By Reuben Staines
Staff Reporter


Chinese trade officials Monday called for Seoul and Beijing to work out a set of joint food safety guidelines after the South Korean government announced a clamp down on contaminated kimchi imported from its economically expanding neighbor.

``Some sort of bilateral agreement on food safety standards is needed to resolve these uncertainties,’’ an official at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul told The Korea Times, requesting anonymity. ``It is difficult for our government to say anything about media reports on the quality of Chinese imports. But we are investigating the claims thoroughly.’’

The official was referring to reports over the weekend that a study found unusually high levels of lead in kimchi imported from China. Imports from China of the spicy Korean side dish surged 114.4 percent in the first half of this year, squeezing out local kimchi makers.

Responding to public concern over the lead contamination, the presidential office of Chong Wa Dae said yesterday it will tighten up the government inspection system for imported foods to ensure safety.

``Chong Wa Dae has instructed related government agencies to review inspection guidelines and overhaul the system,’’ deputy presidential spokesman Choi In-ho said during a briefing.

But another official at the Chinese Embassy said it is too early for South Koreans to blacklist Chinese kimchi or other imported goods. She said China has not been able to verify the reports of lead contamination. ``It’s not certain and we can’t trust all of these claims,’’ she said.

Opposition Grand National Party lawmaker Ko Kyung-hwa made public the report on the high lead content in Chinese kimchi on Sunday. Carried out by the Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, the analysis of 10 varieties of Chinese kimchi being sold over the Internet found an average lead content of 0.302 parts per million, about three times the average amount found in locally made products. One sample had more than five times the level of the toxic metal, which is known to cause severe developmental problems in children.

In a related move, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said it will establish a task force to monitor the illegal circulation and sale of agricultural imports.

Inspectors will focus particularly on the false country of origin labeling on imports, many of which are sourced from China. ``In principle, violations involving the willful mislabeling of imports so they can be disguised as locally made products will be turned over to the public prosecutors office for criminal investigation,’’ a government expert said.

rjs@koreatimes.co.kr