Four legal revisions clear National Assembly

The food and drug safety ministry said that four legal revisions passed the National Assembly's plenary session on Aug. 20, including revisions to laws on medical devices and imported food.

The cosmetics-law revision will establish a basic management plan for safety oversight, regulatory support and international cooperation, and a council to discuss cosmetics policy. The ministry said the change is expected to strengthen K-beauty's competitiveness in global markets.

The medical-device amendment will allow the ministry to monitor online labels and advertising and seek documentation from sales-site providers when violations are confirmed. The ministry said the measures are expected to prevent consumer harm from non-compliant medical devices.

Another amendment permits cancellation of a foreign manufacturing site's registration for fraudulently extending its validity. Under the foreign manufacturing establishment registration system, importers or overseas facility operators register foreign manufacturing sites before import declarations.

The narcotics-law change will allow the ministry to provide integrated narcotics information at the health and welfare minister's request. It follows pharmacy-law changes requiring pharmacists to check the Drug Utilization Review system when dispensing narcotics and linking that system with the integrated narcotics management system for post-management.