1. GRAIN & OILSEED ISSUES

CJ Launches Functional ‘Hatban’ (Packaged Steamed Rice) that Restricts Rise of Blood Sugar Level after Meal [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20130808/56923009/1

 

2. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

Dairy companies raise the price of milk from today as they planed (Korean, WMJ)

http://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/08/07/2013080703787.html

Summary: Dairy companies disclosed they push ahead with their price raising plan from today in spite of dissuasion request by government and consumer groups.  Maeil, a dairy company, raises the price by 10.6%, Seoul Milk also increases the price by 10.9%. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF) have a stance that they will investigate whether it is unfair raising practices or not. Also, Consumer groups said they will boycott and request Fair Trade Commission to make an investigation.  

Maeil Dairy withdrew the raising plan for milk price in just a quarter of a day (Korean, WMJ)

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20130808/56922937/1

Summary: Maeil , a dairy company raised the price as they planed, but not long after they withdrew it due to major supermarkets.  Because E-mart, the industry’s number one company, accidently decided to freeze the price of main products. They affected from Hanaro mart that notified freezing plan to Maeil last 7^th. (Hanaro is operated by Nonghyup) Following it, other major supermarkets also freeze the price. In the other hand, Seoul Milk, the number one enterprise of dairy industry, still keep their price raising plan.

3. MARKETING ISSUES

Korean’s Average Caffeine Intake Amounts to 17% of Recommended Daily Safety Limit [Korean, OSY]

http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=46264

Summary: Ministry of Food & Drugs Safety (MFDS) announced on August 5 that as of 2010, average amount of caffeine that a Korean consumed each day amounted to 67.1 mg, which was 17 percent of daily safety limit, 400 mg.  Man’s intake was 75.5 mg, higher than woman’s, 60.5 mg.  Leading sources of caffeine intake were coffee mixes (71 percent), extracted coffee (17 percent), coffee beverages (4 percent), and carbonated beverages (4 percent).  MFDS commented that although the average caffeine intake was within the safety limit, MFDS would continue to monitor the caffeine intake level in the future.

High Amount of Agricultural Chemicals Found in Teas Bought in China by Korean Tourists, Korea Consumers Agency [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20130808/56922960/1

Summary: Korea Consumers Agency announced that its tests on 24 Chinese tea products brought into Korea by Korean tourists this year found high amount of agricultural chemicals in 14 products.  For example, a Jasmin tea had 14 times more ‘Penbalerate’ than the safety limit.  The agency suggested that tourists should take extra care when purchasing tea products from the trip to China.

4. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

Distribution industry requests government to notify the fumigation information for agricultural imports (Korean, WMJ)

http://www.nongmin.com/article/ar_detail.htm?ar_id=221047&subMenu=articletotal

Summary: Under the current regulation, if there are detection of certain not serious disease and insect pest in the process of inspection on agricultural imports, it can be distributed after fumigation.  But, fumigated agricultural imports can decay easily and so its commercial value is not so good.  But distributor can’t know whether it is fumigated or not by just seeing.  Because of it, distributors require to notify the information related to fumigation. But the quarantine authority has shown reservations about it.