KITA warns firms of strict FDA rules

U.S. Customs seizures of Korean goods violating Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations are rapidly increasing, forcing domestic firms to pay greater attention to this matter.

According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), there were a total of 659 cases of Korean products being seized by U.S. Customs in the first half of this year, up 19% from the 552 cases registered in the same period last year.

Products emitting electromagnetic waves such as TVs, computers, monitors and microwave ovens topped the list of seized goods, accounting for 196 or 30% of the total number of cases. They were followed by foods (25.3%), medicines (15.8%), cosmetics (15.3%) and marine products (12.6%).

Major reasons for the seizure of foods, medicines and cosmetics included failure to observe FDA registration rules and the violation of labeling obligations. In particular, since many products were detained due to careless trifles such as loose labeling, local firms must be more diligent, the KITA warned.

Korea ranked ninth on the list of countries having the most goods seized by U.S. Customs. Mexico (2,564 cases) and China (2,125 cases) held the first and second positions, respectively