Suwon to Conduct Origin Labeling Guidance and Inspections for Agricultural, Livestock, and Seafood Products Ahead of Chuseok Holiday

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] Suwon Metropolitan City will conduct guidance and inspections on origin labeling of agricultural, livestock, and seafood products through September 13, and launch campaigns ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

To guarantee consumers' right to know and establish fair trading order, the city will verify origin labeling of agricultural, livestock, and seafood products for ancestral rites (Jesa) and gift purposes.

Around 20 city officials and honorary origin labeling inspectors will visit traditional markets, wholesale and retail businesses, restaurants, and mail-order vendors to inspect for missing origin labels and violations in origin labeling methods, while also conducting awareness improvement campaigns.

Main inspection items include seafood such as pollock, skate, yellow croaker, octopus, squid, abalone, red seabream, yellowtail, webfoot octopus, and walleye pollock; items for ancestral rites such as beef, pork, codonopsis, bracken fern, dried persimmon, ready-to-eat meals, and sea bream; and gift items such as ribs sets, Korean confectionery, ginseng, dried yellow croaker, and health foods (red ginseng and medicinal herbs).

When violations of origin labeling law are detected, the city plans to request confirmation documents and take administrative measures such as filing charges and imposing fines in accordance with relevant laws.

A city official stated, "We will do our best to provide guidance and conduct inspections so that citizens can confidently purchase food products ahead of the Chuseok holiday," and added, "We will strive to create a distribution environment that satisfies both producers and consumers."