ExportRequirements for the Republic of Korea

KS-123 (Dec 18, 2015)

Asterisks (*) indicate the most recent revision tothese requirements. To search, click on your browser's "Edit" menu,then click on "Find (on this page)". Enter "*" in the "Find What" field,then click "Find" or "Find Next" until all asterisks havebeen identified.

Poultry and poultry products, which have not been heat treated, shipped toKorea on or after December 20, 2014, will not be allowed entry into Korea.Please see the Ineligible Products section for details.

Eligible/Ineligible Products

1. Eligible product
1. Beef or beef products derived from (1) cattle born and raised in the United States, (2) cattle imported into the United States, for example from Canada, and raised in the United States for at least 100 days prior to slaughter, or (3) cattle legally imported into the United States from a country deemed eligible by the Korean government to export beef or beef products to Korea. Presently limited to Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
2. Korean beef importers and U.S. exporters have reached a commercial understanding that, as a transitional measure, only U.S. beef from cattle less than 30-months of age will be shipped to Korea. AMS has set up a voluntary Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program to verify that beef from participating plants will be from cattle less than 30 months of age. Information regarding USDA Bovine Export Verification (EV) Programs can be found at the AMS Web site and information regarding the AMS QSA LT30 Age Verification Programs can be found at the AMS Web site. Exporting establishments may choose to participate in the AMS Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) program that verifies that the beef being certified is from cattle less than 30 months of age. At this time, Korea will not accept at port-of-entry shipments of beef without the QSA program statement in the Remarks section of the FSIS 9060-5 as described in the Documentation section, and Korean quarantine officials will return shipments without the statement to the owner/agent of the product. A list of QSA approved establishments and their approval dates can be obtained from the AMS Web site.
   
   Eligible beef and beef products, including bone-in beef, deboned beef, offal, and variety meats must be derived from animals slaughtered on or after the QSA program approval date of the slaughter establishment. Beef and beef product derived from certain categories of cattle imported from Canada, imported beef and beef products, and processed beef products are ineligible. See B. Ineligible Products.
   
   Eligible beef and beef products must be produced under an approved AMS EV program for beef to Korea. Information about the USDA Bovine EV program for Korea can be found at AMS' Web site and a list of USDA approved establishments can be obtained from AMS' Web site.
   
   If FSIS inspection personnel become aware of concerns that a USDA approved EV establishment is not properly executing its EV program, export certification should not be issued for the product in question and AMS should be notified at QAD.AuditService@ams.usda.gov. Inspection personnel should include their immediate supervisor on messages to AMS. The following information should be included in the message:
• Establishment name, address, and establishment number
• Product type, product code, and quantity of product
• Date of production, lot number, and shift
• Date and nature of observation
• Name of country product is intended for export
• Export certificate number (if applicable)
• Any other information to verify claim
• Name of inspection official
3. Deboned beef derived from cattle less than 30 months of age that was processed at eligible establishments before October 5, 2007 are eligible. The beef is to have been produced according to the AMS EV program in place at the time of production. A list of eligible establishments and their specific periods of eligibility are available at AMS' Web site.
   
   Note: Information about approval of warehouses, cold storages, or similar facilities that export beef and beef products to Korea can be obtained from FSIS Notice 38-14 (Aug 13, 2014; PDF only).
4. Heat treated poultry and poultry products slaughtered and processed on or after January 1, 2015 but prior to January 1, 2016 are eligible.*
5. Poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds hatched and raised in the United States.

1. Heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds hatched and raised in the United States and slaughtered and processed on or after January 1, 2016 are eligible.*
2. Non-heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds hatched and raised and in the United States and slaughtered and processed on or after November 19, 2015 are eligible.*
3. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has set up a voluntary Poultry Export Verification (EV) Program for Korea to verify that poultry meat and poultry meat products were sourced from birds, other than commercially raised chickens, ducks and geese, which were hatched and raised in the United States. Certification that commercially raised chickens, ducks, and geese are hatched and raised in the United States can be made based upon assurances provided by the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS); therefore, commercially raised chickens, ducks, and geese are exempt from participating in the Poultry EV Program. Exporting establishments that slaughter and process birds, other than commercially raised chickens, ducks and geese, must participate in the Poultry EV Program in order to export poultry meat and poultry meat products to Korea. Information about the Poultry EV Program and a list of Poultry EV approved establishments and their approval dates can be found at the AMS website. Each establishment that participates in the Poultry EV Program for Korea is required to maintain a unique product identification system, which can be accessed by authorized FSIS inspection personnel from the FSIS' Intranet site.*
4. If FSIS inspection personnel become aware of concerns that an approved Poultry EV establishment is not properly executing its Poultry EV program, export certification should not be issued for the product in question and AMS should be notified at QAD.AuditService@ams.usda.gov. Inspection personnel should include their immediate supervisor on messages to AMS. The following information should be included in the message:
1. Establishment name, address, and establishment number
2. Product type, product code, and quantity of product
3. Date of production, lot number, and shift
4. Date and nature of observation
5. Name of country product is intended for export
6. Export certificate number (if applicable)
7. Any other information to verify claim
8. Name of inspection official
5. Pork products- Please see section below - Plants Not Eligible to Export.
6. Nongravid pork uteri from gilts and unscalded stomachs and intestines may be exported as edible product.
7. Pork Casings
8. Pork Bones
   
   Note: Exporters should work closely with importers to assure that bones comply with any classification requirements of Korean Customs.
9. Protein-free tallow (see Documentation Requirements below).
   
   Note: Beef tallow does not require an EV Program.
1. Ineligible product
1. Beef and beef products derived from cattle imported from Canada for immediate slaughter are ineligible.
2. Beef and beef products derived from cattle imported from Canada that were resident in the U.S. less than 100 days prior to slaughter are ineligible.
3. Imported beef and beef products are not eligible for direct export or for export after processing in the U.S.
4. Processed beef products (e.g., any product that has added ingredients) are ineligible at this time.
5. Other ruminant and ruminant products other than those identified in A. are ineligible for export.
6. Imported meat and poultry and meat and poultry products (including natural and collagen casings) are not eligible for direct export or for export after processing in the U.S.
7. Equine meat.
8. Non-heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds slaughtered and processed before November 19, 2015 are ineligible.*
9. Non-heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds hatched and/or raised outside the United States are ineligible.*
10. Heat-treated poultry meat and poultry meat products slaughtered and processed on or after January 1, 2016 sourced from birds hatched and/or raised outside the United States are ineligible.*.

Poultry Processing Requirements

1. Poultry meat and poultry meat products eligible for export to Korea must be handled in a manner that ensures that they are not commingled with imported poultry meat or poultry meat products. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has set up a voluntary Poultry Export Verification (EV) Program for Korea to verify that poultry meat and poultry meat products eligible for export to Korea are not commingled with imported poultry meat and poultry meat products. Exporting establishments that receive and process imported poultry meat or poultry meat products must participate in the Poultry EV Program to be eligible to export poultry to Korea. Information about the Poultry EV Program and a list of Poultry EV approved establishments and their approval dates can be found at the AMS website. Each establishment that participates in the Poultry EV Program for Korea is required to maintain a unique product identification system, which can be accessed by authorized FSIS inspection personnel from the FSIS' Intranet site. Establishments that exclusively process domestic poultry meat and poultry meat products are exempt from participating in the Poultry EV Program.*
1. Non-heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products derived from birds that were slaughtered and processed on or after November 19, 2015 are required to be handled in a manner that ensures that they are not commingled with imported poultry meat or poultry meat products.*
2. Heat-treated poultry meat and poultry meat products derived from birds that were slaughtered and processed on or after January 1, 2016 are required to be handled in a manner that ensures that they are not commingled with imported poultry meat or poultry meat products.*
3. If FSIS inspection personnel become aware of concerns that an approved Poultry EV establishment is not properly executing its Poultry EV program, export certification should not be issued for the product in question and AMS should be notified at QAD.AuditService@ams.usda.gov. Inspection personnel should include their immediate supervisor on messages to AMS. The following information should be included in the message:
1. Establishment name, address, and establishment number
2. Product type, product code, and quantity of product
3. Date of production, lot number, and shift
4. Date and nature of observation
5. Name of country product is intended for export
6. Export certificate number (if applicable)
7. Any other information to verify claim
8. Name of inspection official

Labeling Requirements

1. The country of origin must be indicated on the outside carton for all products. Meat products with multiple country origins on the label are prohibited and will cause the product to be rejected.
2. Labels applied to Porterhouse steaks and T-bone steaks that are to be exported to Korea are to include a statement that these cuts are from animals less than 30 months of age.
3. Product labeling that shows a country of destination other than Korea or is marked with Korea and a third country will cause the product to be rejected effective March 1, 2010.

