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Export Requirements for the Republic of Korea

KS-73 (Apr 23, 2008)

Asterisks (*) indicate the most recent revision to these requirements. To search, click on your browser's "Edit" menu, then click on "Find (on this page)". Enter "*" in the "Find What" field, then click "Find" or "Find Next" until all asterisks have been identified.


Eligible/Ineligible Products
  1. Eligible product
    1. Although the United States and Korea have reached general agreement on the resumption of export of U.S. beef and beef products to Korea, FSIS officials should not issue export certificates for beef and beef products intended for export to Korea at this time. Additional information about the specific conditions, including eligible product, plant approval, and certification requirements are being developed and will be made available as soon as possible. Establishment management may contact AMS at 540-361-7640 for information about AMS program requirements.*
    2. Poultry and poultry products.
    3. Pork products
    4. Nongravid pork uteri from gilts and unscalded stomachs and intestines may be exported as edible product.
    5. Pork Casings
    6. Pork Bones

      Note: Exporters should work closely with importers to assure that bones comply with any classification requirements of Korean Customs.
    7. Protein-free tallow (see Documentation Requirements below).
  2. Ineligible product
    1. All ruminant and ruminant products, including meat, viscera and their products.
    2. Imported meat and poultry and meat and poultry products are not eligible for direct re-export or for re-export after processing in the U.S.
    3. Equine meat.

Labeling Requirements
  1. The country of origin must be indicated on the outside carton for all products.

Documentation Requirements
  1. Certification Requirement
    1. The Republic of Korea Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has informed FSIS that when completing FSIS Form 9060-5, products should be separately identified by weight and box count for each producing establishment.
    2. Boneless beef
      1. Obtain FSIS 9060-5 (07/19/2001) Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness.
      2. Obtain FSIS Form 9305-4 (06/07/2006) Certificate for Export of Beef and Beef Products to the Republic of Korea. This certificate can be filled and downloaded from the above link. In addition, FSIS personnel can obtain the certificate in MS Outlook at Public Folders/All Public Folders/Agency Issuances/Forms/FSIS 9000 Series. For information about completing the form, see Guideline for Completion of FSIS Form 9305-4.
    3. Pork and pork products
      1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 (05/06/1999) -- Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness.
      2. Obtain FSIS Form 9305-5 (01/12/2004), Certificate for the Export of Pork Meat to the Republic of Korea.  See Guideline for Completion of FSIS Form 9305-5.

      Note: FSIS Form 9305-5 contains a block at the bottom of the form to be completed by the exporter or shipper in which is entered information such as shipping port, name of vessel, container number and seal number (not a USDA seal). The FSIS veterinarian may sign the certificate without this block completed and the exporter is responsible for its accuracy.

      Also, concerning the residue statement on this form, this statement can be made based upon the FSIS National Residue Program (NRP), including the developmental stages of each year's NRP. The development includes an evaluation of all potential chemicals that are hazardous to public health that might be associated with meat and poultry products. Even though all compounds are not ultimately selected for testing, they are all considered during the process of identifying and evaluating compounds of concern. Those compounds not included in the testing portion of the NRP are considered not to be a significant risk of causing harmful residues. Information about the NRP is routinely provided to officials in receiving countries.
    4. All U.S. meat packages mailed or hand-carried to Republic of Korea must be accompanied with FSIS Form 9060-5 and the appropriate 9305 form as outlined above.
    5. Poultry Products
      1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 (05/06/1999).
      2. Obtain FSIS Form 9305-2A (4/28/2005)--Certificate for Export of Poultry Meat to the Republic of Korea. See Guideline for completion of FSIS Form 9305-2A.
        1. The name of the vessel (or flight number) must be confirmed by the FSIS veterinarian that signs the export certificate. This information can be provided by the exporter/ shipper via a letter of guaranty to the FSIS official signing the certificate.
        2. The name of the shipping port, shipping date, container number and seal number must be identified on FSIS form 9305-2A in the section that is to be completed by the exporter/shipper. All refrigerated export containers of raw poultry must be sealed.
    6. If the product contains meat from multiple species, the appropriate FSIS 9305 series certificate for each species should be provided in addition to FSIS Form 9060-5.
    7. FSIS Form 9060-5 shall include the species of livestock from which the product was derived. If not already part of the product name, this information should be placed in parentheses immediately preceding the name of the product in the "PRODUCT AS LABELED" column.
    8. Inedible Products - Export certification of inedible products, other than technical animal fat (9 CFR 351) and certified pet food (9 CFR 355), is no longer provided by FSIS. Exporters should contact APHIS field offices to obtain information about certification of inedible products. A list of APHIS offices is available at APHIS' web site. See FSIS Notice 17-05 for additional information.
    9. Pork Casings -- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-7 and FSIS Form 9305-5 (01/12/2004). The following information must be entered in the appropriate blocks of FSIS Form 9305-5: the name, address, and establishment number of the casing processing plant or the slaughter plant (if shipped directly) and the date of processing for processing plants and date of slaughter for slaughter plants.

