Gyeonggi Province Livestock Hygiene Guidance Reduces Non-Compliance and Administrative Actions

The 'hygienic technical guidance' implemented by the Gyeonggi Province Animal Hygiene Test Institute has proven to make a significant contribution to improving hygiene standards at livestock processing businesses in the province.

The Gyeonggi Province Animal Hygiene Test Institute announced on the 29th that as a result of implementing 'hygienic technical guidance' on approximately 800 livestock processing businesses in the province during 2016, non-compliant cases in component specifications and violations subject to administrative action decreased by approximately 19% and 31% respectively compared to 2015.

The 'hygienic technical guidance' last year was conducted on 6,234 cases across a total of 825 businesses, during which 75 non-compliant cases were detected.

This represents a decrease of approximately 19% (-18 cases) compared to the inspection results conducted on 6,337 cases in 2015, which detected 93 non-compliant cases. The non-compliance rate (number of non-compliant cases/total number of inspected cases) decreased by approximately 0.24% from 1.47% last year to 1.20% this year.

Additionally, the number of businesses that received administrative actions such as 'business suspension' or 'product manufacturing suspension' due to violations of the Livestock Products Hygiene Management Act decreased from 226 businesses last year to 155 businesses this year, a reduction of 71 businesses (31%).

Regarding these results, an official from the institute explained, "The improvement in hygiene standards at livestock processing businesses is the result of the test institute conducting publicity and education centered on relevant regulations including the Livestock Products Hygiene Management Act, processing standards and component specifications for livestock products, and labeling requirements, and implementing customized hygiene guidance for businesses with non-compliant cases or those subject to administrative action."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Province Animal Hygiene Test Institute continues to provide 'hygienic technical guidance,' offering not only consulting for technical guidance but also conducting collection and entrusted inspections on livestock product processing businesses, analyzing causes, and providing free technical advice and consulting tailored to address the issues.

In particular, the hygiene technical guidance team of the provincial animal hygiene test institute is composed of veterinary civil servants who have professionally studied public health and microbiology at veterinary colleges, which has the advantage of enabling specialized care, and experts can conduct in-depth inspections and analyses and implement appropriate measures and guidance in the field.

Lim Byung-gyu, director of the Gyeonggi Province Animal Hygiene Test Institute, stated, "Going forward, we will continue to operate customized technical guidance including technical consulting and consulting for processing businesses to ensure hygienic livestock product production and improve hygiene standards." He added, "As an increase in livestock product consumption is expected in the spring season, we will make efforts to ensure consumers can eat with confidence by collecting livestock products with high risk of foodborne illness outbreaks and conducting rapid inspections."

Livestock product processing and manufacturing businesses in the province that wish to receive technical guidance can inquire at the Gyeonggi Province Animal Hygiene Research Institute (031-8008-6320).