Under the current system, a suspected food item has to go through safety examinations and be confirmed as toxic before being removed from the shelves.

But starting in 2009 the suspicion itself will be enough for the administration to warn consumers against the product in question and suspend its import and sale.

The product will either be put back on the shelves or be permanently eliminated from the market according to the results of the tests.

This is to speed up reactions against harmful foods. In September the administration was heavily criticized for its slow response to the melamine scandal from China.

Meanwhile, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will now require food products sold under the name "organic" to be composed of over 95 percent organic ingredients excluding water and salt starting Thursday.

The products will also need approval from an institute designated by the country. Currently the Korea Food Research Institute is the only body with such authority and the government plans to expand the number in the near future. Government approval will expire in just one year.

Arirang News