Korea Releases Application Guidelines for Cell-Cultured Food
The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) recently published the guidelines on dossier preparation for cell-cultured food applications[1]. The guidelines outline the necessary steps and documentation required for the applications and demonstrate Korea’s continuing commitment to promoting a regulatory pathway for industry to clear its cultivated meat products.
Specifically, the guidelines review the applicable regulations governing cell-cultured foods in Korea, describe the detailed steps involved in the application process, and provide checklists of the required documents and in-depth explanations of the data requirements. For instance, MFDS states that applicants should provide as much detailed product name information as possible, enabling consumers to fully understand the product characteristics and to ensure compliance with the relevant Korean labeling regulations, e.g., Food Labeling and Advertising Act and Labeling Standards for Food, etc. To illustrate further, the name should explicitly indicate its origin, the form of the final product, and whether it was produced using cell culture technology.
Korea has been active in building a regulatory environment promoting the growth of the alternative protein sector. Notably, it established a regulatory pathway to clear cell-cultured foods earlier this year through the temporary recognition of the Standards for Approval of Temporary Standards and Specifications for Foods, etc. More details can be found in our CRMs – The South Korean Food Authority Releases New Rules and Policies Supporting the Development of the Alternative Protein Industry and Korea Introduces More Rules to Enhance Oversight of Alternative Protein Foods.
The promulgation of the guidelines underscores Korea’s dedication to pioneering the development and regulation of the alternative protein industry. If you have any questions about this application process or need any assistance in understanding the regulatory landscape of alternative proteins in Asia, please do not hesitate to contact David Ettinger (ettinger@khlaw.com), Jenny Xin Li (li@khlaw.com), or your existing contact at Keller and Heckman LLP.
Keller and Heckman counsels the food industry on various regulatory matters, including alternative proteins, for companies around the world. Please sign up for our newsletters here.