Documentation Requirement

All FSIS export certificates accompanying product must besigned by an FSIS veterinarian. The veterinary degree (DVM or equivalent) mustbe indicated after the signature.

1. Certification Requirement
1. The Republic of Korea Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has informed FSIS that when completing FSIS Form 9060-5, products should be separately identified by weight and box count for each producing establishment.
2. Beef and beef products from eligible establishments and as set out above with slaughter dates on or after the establishment's QSA program approval date:
1. Obtain FSIS 9060-5,  Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness.
   
   Note: Korean beef importers and U.S. exporters have reached a commercial understanding that only U.S. beef from cattle under 30-months of age will be shipped to Korea at this time, as a transitional measure. AMS has set up a voluntary Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program to verify that beef from participating plants will be from cattle less than 30 months of age. Exporting establishments may choose to participate in the AMS Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) program that verifies the beef being certified is from cattle less than 30 months of age. Participation in this program is not required for issuance of the FSIS 9060-5. However, for establishments that do participate in the AMS QSA program, the following statement may appear in Remarks on the FSIS8 9060-5: "The beef or beef products were produced at a verified establishment under the USDA Less than 30 Month Age Verification USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Korea." A list of QSA approved establishments can be obtained from the AMS Web site.
   
   Warning: Exporters are hereby warned that shipments of beef without the QSA program statement referenced above will not be accepted for port-of-entry inspection in Korea at this time, and any such shipment will be returned to the owner/agent by Korean quarantine officials.
2. Obtain FSIS Form 9305-7 (07/08/2008) Certificate for Export of Beef and Beef Products to the Republic of Korea. Container number and seal number (not a USDA seal) should be provided on FSIS Form 9305-7 when presented to an FSIS veterinarian for signature.
3. For this product, AMS will no longer provide a SOV letter, and such a letter is not required to issue the certificate.
3. Pork and pork products
1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5,  Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness.
2. Obtain FSIS Form 9305-5 (04/17/2013), Certificate for the Export of Pork Meat to the Republic of Korea. See Guideline for Completion of FSIS Form 9305-5.

Note: FSIS Form 9305-5 contains a block at the bottom of the form to becompleted by the exporter or shipper in which is entered information such asshipping port, name of vessel, container number and seal number (not a USDAseal). The FSIS veterinarian may sign the certificate without this blockcompleted and the exporter is responsible for its accuracy.

Also, concerning the residue statement on this form, this statement can be madebased upon the FSIS National Residue Program (NRP), including the developmentalstages of each year's NRP. The development includes an evaluation of allpotential chemicals that are hazardous to public health that might beassociated with meat and poultry products. Even though all compounds are notultimately selected for testing, they are all considered during the process ofidentifying and evaluating compounds of concern. Those compounds not includedin the testing portion of the NRP are considered not to be a significant riskof causing harmful residues. Information about the NRP is routinely provided toofficials in receiving countries.

4. All U.S. meat packages mailed or hand-carried to Republic of Korea must be accompanied with FSIS Form 9060-5 and the appropriate 9305 form as outlined above.
5. Non-heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds hatched and raised in the United States
1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness.
2. For non-heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products slaughtered and processed on or after November 19, 2015, obtain the FSIS Form 9305-2A (12/07/2015 edition), Certificate for Export of Poultry Meat to the Republic of Korea.*
1. The name of the shipping port, name of vessel (or flight number), shipping date, container number, seal number, name and address of exporter/ shipper, and name and address of consignee should be identified on FSIS form 9305-2A in the section that is to be completed by the exporter/shipper. All refrigerated export containers of raw poultry must be sealed.*
2. FSIS Form 9305-2A requires that the following information be provided: Est./Plant No., Name and Address of the Slaughterhouse(s), Est./Plant No., Name and Address of Processing Plant, Est. No., Name and Address of Cold Storage, Packing or Processing Dates, Place Where Certificate was Issued, and Slaughter Dates. If the space provided on FSIS Form 9305-2A is not sufficient to list the required information, the words "SEE ATTACHED" can be entered into the form in the blocks requiring this information, and the requested information then be provided on FSIS Form 2630-9, Continuation sheet to provide supplemental information for FSIS Form 9305-2A.*
6. Heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products
1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness.
2. For heat treated poultry products shipped after January 1, 2015 but prior to January 1, 2016, obtain the FSIS Form 9305-2A (01/07/2015) and FSIS Letterhead Certificate for Heat Treated Poultry Product Exports to Korea.*
1. The name of the shipping port, name of vessel (or flight number), shipping date, container number and seal number should be identified on FSIS form 9305-2A in the section that is to be completed by the exporter/shipper. All refrigerated export containers of raw poultry must be sealed.
2. FSIS Form 9305-2A requires that the following information be provided: EST./PLANT NO., NAME, AND ADDRESS OF SLAUGHTERHOUSE(S); EST./PLANT NO., NAME, AND ADDRESS OF PROCESSING PLANT; and SLAUGHTER DATES. If the space provided on FSIS Form 9305-2A is not sufficient to list the required information, the words "SEE ATTACHED" can be entered into the form in the blocks requiring this information, and the requested information then be provided on a Continuation Sheet similar to the one provided here.
7. For heat treated poultry meat and poultry meat products sourced from birds slaughtered and processed on or after January 1, 2016, obtain FSIS Form 9305-2B (12/07/2015 edition), Certificate for Export of Heat Treated Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products to the Republic of Korea (ROK).*

