Voluntary Report – Voluntary - Public Distribution
Date: February 02, 2026 Report Number: KS2025-0054
Report Name: ROK Extends Grace Period for New Pet Food Import Health Requirements Country: Korea - Republic of Post: Seoul Report Category: Livestock and Products, Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety, MISCCommodity
Prepared By: Shoshana Griffith
Report Highlights: On December 12, 2025, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) amended the Notice of Import Health Requirements for Pet Food to allow an additional two years’ grace period to comply with new import health requirements (IHRs) for pet food. Under the original IHRs published January 14, 2025, pet food products that have been exported to the ROK within the last year could continue to use their existing health certificates with no facility approval until December 31, 2025. The amendment now extends this grace period until December 31, 2027. However, pet food containing ruminant ingredients should comply with the new IHRs.
THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY