Korea Food Import Rules for Thai Products (2026)
Korea is a high-value market for Thai food, and AKFTA removes duty on many processed lines. The gate is the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korea applies its own Food Code standards rather than accepting Codex or ASEAN limits.
The process
| Step | Who | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas facility registration | Thai factory | Must be registered with MFDS before the first import declaration |
| Product pre-check | Importer | Recipe and additives compared against the Korean Food Code |
| Import declaration | Importer or agent | Filed with MFDS regional office, normally through UNI-PASS linkage |
| Inspection decision | MFDS | Document review, sensory check, laboratory test or random test |
| Customs clearance | KCS | Only after MFDS approval |
First imports of a new product from a new facility usually trigger laboratory testing. Allow 7-15 extra days on the first shipment and almost none on repeats.
Korean Food Code is the real hurdle
Korea maintains its own additive list and its own limits. Additives that are legal in Thailand and the EU are sometimes not permitted in Korea, or are permitted only in different food categories at lower levels. There is no tolerance argument once a shipment has arrived.
Control it by sending the full quantitative recipe for a paper review against the Food Code before production, and by testing the actual production lot at a Korean-recognised laboratory.
Categories and typical Thai issues
| Category | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Frozen seafood and shrimp | Antibiotic residues, sulphites, heavy metals |
| Processed fruit and juices | Pesticide residues under the PLS system, sweetener limits |
| Sauces, pastes and seasonings | Unapproved additives, histamine, sodium benzoate levels |
| Coconut and plant beverages | Micro counts, peroxide value |
| Health functional food | Separate, much stricter route - functional ingredient must be recognised by MFDS |
Korea's positive list system for pesticides is strict: if a residue has no set MRL for that crop, a default limit of 0.01 mg/kg applies. Thai fresh and dried plant products fail here more than anywhere else.
Labelling
Korean-language labelling is mandatory and must include product name, food type, importer name and address, Thai manufacturer, country of origin, date of manufacture and expiry or best-before, storage method, net content, ingredients, additives, allergens and nutrition information where required.
The Korean importer is legally responsible for the label. Draft it in Korea, approve it, then issue it to the Thai factory as controlled artwork, or apply stickers in a bonded warehouse.
Health functional food is a different product
If you plan a claim-bearing supplement, it is not a food import project. The functional ingredient must be listed or individually approved by MFDS, with its own dossier. Budget months, not weeks, and decide this before selecting a Thai factory.
How we run it
We audit the Thai factory against the Korean requirement before samples, manage MFDS facility registration with the factory, hold test documentation, and remain your single point of contact through repeat orders. Our fee is inside the landed cost quoted before production.
Related: AKFTA duty guide, Korean customs clearance.
FAQ
Does the Thai factory need to register with MFDS? Yes. Overseas food facility registration must be completed before the first import declaration for that product and plant.
Why are Thai food shipments rejected in Korea? Most often pesticide residues under the positive list system, unapproved or over-limit additives, microbiological results and labelling errors.
Does AKFTA remove duty on Thai food? On many processed lines yes, but sensitive agricultural categories retain duty. Check the specific HSK line.
Can the Thai factory print the Korean label? Yes, and it is cheaper, but the content must be prepared or approved in Korea because the importer carries the legal responsibility.
How long does the first food shipment take? Allow one to three weeks if laboratory testing is ordered; repeat shipments of the same product usually clear in a couple of days.