SG 023/26
South Korea plans to update its standards and specifications for food contact utensils, containers and packages.
In South Korea, food contact materials and articles are regulated by the Food Sanitation Act (the Act). Chapter 3 of the Act prohibits the presence or use of toxic/harmful chemicals in food contact utensils, containers and packages that could endanger human health. It also directs the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to establish standards and specifications for these products.
On January 8, 2026, MFDS issued Notice No. 2026-009, announcing its intention to partially revise the nation’s ‘Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packages’ (MFDS Notification Notice No. 2024-29, the Standard, available in Korean or unofficial English translation).
Notice 2026-009 contains several important changes to the Standard, including but not limited to:
Key highlights of the migrant specifications for PVC compared to the Standard are summarized in Table 1.
| The Standard: Section III, Clause 1, 1-8, a3 ‘Migrant specification for PVC’ | Notice No 2026-009: The Standard, Section V, Clause 1, 1-8, a3 ‘Migrant specification for PVC’ | |
| Lead | ≤ 1 mg/L | ≤ 1 mg/L |
| Potassium permanganate consumption | ≤ 10 mg/L | ≤ 10 mg/L |
| Overall migration | ≤ 30 mg/L ≤ 150 mg/L (n-heptane) | ≤ 30 mg/L ≤ 150 mg/L (n-heptane) |
| Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | ≤ 0.3 mg/L | ≤ 0.3 mg/L |
| Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) | ≤ 30 mg/L | ≤ 30 mg/L |
| Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | Not detected |
| Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) | ≤ 5 mg/L | ≤ 5 mg/L |
| Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) | ≤ 9 mg/L (sum) | ≤ 9 mg/L (sum) |
| Di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) | ≤ 18 mg/L | ≤ 18 mg/L (but not be detected in laboratory tests) |
Table 1
According to Notice 2026-009, comments are being accepted until March 9, 2026.
Except for the PVC migrant specifications, which will become effective 12 months after the announcement, the remaining provisions of the Notice will enter into force on the day of its promulgation.
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