Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Investigation on Illegal Activities in Health Functional Foods

The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police Unit will launch a focused investigation into illegal activities related to health functional foods starting from the 7th of this month.

Gyeonggi Province is cracking down on illegal activities related to health functional foods.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police announced on the 4th that from the 7th to the 18th of this month, they will conduct an intensive investigation into illegal activities during the manufacturing and distribution stages targeting about 60 places, including health functional food manufacturers, sellers, and pharmacies.

The Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police explained that they are launching the investigation to ensure the health rights of residents and strengthen the preemptive safety management of health functional foods by identifying illegal elements in both manufacturing and distribution stages.

The main investigation items include ▲ operating a health functional food sales business without registration ▲ displaying or using products past their expiration date for sale ▲ selling products that promote gambling tendencies such as providing prizes ▲ labeling or advertising that may cause the product to be mistaken for medicine ▲ labeling or advertising that may be perceived as having efficacy in preventing or treating diseases.

Under the current 'Food Labeling and Advertising Act,' those who engage in labeling or advertising that may be mistaken for medicine or perceived as having efficacy in disease prevention or treatment face imprisonment of up to 10 years or fines up to 100 million KRW. Under the 'Health Functional Foods Act,' those who sell health functional foods without registration or promote gambling tendencies through product sales face imprisonment of up to 5 years or fines up to 50 million KRW.

Gi Do, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, stated, "Through this investigation, we will do our best to eradicate illegal activities and create an environment where residents can consume health functional foods with peace of mind."