1. The name of the shipping port, name of vessel (or flight number), shipping date, container number, seal number, name and address of exporter/ shipper, and name and address of consignee should be identified on FSIS form 9305-2B in the section that is to be completed by the exporter/shipper. All refrigerated export containers of raw poultry must be sealed.*
2. FSIS Form 9305-2B requires that the following information be provided: Est./ Plant No., Name and Address of the Slaughterhouse(s), Est./ Plant No., Name and Address of Processing Plant, Est. No., Name and Address of Cold Storage, Packing or Processing Dates, Place Where Certificate was Issued, and Slaughter Dates. If the space provided on FSIS Form 9305-2B is not sufficient to list the required information, the words "SEE ATTACHED" can be entered into the form in the blocks requiring this information, and the requested information then be provided on FSIS Form 9630-9, Continuation sheet to provide supplemental information for FSIS Form 9305-2B.*
1. If the product contains meat from multiple species, the appropriate FSIS 9305 series certificate for each species should be provided in addition to FSIS Form 9060-5.
2. FSIS Form 9060-5 shall include the species of livestock from which the product was derived. If not already part of the product name, this information should be placed in parentheses immediately preceding the name of the product in the "PRODUCT AS LABELED" column.
3. FSIS Form 9305 series certificates are not required for shipments to the U.S. military in Korea.
4. Inedible Products - Export certification of inedible products, other than technical animal fat (9 CFR 351) and certified pet food (9 CFR 355), is no longer provided by FSIS. Exporters should contact APHIS field offices to obtain information about certification of inedible products. A list of APHIS offices is available at APHIS' Web site
5. Pork Casings -- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-7 and FSIS Form 9305-5 (01/12/2004). The following information must be entered in the appropriate blocks of FSIS Form 9305-5: the name, address, and establishment number of the casing processing plant or the slaughter plant (if shipped directly) and the date of processing for processing plants and date of slaughter for slaughter plants.
   
   Notes:
1. When pork casing exports originate from processing plants, Korea does not require the slaughter plant and date of slaughter to be entered on FSIS Form 9305-5. However, Korean officials have indicated that this information should be available in the event that a food safety issue should arise.
2. Discrepancies between the slaughter/processing dates or date range entered on FSIS Form 9305 series certificates and the dates found on containers may cause product to be detained.
3. Only pork casings from animals slaughtered in the United States and processed in the United States are eligible for export to Korea.
6. Protein-Free Tallow -- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 if the product bears the U.S. mark of inspection. The following certification statement must be included in the "Remarks" section:
   
   "Certified materials have been tested, and found to have a level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% or less."
   
   This certification statement will be included on the export certificate based on the presentation of a certificate issued by an independent laboratory.
   
   See paragraph 8. above regarding certification of inedible tallow.
7. Pork exported to Korea for further processing and subsequently exported to Japan - Upon the request of the exporter, the following information must be provided either in the "Remarks" section of FSIS Form 9060-5 or on an FSIS letterhead certificate (which is signed by the same FSIS veterinarian signing the export certificate):

1. Statements for pork intended for re-export to Japan:
   
   "The meat and/or meat products described herein were processed under sanitary conditions in accordance with laws and regulations of the United States. The laws and regulations of the United States have been deemed to be equivalent to the inspection laws of Japan."
   
