Problems relating to Trade and Investment on Korea

19. Industrial standards, approval of safety standards
Issue	Issue details	Requests	Reference

(1) Vexatiously Complex GOK's Own Standards and Specifications

- Where GOK applies certification of the standard specifications to goods imported from abroad, it begins to function as technical barrier to trade.
- ROK's national standard KSA9000 exists, corresponding to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Quality Certification.
- Korean Industrial Standards (KS) exists.

- KSA9000

(2) Incompatibility of Examination Standard for Approval under Pharmaceutical Affairs Law

- Examination standards are incompatible between Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) and Japan Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare (JMHLW), in regard to the licence for import and distribution. It took 8-10 months for ROK examiner to complete inspection of the drugs inspected in Japan under the pharmaceutical affairs law. Harmonisation is requested.

- It is requested that GOJ and GOK harmonises the examination standard of the pharmaceutical products between the 2-countries.

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