The Food and Drug Administration (hereafter referred to as FDA) has begun precise inspections on food items suspected of containing narcotic substances that are imported via overseas direct purchase.
The FDA announced on the 10th that it will conduct planned inspections until August on products such as jelly and candy from online shopping malls in countries where cannabis usage is legalized and where there is a potential inclusion of narcotic substances. This initiative aims to take proactive measures for the health of the public.
The inspection targets products sold on platforms like Amazon and eBay that contain hemp ingredients or are suspected to have narcotic substances. The test criteria include 61 types of narcotic and psychotropic drugs such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), amphetamines, cocaine, and psilocybin.
For products identified to contain harmful substances, the FDA plans to collaborate with related agencies to take immediate action by requesting customs to withhold clearance and blocking access to sales sites through the Korea Communications Standards Commission.
Furthermore, consumers should be aware that individual purchases intended for personal consumption may also be subject to penalties under the “Narcotics Control Act,” and sales or commercial use by third parties are likewise prohibited. The FDA emphasized, “Consumers must check product information on the ‘Correct Overseas Direct Purchase Food’ website before deciding on a purchase.”
The legal basis for these inspections and information disclosure is provided through the “Special Act on Safety Management of Imported Food,” revised in March 2025. The FDA is mandated under this law to conduct obligatory tests on suspected narcotic products and disclose the information on its website at least once a year.
The government has announced plans to intensify crackdowns this year on high-risk categories identified in the ‘Overseas Direct Purchase Food Safety Management Plan’ to preemptively block potential consumer harm.