      Note: When pork casing exports originate from processing plants, Korea does not require the slaughter plant and date of slaughter to be entered on FSIS Form 9305-5. However, Korean officials have indicated that this information should be available in the event that a food safety issue should arise.

      Note: Discrepancies between the slaughter/processing dates or date range entered on FSIS Form 9305 series certificates and the dates found on containers may cause product to be detained.
    10. Protein-Free Tallow -- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 if the product bears the U.S. mark of inspection. The following certification statement must be included in the "Remarks" section:

      "Certified materials have been tested, and found to have a level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% or less."

      This certification statement will be included on the export certificate based on the presentation of a certificate issued by an independent laboratory.

      See paragraph 10. above regarding certification of inedible tallow.


Other Requirements
  1. Ready-to-eat products, regardless of the origin or type of product, are required to have negative test results for coliforms. These lab results are not required prior to certification for export; however, the exporter should be aware that the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs in the Republic of Korea reserves the right to test shipments. Products that have positive test results will be rejected.
  2. Chemical Residue Limits. U.S. meat products may be rejected due to inconsistencies between U.S. and Korean standards for residues in meat products. The U.S. is continuing to urge Korea to bring its meat residue standards into compliance with international standards. Specific information regarding Korea's residue limits can be obtained from the Technical Service Center.
  3. ROK requires kidneys to be removed from all poultry carcasses. An exception to this requirement allows for kidneys to remain in broiler carcasses. Additionally, ROK does not allow the importation of giblets with whole carcasses.
  4. Military Shipments. Shipments of meat and poultry destined solely for distribution to the U.S. military are not required to meet Republic of Korea standards.*
  5. Ship Stores. For meat and poultry products exported to ship stores, the same export certificates must accompany the product as are required by the Republic of Korea.

Plants Eligible to Export

Federally inspected establishments producing boneless beef intended for export to Korea must participate in an AMS, EV program and be present on the "Official Listing of Eligible Suppliers for USDA Bovine EV Program". The list can be accessed from AMS' Website. Ineligible plants are listed in the Plants Not Eligible to Export section below.

Information about approval of warehouses, cold storages, or similar facilities that export boneless beef to Korea can be obtained from FSIS Notice 39-07 (Jun 26, 2007; PDF only).

All other red meat and poultry products eligible for export to Korea can originate from any federally inspected establishment.

Note: Korea compares the plant information entered on the export certificate to the listing in the FSIS Meat and Poultry Inspection Directory. If the establishment is not listed in the directory or if any information about the plant (i.e., company name, address, or type of operation code following the establishment number in the directory) is different from that published in the directory, product may be detained. Contact the FSIS Technical Service Center at (402) 344-5000 for assistance.

Plants Not Eligible to Export

Boneless beef products from the following approved AMS, EV establishments are not eligible for export to Korea until further notice. The shared AMS web site shows the following plants as "Korea-Suspended from the Program" or "Korea-Suspended Pending Further Notice." Replacement certificates may be certified for product loaded onto shipping vessels on or before the dates indicated for each plant below.

Est. 969, Swift and Company, Greeley, CO is suspended for export effective on and after July 16, 2007. Boneless beef products loaded onto shipping vessels on or before July 15, 2007 are eligible for export, but subject to quarantine inspection.

Est. 86M, Cargill Meat Solutions, Schuyler, NE is suspended for export effective on and after July 19, 2007. Boneless beef products loaded onto shipping vessels on or before July 18, 2007 are eligible for export, but subject to quarantine inspection.

Est. 86E, Cargill Meat Solutions, Friona, TX is suspended for export effective on and after July 31, 2007. Boneless beef products loaded onto shipping vessels on or before July 30, 2007 are eligible for export, but subject to quarantine inspection.

Est. 86H, Cargill Meat Solutions, Plainview, TX is suspended for export effective on and after July 31, 2007. Boneless beef products loaded onto shipping vessels on or before July 30, 2007 are eligible for export, but subject to quarantine inspection.

Est. 969G, Swift and Company, Grand Island, NE is ineligible for export effective on and after July 31, 2007. Boneless beef products loaded onto shipping vessels on or before July 30, 2007 are eligible for export, but subject to quarantine inspection.

Est. 86K, Cargill Meat Solutions, Dodge City, KS is ineligible for export effective on and after September 6, 2007. Boneless beef products loaded onto shipping vessels on or before September 5, 2007 are eligible for export, but subject to quarantine inspection.

Est. 3D, Swift Beef Company, Cactus, TX is ineligible for export effective on and after October 5, 2007. Inspection personnel are to immediately cease issuance of export certificates for any beef product destined to Korea.

KS-73 (Apr 23, 2008)