Jeonbuk Province to Inspect Country-of-Origin Labeling at 60 Large Supermarkets and Livestock Product Retailers

Inspections Targeting Apples, Pears, Beef, Pork, and Chicken
Strict Enforcement of Country-of-Origin Labeling Ahead of Chuseok
Strong Penalties for False or Missing Labels

Jeonbuk Province will conduct inspections on country-of-origin labeling at more than 60 locations, including large supermarkets and livestock product retailers, for four weeks from September 8 to October 2.

Jeonbuk Provincial Office Building. Provided by Jeonbuk Province

According to the province on September 5, this inspection is being carried out to eradicate violations of country-of-origin labeling for agricultural and livestock products ahead of the Chuseok holiday. The province plans to focus on establishing a fair distribution order by conducting on-site inspections alongside educational programs on the country-of-origin labeling system.

The items subject to inspection include fruits such as apples and pears, which are in high demand as Chuseok gifts, livestock products such as beef, pork, and chicken, and wild vegetables such as bracken. The main targets of the inspection are: ▲ false or missing country-of-origin labeling ▲ violations of labeling methods ▲ whether transaction records are maintained and stored ▲ disguising imported agricultural and livestock products as domestic or selling them mixed with domestic products.

In particular, falsely labeling the country of origin can result in imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million won, while failure to label can result in an administrative fine of up to 10 million won, reflecting the severity of the penalties.

The province considers violations of country-of-origin labeling, which infringe upon consumers' right to know, to be serious illegal acts. Through this inspection, the province plans to conduct thorough investigations and take strong action against any violations found.

Oh Taekrim, Director of the Provincial Safety Office, stated, "Violating country-of-origin labeling is a serious illegal act that deceives both consumers and producers," adding, "We will continue to conduct inspections and promote awareness so that residents can enjoy a safe and trustworthy distribution environment."

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk Province urged residents to report any illegal activities directly affecting people's livelihoods-such as those related to food hygiene, livestock products, country-of-origin labeling, public hygiene, pharmaceuticals, youth, environment, real estate, and forest protection-to the Jeonbuk Province Special Judicial Police or through the Safety Sinmungo App.