   "The USA is free of hog cholera; vaccination against hog cholera is prohibited; and importation of pigs vaccinated against hog cholera is prohibited."
2. Name, address, and establishment number of the slaughter (If product is quarter, half, or whole carcass) or processing plant (if packaged product).
3. "Date (Month/Year) of slaughter and inspection", if product is quarter, half, or whole carcass or "Date (Month/Year) of Manufacture" if cuts or processed products, i.e., Pack Date.

Note: This procedure does not apply to beef.

Other Requirements

1. Ready-to-eat products, regardless of the origin or type of product, arerequired to have negative test results for coliforms. These lab results are notrequired prior to certification for export; however, the exporter should beaware that the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs in the Republic of Koreareserves the right to test shipments. Products that have positive test resultswill be rejected.

2. Chemical Residue Limits. U.S. meat products may be rejected due toinconsistencies between U.S. and Korean standards for residues in meatproducts. Specific information regarding Korea's residue limits can be obtainedfrom importexport@fsis.usda.gov.

3. Use of tenderizers and irradiation. Korea has specific requirements when tenderizers and irradiation are used in the production of beef and beef products. Beef and beefproducts produced using these processes that do not meet Korea requirementswill be rejected. Poultry meat and poultry meat products cannot be treated withionizing, ultraviolet rays, tenderizers, or other products likely to alter itsnature or components.*

4. ROK requires kidneys to be removed from all poultry carcasses. An exceptionto this requirement allows for kidneys to remain in broiler carcasses.Additionally, ROK does not allow the importation of giblets with wholecarcasses.

5. Military Shipments. Shipments of meat destined solely for distribution tothe U.S. military are not required to meet Republic of Korea standards.

6. Ship Stores. For meat and poultry products exported to ship stores, thesame export certificates must accompany the product as are required by theRepublic of Korea. The only exception is when the container is off-loadeddirectly to a bonded yard and picked up at the yard by the cruise ship withoutentering quarantine areas (ship to ship). If the exporter indicates in Block 14of FSIS 9060-6, Application for Export Certificate, that the product will meetthis requirement, product is not required to meet Korea requirements and FSIScan issue basic export certification (FSIS Form 9060-5 with "ShipsStores" in the Remarks).

   
   Plants Eligible to Export
   
   Federally inspected establishments producing beef and beef products intendedfor export to Korea need to participate in the AMS EV program and be listed onthe "Official Listing of Eligible Suppliers for USDA Bovine EVProgram." Inspection program personnel can access the list at AMS' Website.
   
   Information about approval of warehouses, cold storages, or similar facilitiesthat export beef and beef products to Korea can be obtained from FSIS Notice 38-14 (Aug 14, 2014; PDF only).
   
   All other meat and poultry productseligible for export to Korea can originate from any federally inspectedestablishment.
   
   Note: Korea compares the plant information entered on the exportcertificate to the listing in the FSIS Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI)Directory. If the establishment is not listed in the directory or if anyinformation about the plant (i.e., company name, address, or type of operationcode following the establishment number in the directory) is different fromthat published in the directory, product may be detained. Contact Import ExportCoordination and Policy Development Staff (IECPDS) (Phone (202) 720-0082 or(855) 444-9904, Fax (202) 720-7990 or importexport@fsis.usda.gov for assistance.
   
   Plants Relisted for Export

   Est. 3D, Swift Beef Company, Cactus, TX. Relisted forexport of eligible products from cattle slaughtered on or after December 23,2013. Products derived from cattle slaughtered before December 23, 2013 are noteligible.

   Est. 86R, Cargill Meat Solutions, Ft. Morgan, CO. Relisted for export of eligible products from cattle slaughtered before August7, 2014 and on or after September 17 2014.  Products derived from cattleslaughtered on or after August 7, 2014, and before September 17, 2014, are noteligible.

   Est. 3039, International Casing Group, 4420 S. WolcottAve., Chicago, IL.  Relisted for export of pork casings processed on orafter February 3, 2015.

   Est. 27254, Dewied International, 5010 East IH-10, SanAntonio, TX.  Relisted for export of pork casings processed on or afterFebruary 3, 2015.