On July 8, 2026, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea officially announced revisions to the Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods. Under the revised standards, soy sauce, sugars, and edible oils and fats produced using GM ingredients but containing no detectable GM DNA or proteins in the final products will now be subject to mandatory labeling. The revision significantly expands the scope of GM food labeling. As long as GM ingredients are used during the production process, labeling will be required regardless of whether relevant GM components can be detected in the final product.
In January 2026, the MFDS held an industry meeting with manufacturers and importers of soy sauce, sugars, and edible oils and fats, as well as relevant industry associations. The meeting focused on specific requirements concerning products subject to labeling, labeling methods, and non-GM labeling. In March 2026, South Korea notified the WTO of the draft amendments, explicitly proposing to include foods such as soy sauce, sugars, and edible oils and fats within the scope of mandatory GM labeling.
Regarding the implementation timeline, the mandatory labeling requirements will officially take effect on December 31, 2026. However, the mandatory labeling requirements for sugars and edible oils and fats will be subject to a delayed implementation and will fully take effect on December 31, 2027.
What Can CIRS Do for You
Established in 2007, the CIRS Group is a leading product safety and regulatory consulting firm. CIRS has branch offices in the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China. CIRS Group utilizes its technical expertise, various resources, and international network to provide one-stop compliance services from regulatory compliance, laboratory testing, and R&D to data services across multiple industries. This includes chemicals, cosmetics, food and food beverages, medical devices, agrochemical products, disinfectants, and consumer goods. It helps clients gain a competitive advantage by reducing business risks associated with regulatory affairs.
The vast majority of members in CIRS Food Business Division have over 10 years of professional experience in food compliance, with more than 80% holding Master’s or Doctoral degrees in food-related disciplines. The CIRS toxicology expert team consists of 24 Chinese Certified Toxicologists (DCST), 2 American Board Certified Toxicologists (DABT), and 2 European Registered Toxicologists (ERT). CIRS has provided one-stop food compliance services to over 1,000 domestic and international food and related enterprises. Leveraging its technical expertise, diverse resources, and global network, the CIRS Food Business Division offers global food compliance services, including but not limited to:
- Health food registration and filing in China;
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