ROK Pet Food Import Health Requirements - Grace Period Extension
Report Number: KS2025-0054 Date: February 02, 2026 Country: Korea - Republic of (ROK) Post: Seoul Report Category: Livestock and Products, Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety
Prepared By: Shoshana Griffith Approved By: Kelly Stange
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 2 years grace period to comply with new import health requirements (IHRs) for pet food.
Key Regulatory Change
- Original deadline: Already set for new pet food IHRs
- New grace period: +2 years extension
- Regulator: MAFRA (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
- Document: Notice of Import Health Requirements for Pet Food
Why This Matters
For pet food exporters (especially US), this extension:
- Provides 2 more years to comply with new IHRs
- Reduces immediate compliance pressure
- Indicates ongoing regulatory tightening in KR pet food imports
Source
USDA GAIN KS2025-0054 Original source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - Seoul
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*Last updated: 2026-07-18*