EU lifts restrictions on imports of K-ramen from July... "Exports to Taiwan and Thailand are also expected to revitalize"

Starting in July, the European Union (EU) has decided to lift measures to tighten ethylene oxide (EO) controls on Korean-made instant noodles such as ramen noodles. The food industry, which had to bear the burden of additional costs such as the submission of additional evaluation reports and certificates due to this measure passed early last year, immediately welcomed it and thanked the government's efforts such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The Korea Food Industry Association issued a related position statement on May 24th, saying, "With the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's active diplomatic support, as of July this year, the EU's EO management of instant noodles such as ramen made in Korea. The strengthening measures have been lifted," adding, "We will actively welcome the move, and we look forward to revitalizing exports."

Prior to this, in February last year, the EU imposed measures to strengthen EO controls on instant noodles such as ramen noodles made in South Korea. This is because 2-chloroethanol (2-CE), a reaction product of EO, was detected in ramen exported to the EU in August 2021. Although 2-CE is toxic, it is not a carcinogenic substance like EO.

With the lifting of the measures, related industries will be able to eliminate export delays associated with document processing and certificate issuance when exporting ramen and instant noodles to Taiwan, Thailand, etc., which are applying the EU's EO standards as they are △ Production efficiency △Reduction of human resources for analysis and document processing, time required, and cost reduction △Diversification of export items, etc., are expected to revitalize exports.

The Korea Food Industry Association said, "The food industry will continue to do its best to manage the safety and quality of exported food, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will successfully promote diplomatic activities to resolve export restrictions in major trading countries. We will actively support them and contribute to the revitalization of K Food exports."