South Korea Revises Standards for Food Utensils
foodmachtech | 2026-05-08 | 1178
South Korea has officially revised its “Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging,” introducing stricter controls on PVC plasticizers and expanding approval for recycled PP in food-contact applications. The update strengthens food-contact material safety requirements and increases compliance expectations for equipment materials used in the Korean market.
Food-contact components such as PVC hoses, seals, conveyor parts, and food-grade plastics may face higher compliance scrutiny. Categories including packaging machinery, beverage processing equipment, dairy equipment, and fruit & vegetable processing equipment could face stricter material audits and testing requirements in the South Korean market.
Quick Impact Summary
South Korea is shifting from finished-product compliance toward full food-contact material control. Companies must now ensure that food-contact materials themselves meet migration, safety, and recycled material requirements.
Material consistency, food-grade documentation capability, and equipment contact-part stability are becoming increasingly important. Packaging machinery, kitchen equipment, convenience food equipment, as well as conveying, cleaning, and water-treatment systems under general machinery categories should pay closer attention to PVC and rubber contact-part compliance risks.
Policy Background
On March 27, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) released Notice No. 2026-24, officially revising the “Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging”.
The revised regulation took effect immediately on March 27, 2026. Updated migration requirements for DEHP and DEHA in PVC materials include a 12-month transition period and will become fully enforceable on March 27, 2027.
The revision covers terminology updates, infant rubber product standards, recycled PP materials, and tighter PVC plasticizer restrictions.
What It Means
The revision significantly increases regulatory control over food-contact materials, particularly PVC and rubber-based components. Equipment manufacturers using food-grade hoses, seals, conveyor belts, and packaging-contact parts may face higher material compliance risks. Beverage processing equipment, dairy equipment, and fruit & vegetable processing equipment that involve liquid transfer and direct food contact are likely to be more heavily affected.
Stricter DEHP and DEHA requirements may require reassessment of some traditional PVC solutions. South Korean market attention toward migration testing, food-contact declarations, and third-party compliance documentation is also expected to increase. Flexible connectors and packaging-contact materials used in packaging machinery and kitchen equipment may also require material reevaluation.
At the same time, South Korea’s approval of physically recycled PP for food-contact use reflects the country’s push toward circular food packaging systems. As recycled material applications expand, demand for plastic recycling, processing, and testing equipment may also increase, creating potential opportunities for packaging machinery and general machinery suppliers.
From an equipment perspective, material stability, traceability, and batch consistency are becoming more important, while food-contact material compliance is gaining greater importance in the South Korean market.
Key Compliance Changes
| Area | Key Change | Industry Impact |
| Terminology | New definitions for monomers, copolymers, recycled resins | More detailed material audits from Korean buyers |
| Infant rubber products | New volatility and migration limits | Higher standards for infant food equipment components |
| Recycled PP | Physically recycled PP approved for food-contact use | Increased demand for recycling and packaging equipment |
| DEHP restrictions | Migration requirement changed to “Not Detected (ND)” | PVC hoses and contact parts require reassessment |
| DEHA restrictions | Additional limits on fresh-wrap applications | Stronger material validation requirements |
| Applicability rules | Shipment date used for import timing | Stricter export batch and documentation management |
Action Checklist
Companies should prioritize reviewing PVC hoses, seals, and food-contact plastic parts to identify potential use of DEHP, DEHA, or other phthalate plasticizers. Packaging machinery, beverage processing equipment, and dairy equipment manufacturers should pay particular attention to food-contact hoses, conveying systems, and packaging-contact components.
Food-contact material declarations, migration testing reports, and third-party compliance documents should be prepared in advance to meet potential Korean customer audit requirements.
For equipment exported to South Korea, manufacturers may consider alternative materials such as phthalate-free PVC, silicone, or TPE to reduce future compliance risks.
Companies involved in packaging, plastic processing, and recycling equipment should also monitor new opportunities linked to food-grade recycled PP applications.
This article is based on publicly available regulatory information and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Final requirements remain subject to official South Korean regulations.
