Items	Issues	Recommendations
Standard of Ethyl Carbamate (EC) generated in red wine	KFDA announced the revision draft about standard of Ethyl Carbamate (EC) in Red wine (confined to products made from grapes, containing less than 15 % alcohol, red wine which contains other fruits excluded); less than 30 ppb. The proposed regulation failed to pass because the Regulatory Reform Committee (RRC) advised KFDA to withdraw it on the ground of possible discrimination of wine against other liquor, uncertain scientific ground, and concern on international trade conflicts. KFDA might propose a regulation again by expanding the subject of the regulation, i.e. including the other liquors or food in the subject of regulation.	There are currently no agreed international stands for EC in wine. The regulation shall take into account the fact that EC levels can increase naturally when product is subjected to increase temperatures. EUCCK views the establishment of new standard as unnecessary regulation.
Labeling requirement	Many of Korea’s labeling requirements are unnecessary, costly, inconsistent with standard international practice, and therefore, constitute a barrier to trade. 5 government agencies are regulating labeling requirement in Korea. Imported liquor products are required to include at least 18 pieces of information on the label. Among the 18 pieces two pieces of information are specifically required for imported products. There are also potential new requirements by KFDA for OEM(original equipment manufacturer), GMO and hotline (1399) for consumer complaints to be shown in the label.	- Korea should repeal the labeling requirements which exceed those prescribed by the CODEX labeling standard. - Korea should develop a greater degree of co-ordination among the various government agencies regulating labeling measures for alcoholic products. - In addition, the labeling requirement for separate channels should be reviewed, but priority should be given the removal of the ‘for discount store only’ label for all the imported liquor products, since it has already been withdrawn for Wine, Vodka and Chungju (refined rice wine).
Regulation on OEM imported food including liquor	Ministry of Health recently requires that food importers as well as producers shall report to KFDA immediately the consumer complaints of foreign matters in the food products. The Ministry, however, told that this obligation does not apply to domestic producers of liquor as they, conducting business under license of NTS (National Tax Service), are not subject to the obligation of business registration to KFDA. If this is true, liquor importers should also be exempted from the reporting obligation, because liquor importers also conduct business under license from NTS.	Ministry of Health/KFDA shall treat liquor importers equally with liquor producers and exempt liquor importers from the reporting obligation as well as from the business registration obligation.