1. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

Chinese Government Suspends Importation of New Zealand Infant Formula for Botulinum Risk … Importation of the Product into Korea Not Confirmed Yet [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20130805/56839106/1

Summary: Chinese government suspended importation of New Zealand infant formula on August 4 after Fontera reported on August 3 that 40 tons of whey protein concentrate it produced and distributed in New Zealand in May 2012 was found contaminated by Clostridium Botulium, a bacteria that produces nerve-paralyzing toxin.  Fontera reported that the whey protein was used in various products including infant formula, protein beverages, sport drinks which were exported to 6 different countries, China, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.  Korea Ministry of Food & Drugs Safety (MFDS) announced on August 4 that consumers were recommended not to purchase New Zealand infant formula until further information on the case was provided.

Seoul Milk, a local dairy company will increase the price by 10.9% (Korean, WMJ)

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=081&aid=0002352552

Summary: Seoul Milk, a local dairy company notifies to raise milk price from 2,300 Korean won per 1 Liter to 2,550 Korean won in spite of government’s request that refrain from raising the price.  Officials of Seoul Milk said, “only Ministry of Strategy and Finance is sensitive in price fluctuation, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs seems to tolerate raising price, and we reflect only the raw material cost increase in the price.”      

2. MARKETING ISSUES

Worries Spread Widely Among the Consumers about “Radioactive Contamination” of Seafood Imported from Japan [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2013080438281

Summary: It is reported that rumors about radioactive contaminated Japanese seafood being imported and distributed into Korea has widely spread among the Korean consumers recently particularly through SNS messages.  For example, many messages shared on the SNS sites claim that “90 percent of pacific Pollack imported into Korea is from Japan and they are contaminated by radioactive materials from Hukusima nuclear power plant”.  Korean authorities are trying to calm down the consumer worries by disclosing results of import inspections on Japanese seafood.  Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced on August 4 that “159 out of 165 safety inspections carried out on imported Japanese seafood found no radioactive contamination.  Rest of the cases that found positive radioactive residue were well below safety limits”.  Ministry of Food & Drugs Safety also stated that “import safety inspections on Japanese seafood in place has not allowed any contaminated Japanese seafood into Korea”.

3. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

No Radioactivity Detection in Domestic Agricultural Products (Korean, WMJ)

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=022&aid=0002560233

Summary: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) disclosed that there has been no detective of radioactivity in domestic agricultural products since Fukusima atomic power plant accident happened in 2011.