A restaurant in Seoul was caught cooking and selling Chinese duck meat while falsely labeling its origin as domestic duck.
The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service announced on the 24th that, in response to increased demand for livestock products during the vacation season, it inspected the origin labeling of imported and distributed livestock products, livestock product stores in popular vacation (tourist) destinations, and restaurants from July 14 to August 14, uncovering violations at 329 businesses (355 items).
This inspection focused on black goat and duck meat, which are increasingly being imported as alternative health foods in the summer following the enactment of the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Act in February last year. The main targets were false or missing origin labeling for these products.
As a result of the inspection, 329 businesses were found to be in violation. The breakdown of violations by item was as follows: duck meat 161 cases (45.4%), pork 88 cases (24.8%), goat meat 42 cases (11.8%), beef 37 cases (10.4%), chicken 26 cases (7.3%), and honey 1 case (0.3%).
The number of violating businesses increased by 75 (29.5%) compared to last year. Notably, goat meat violations surged from 4 cases last year to 42 this year, and duck meat violations increased significantly from 46 to 161 cases.
An official from the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service explained, "This is the result of intensified monitoring of goat and duck meat violations by utilizing our cyber inspection team and strengthening oversight of blind spots such as barbecue ready-to-eat products. It is also the outcome of active information sharing and joint inspections with the Duck Association and businesses likely to violate regulations."
The agency has referred 103 businesses that sold foreign livestock products, such as Chinese duck meat, as domestic products for criminal prosecution. For the 226 businesses caught for missing origin labeling, a total of 74 million won in fines was imposed.
Park Sunyeon, head of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, stated, "We plan to continue managing the origin labeling of livestock products whose imports and consumption are increasing. In September, we will also conduct origin labeling inspections for Chuseok holiday products."
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