Illegal Imports of Chinese Jujubes and Peanuts Seized Ahead of Seollal Holiday

Quarantine Agency:
"Imported Agricultural Products Must Undergo Inspection
for Pests and Diseases"

On the 21st, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on the 23rd that it had seized a total of 33 tons of illegally imported Chinese agricultural products, including 18 tons of dried jujubes, 13 tons of raw peanuts, and 2 tons of mung beans, at a logistics warehouse located in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. The domestic market value of the seized agricultural products amounts to 900 million KRW.

The Quarantine Agency is operating a border quarantine reinforcement period from the 20th of this month to the 7th of next month (three weeks), anticipating an increase in movement of overseas travelers and returning visitors for the Lunar New Year holiday, as well as a surge in demand for agricultural and livestock products used for ancestral rites.

On the 21st, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency seized illegally imported agricultural products at a logistics warehouse located in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. Inside the boxes were a total of 33 tons of Chinese dried jujubes and raw peanuts.

Accordingly, the Central Regional Headquarters of the Quarantine Agency conducted its own crackdown focusing on areas in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province suspected of illegal agricultural imports before the Lunar New Year holiday, resulting in the detection of Chinese agricultural products that were illegally imported and stored or awaiting shipment without undergoing plant quarantine.

When importing dried jujubes, raw peanuts, and mung beans as cargo, export quarantine must be conducted by the exporting country's (China) quarantine authorities to check for pests and diseases prior to export, in accordance with the Plant Protection Act. After entering the country, final import quarantine must also be carried out.

If foreign agricultural products that have not undergone plant quarantine are imported and distributed domestically, invasive pests and diseases originating from different soils and climates may be introduced and spread along with the agricultural products, causing significant damage to agriculture and natural ecosystems. Those who illegally import agricultural products without quarantine may face imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to 30 million KRW under the Plant Protection Act.

No Young-ho, head of the Central Regional Headquarters of the Quarantine Agency, stated, "When importing agricultural products from abroad, quarantine must be strictly observed," and added, "We plan to continue strengthening crackdowns on illegally imported agricultural products."