**Crackdown on Violation of Restaurant Compliance and Origin Labeling**
The Incheon Special Judicial Police Agency is conducting inspections for illegal activities such as violations of hygiene standards and origin labeling at restaurants and online meat delivery businesses registered with delivery apps frequently used by consumers. Provided by Incheon City.
**[Financial News Incheon = Reporter Han Gapsu]** Incheon City reported on the 22nd that it has identified violations in six establishments by conducting inspections on restaurants and online meat delivery businesses within the region that are registered on delivery apps commonly used by consumers.
From March 10 to April 18, over approximately six weeks, the city conducted inspections focused on the origin labeling of delivery food sales establishments and online meat delivery businesses. Based on the inspections, a total of six places were caught for illegal activities including breaches of livestock business compliance, and false or missing origin labeling.
Establishments A and B were found storing expired livestock products in refrigerated and frozen storage. Restaurant C was caught falsely labeling the origin of kimchi made with Chinese pepper powder as domestic. Restaurant D was found making misleading mixed origin claims on kimchi using both domestic and Chinese cabbage origins, potentially confusing consumers. Restaurants E and F violated legal requirements by not labeling the origin of Chinese nurungji at all.
Current ‘Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act’ stipulates that violators can face up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won for non-compliance with livestock business requirements.
Additionally, under the ‘Act on Labeling of Origins of Agricultural and Fishery Products,’ individuals who falsely or misleadingly label the origin of kimchi in food establishments can face up to seven years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 100 million won. Failure to label the origin can result in a fine of 300,000 won for the first offense.
In a bid to verify illegal distribution of livestock origins, the city collected and requested inspections of seven items of Korean beef from four livestock sales establishments through the Health and Environment Research Institute. Results showed that the beef and 36 samples of pork collected from 11 establishments, including the four for Korean beef, were verified as domestic origin.
An official from the Special Judicial Police Agency stated, “As the consumption of agricultural and livestock food delivery and delivery food is expected to continue rising, we will rigorously inspect origin labeling and hygiene management to ensure safe consumption for citizens.”