Public Consultation on (Draft) Partial Amendment. of Standards and Specifications for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages (UCP)(No.2026-009)

South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has launched a public consultation on 8 January proposing a partial amendment (No.2026-009) to the "Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packaging (UCP)" The draft proposes to expand the scope of physical synthetic resin recycled raw materials* used in the manufacture of utensils, containers, and packaging (UCP) to include polypropylene (PP) in addition to polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

* Synthetic resins previously used in food products are collected, sorted, and then physically recycled through crushing, washing, and melting, resulting in raw materials used in the manufacture of utensils, containers, and packaging.

The proposed amendments aim to establish standards for the use of polypropylene (PP) recycled raw materials in food containers to facilitate the transition to a plastic-free society and to strengthen the standards for rubber products for infants and young children to ensure their safe use.

Main proposed changes

1. Establishment of new standards for polypropylene (PP) recycled raw materials (input raw materials, recycling process)

MFDS is expanding the use of physically recycled polypropylene (PP) as a raw material for manufacturing UCPs, following the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)*, and establishing new approval criteria.

* Physically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) will be recognized as a recycled raw material in 2022.

Polypropylene (PP) is a synthetic resin widely used domestically* and is also used as a single material for reusable containers. Since PP is collected, cleaned, and sorted by designated companies, there has been a demand for its approval as a recycled raw material for food containers. This has reduced the risk of exposure to contaminants other than food.

* 2024 Production of utensils, etc.: 480,000 tons of PET, 460,000 tons of PP

Therefore, MFDS has conducted a pilot project with the recycled container industry (including multi-use container cleaning companies, recycling companies, and inspection agencies) from March to September 2025, reflecting feedback from consumers and the industry, and established standards and specifications for input materials and recycling processes to ensure the safety and effectiveness of physically recycled polypropylene (PP).

Input materials refers to those

▲UCPs manufactured solely from PP;

▲that are traceable use history (use, collection, sorting, etc., within a closed and controlled system) to prevent exposure to contaminants other than food; and

▲not directly printed on the body or using adhesives.

▲utensils must be thoroughly cleaned with detergents, etc., in accordance with the Sanitary Products Management Act, to ensure no visible foreign matter remains, and must be free of any remaining impurities.

Additionally, during the regeneration process,

▲ the manufacturing process for synthetic resin recycled raw materials used inUCPs must be managed separately;

▲ the entire recycling process, equipment, and operating conditions (temperature, pressure, time, etc.) must be appropriately maintained to ensure the safety and quality of synthetic resin recycled raw materials;

▲ scientific data proving the safety and quality of synthetic resin recycled raw materials may be provided using test methods presented by the applicant. The validity of the test methods must be reviewed and confirmed and submitted; and

▲ to ensure manufacturing quality control, sanitation and quality control measures, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), must be established and managed.

2. Establishment of new standards for rubber products for infants and toddlers to provide safe products for infants and toddlers.

Recently, as various products with similar shapes and uses to rubber nipples, such as rubber juicers and rubber straws have been developed and used, rubber utensils used by infants and toddlers are classified as "rubber utensils for infants and toddlers" along with rubber nipples, and standards are being strengthened to the same level as rubber nipples.

Additionally, a new glossary of terms related to standards and specifications for UCP will be established, and the textual structure will be reorganized to include separate standards for recycled raw materials and specifications by use.

(Example) "Test subject" refers to a UCP from which a sample is collected that is produced, manufactured, or processed under the same conditions. Test subjects packaged in large quantities and not intended for distribution to end consumers are referred to as "large-packaged samples."

(Draft) Definition and standards/specifications of rubber products for infants and toddlers

Definition

Rubber products used by infants and toddlers include pacifiers, rubber juicers, and rubber straws. Infants and toddlers refers to infants under 12 months of age and toddlers refer to childen between 12 to 36 months of age.

Rubber pacifiers

Rubber juicers

Rubber straws

(Draft) Standards and Specifications

1. Total volatile amount: The total amount of substances that volatilize when using UCP.

2. Residual amount: The amount of unreacted raw materials or products remaining in UCP.

3. Leaching amount: The amount of substances used or produced during the manufacturing and processing of UCP that may migrate from the material to the food.

4. The sum of N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine, N-nitrosopiperidine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and N-nitrosomorpholine.

5. The sum of N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine, N-nitrosopiperidine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and N-nitrosomorpholine.

   
   

Affected stakeholders have until 9 March to provide your comments via mfdscos@korea.kr

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(Draft) Partial Amendment. of Standards and Specifications for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages (UCP)(No.2026-009)