Food and drug safety ministry introduces QR checks for testing reports

The food and drug safety ministry said it will introduce QR codes on food and livestock testing reports so overseas government agencies can check the institutions issuing English documents needed for exports.

The change takes effect Aug. 13 and follows increased issuance of English reports for food and livestock exports as K-food has gained popularity overseas, the ministry said. English reports for those exports rose to 15,993 in 2025 from 12,582 in 2023. K-food+ exports reached a record high in 2025, up 5.1% from a year earlier.

Until now, foreign authorities have had to contact testing institutions directly by phone or in writing. Under the new system, scanning the code with a smartphone will retrieve information from the issuing institution's designation certificate.

The result will include the institution's designation number, name, address, scope of work, testing fields, testing items and certificate validity period. The ministry said it expects the system to make it easier to confirm testing-institution information and improve trust in the reports.

The ministry will initially apply the system to food and livestock testing reports, which accounted for about 88% of all reports issued in 2025. It will consider a phased expansion to other fields, including cosmetics.