Summary of Food Allergen Labeling Regulations (Food Labeling and Advertising Act)

Basis Regulation: Enforcement Rule of the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, etc. (Abbreviated: Food Labeling and Advertising Act Enforcement Rule)

[Enforced on January 12, 2024] [Prime Ministerial Order No. 1935, Partial Amendment on January 12, 2024]

"In accordance with the "Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, etc." and its enforcement rule, the requirements for labeling food allergens are as follows."

 

1. Labeling Target Allergens

    1) Allergens:
        Eggs (only poultry), Milk, Buckwheat, Peanuts, Soybeans, Wheat, Mackerel, Crab, Shrimp, Pork, Peach, Tomato, Sulfur Dioxide (if the final product contains 10 mg/kg or more due to additives), Walnut, Chicken, Beef, Squid, Shellfish (including Oysters, Abalone, Mussels), Pine Nuts
    2) Labeling Targets:
        (1) Foods, etc., that use the allergens listed in a. as ingredients
        (2) Foods, etc., that use ingredients obtained from the allergens listed in a. by extraction or other methods
        (3) Foods, etc., that use as ingredients foods listed in (1) and (2)
    3) Labeling Method:
        Beside the ingredient name display area, an allergy labeling area should be provided, distinguishable from the background color, and all allergens used as raw materials should be displayed regardless of their quantity in the product. However, in the case of foods manufactured or processed with a single raw material or packaged meat and imported meat whose product names are the same as the allergen ingredient names, the allergen labeling can be omitted.

         

          (Example) Contains eggs, milk, shrimp, sulfur dioxide, and shellfish (oysters)

 

** If the food ingredients correspond to the allergens in 1), they must be labeled according to the labeling method in 3).

 

2. Labeling of Allergens with Potential Contamination

    If allergens are used in products that are manufactured using the same process (including all manufacturing processes such as workers, tools, manufacturing lines, raw material storage, etc.), and there is an unavoidable concern of contamination, a warning phrase such as "This product is manufactured in the same facilities as products using buckwheat which may cause an allergic reaction", "Possible contamination with buckwheat", "May contain buckwheat" must be displayed. However, if the raw material of the product itself is the allergen listed in 1.a., this labeling is not required.

 

** If there is a concern for contamination with allergens during the manufacturing process or within the manufacturing facility, it must be labeled according to the above labeling methods. However, it is not appropriate to label all allergens if there is no risk of contamination. Therefore, ensure that the manufacturer accurately identifies the presence and risk of allergen contamination in advance and clearly communicates this on the product label for consumers to recognize. Products without the necessary allergen labeling may be subject to administrative action or recall.

 

Source: Ministry of Government Legislation - Enforcement Rule of the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, etc. [Annex 2] Labeling Items for Consumer Safety (related to Article 5, Paragraph 1)

 

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