The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (“MOTIE”) has introduced amendments to the Foreign Trade Management Regulations, effective March 8, 2024, aiming to address deficiencies in labeling methods and origin determination for domestically produced goods. Key revisions include:
1. Elimination of Regional Origin Indication:
Previously, regional names could be displayed alongside country names in certain cases. To avoid confusion, the regulations now require displaying the country names only.
2. Introduction of New Labeling Requirement to Prevent Misidentification:
A new labeling requirement has been introduced to prevent confusion between "country of manufacture" and "country of origin." This revision ensures that the labels accurately* display the true origin despite labeling requirements stipulated by other laws.
Example: *Final country of manufacture: Korea, country of origin: China
3. Enhanced Criteria for Origin Determination:
Where domestically produced goods incorporate foreign raw materials, and the origin of these materials cannot be verified as Korean, the regulations now classify them as imported raw materials.
