Regulations on health/functional foods in Korea

The term “health/functional food” (HFF) collectively refers to nutrients or other substances from food sources (generally in a concentrated form) that exert beneficial physiological effects. The Korean Health/Functional Food Act came into effect in 2004, and requires these products to be marketed in specified doses in pills, tablets, capsules, and liquids. As of 2008, the permitted definition for HFFs was expanded into further categories, including processed foods that contain functional ingredients. HFFs are broadly classified into two types: generic and product-specific. There are 96 ingredients now listed in the food code for generic HFFs, with those that contain active ingredients and are not included in the generic products listing considered as product-specific HFFs. The standardization, safety, and efficacy of new active ingredients are carefully reviewed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety before approval to protect the rights of consumers.