SEOUL, 12 MARCH 2010: South Korea will enforce mandatory labelling and packaging rules on all egg products sold on the market to enhance consumer rights and deal with substandard products, Yonhap news agency cited the government as saying Friday.

The Farm Ministry said the new rules, which will go into effect on Jan 1 2011, call on egg producers to clearly show at what temperatures the eggs were kept during the distribution process and exact shelf life.
   

"For example, eggs that have been kept at 25 C will have a shelf life of seven days while those that were packaged and sent through a 'cold chain' where temperatures are maintained at 10 C can have a shelf life of 35 days," said Kang Dae-jin, a senior veterinarian at the ministry's livestock product team.
   

He added that under new rules, no eggs can be sold to consumers if they are not packaged, while liquid eggs that are not heated must be used within 72 hours of being produced.
   

Liquid eggs are widely used in bread, noodles and pastries.
   

At present, packaging rules are not enforced with large producers voluntarily taking steps to package and label eggs.
   

Seoul also plans to make it mandatory for all local egg retailers to be registered with local governments from October onwards that can help strengthen accountability.
    

From the first half of 2011, the government will start levying fines and take administrative actions if salmonella is found in egg products. The bacteria can cause salmonellosis and typhoid fever.
   

"Revised labelling rules and mandatory registration of retailers can provide more information to consumers and make it easier to find out problems in the distribution process," the official said.
    

The ministry, meanwhile, said that the rules will apply to all egg products sold on the market including imports.
    

Most imported egg products are powdered eggs so they will only be subject to tighter salmonella inspections.
   

In 2009, 2,928 tonnes of egg products were imported.
   

South Korea produced 601,000 tonnes of egg products worth 1.15 trillion won (US$1.01 billion) in 2008, which accounts for 2.9 percent of the country's farm production.