Items	EUCCK's Proposal	Comment
Integration of Food related bodies	We suggest that the Food related regulations should be harmonized and they should be consistent in each existing organization (KFDA / NVRQS / MIFAFF / MW / NTS etc) relating to Food and Beverages.	Korean regulations on food safety and quality are clearly defined for each type of food and at each marketing stage. In the process of amending the regulation, opinions from related authorities/agencies are collected. Food related regulations are enforced by several government bodies. However, all relevant authorities are in close cooperation through the Committee for Food Safety Policy. The Committee, recently established under the Prime Minister's Office, has been coordinating among government ministries.
Food Additive/Food ingredient	We hope for substantial adoption of the CODEX guideline for Food Additives and actual implementation for Korean standard and as for tested and internationally approved food additives, Imports to Korea should be permitted. We recommend that KFDA expands scope of food groups in accordance with global standard.	For harmonization with Codex guidelines and other international norms, the KFDA designated and gave notification of some food additives including nisin and natamycin that had not been on the list of food additives in Korea. The expansion of scope of food groups will be reviewed in a positive light when specific case is presented.
classification of cheese	- The EUCCK requested that the classification of cheese to be simplified. - cheese heat treated with low temperature (over 36 C°), “raw milk cheese”, shall be permitted for import (allowed in Japan) - Retail Sales of cut and packaged cheese shall be allowed in the market (which is permitted in Europe and in Japan).	Sub-categories have already been simplified by removing fat contents related to the quality of natural cheese. (NVRQS notification No. 2006-4, '06.4.3) Korea permits importation if it satisfies pasteurization requirements. Low temperature pasteurization is regarded as 63-65℃ for 30 mins, 72-75℃ for 15 sec or equivalent methods Simplification or establishment of new categories could be considered for revision, based on the research('09) on dairy products specifications Codex also defines the heat treatment condition for processed cheese as 70℃ for 30 sec or equivalent methods. Establishment of raw milk cheese standard could be considered, based on the research('09) on dairy products specifications. Plans to consider approval for retail sales of cut and packaged cheese will be considered based on the research('09) on storage and distribution and quantitative microbial criteria.
Local water quality subsidy tax	Even though the tax rate has been reduced to 4,150 KRW/ton recently, we still see that this tax is discriminatory and prejudiced towards imported bottled water and should be abolished as there is no logical correlation with local water supply.	The water quality subsidy tax imposed on imported bottled water is 4,150 KRW/㎥. (Management of Drinking Water Act, Article 7) The water quality subsidy tax is imposed equally on domestic products and imported products, thus not violating the WTO's principle of banning discrimination against imported products, and imposing the water quality subsidy tax on imported products for the purpose of protecting groundwater is excluded from applying the principle of banning discrimination against imported products under the GATT Article 20. ※ The Constitutional Court of Korea ruled that imposing the water quality subsidy tax on imported bottled water does not violate the principle of equality. (15 July 2004)