution seasons such as the United States' Black Friday and China's Guanggun Festival.
During the special quarantine period, the Quarantine Agency will deploy additional quarantine detection dogs for plant quarantine of fresh fruits and prohibited plants, which are expected to increase. It also plans to manage the situation by strengthening X-ray inspections in cooperation with customs to prevent unquarantined items from clearing customs.
In addition, special plant quarantine judicial police officers and honorary plant inspectors will conduct surveillance and crackdowns on social networking services (SNS), online clubs (communities), foreign food stores, and restaurants to block the illegal import and distribution of prohibited items.
Illegal imported foreign fresh fruits, seeds, and other prohibited items and unquarantined goods detected during online and business inspections on SNS and other platforms will be confiscated and destroyed, and related legal violations will be investigated and referred for prosecution.
The head of the Plant Quarantine Division at the Korea Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said, "Recently, the purchase of foreign fresh fruits and prohibited plants through international mail and courier services has increased, which could become a pathway for overseas pests and diseases. Therefore, all imported plants must undergo quarantine."
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