Korea - Taiwan

24-Apr-2012 - Probiotic supplier BioGaia has secured an exclusive distribution agreement for its ProTectis infant tablet and drop line in Taiwan as it ‘fills the gaps’ in its market presence across Asia.

E-commerce should curb Korean food inflation, say policymakers

18-Apr-2012 - E-commerce could be a vital weapon in curbing burgeoning food and grocery price spikes across South Korea, policy makers have said.

South Korea opens its ‘huge’ doors to Philippine poultry

17-Apr-2012 - South Korea has opened its market doors to the Philippines' poultry sector, marking a vast opportunity for Filipino manufacturers, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

Sabinsa talks health and wellness science with South Korea

05-Apr-2012 - Botanical extracts firm Sabinsa will hold a science-intensive seminar in South Korea to educate key customers on its research and ingredients spanning the health and wellness market.

Taiwan additive maker sentenced to 13 years for toxic plasticisers

20-Mar-2012 - Taiwan’s High Court has sentenced the owner of a food additive company to 13 years in prison and his wife to 11 years for mixing toxic plasticisers into clouding agents which they allegedly then sold onto various local food and beverage manufacturers, the High Court confirmed.

Australian beef now under surveillance in Taiwan

20-Mar-2012 - Taiwan has intensified checks on Australian beef imports after recent inspections by Taiwanese officials revealed the presence of growth drugs in samples allegedly from Australia and New Zealand.

Taiwan’s growth drug findings are misidentified: Australasia

15-Mar-2012 - Australia and New Zealand say Taiwan’s growth drug findings lack proof of origin and are unlikely to be Australasian beef samples.

Taiwan finds growth drugs in Australian and New Zealand beef

13-Mar-2012 - Beef imports from Australia and New Zealand have come under the spotlight in Taiwan after samples from the two countries tested positive for growth drugs.

Taiwan bans exports amid bird flu outbreak

05-Mar-2012 - Taiwan has placed a ban on all poultry product exports and almost 60,000 birds from two farms in the wake of a bird flu outbreak in two farms.

Nuclear fears pummeled seafood trade between Korea and Japan

21-Feb-2012 - The previously robust seafood trade corridor between Japan and South Korea took a huge beating because of nuclear contamination fears in the wake of the Fukushima incident last year.

Bans melt in Taiwanese plasticiser scandal

20-Feb-2012 - Taiwanese food exports are finally free of all border controls in major target markets, with Malaysia being the latest to allow the former’s food products without plasticiser-free certification.

South Korea stamps down on excessive work in its food sector

26-Jan-2012 - South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labour is taking fire at food companies whose employees are working excessive weekly hours as well as weekends in a bid to improve lifestyles, ensure maximum productivity and create more jobs.

Gluten-free fibre ingredient approved in Taiwan

22-Dec-2011 - The Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Artinia, a gluten-free fibre ingredient, for use as a food ingredient.

CoQ10 may boost antioxidant defenses in people with atherosclerosis

28-Oct-2011 - Daily supplements of co-enzyme Q10 may boost antioxidant defenses and reduce markers of oxidative stress in people with atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to a new study from Taiwan.

Taiwan claims DEHP problem under control

16-Aug-2011 - Taiwan has told countries that had placed a ban on the import of its food products that it has managed to gain control of the DEHP food contamination problem from earlier this year.

Coke Zero incident results in stricter checks

29-Jul-2011 - Taiwan has said it would intensify checks on imported products into the country after a batch of concentrate for a Coca-Cola product was found to contain a preservative banned in the country.

Taiwanese soft drinks industry braces itself for DEHP fallout

21-Jun-2011 - Sales of soft drinks in Taiwan could fall 20 per cent in 2011 after high numbers of products became contaminated with the plastics additive DEHP.

EU-South Korea deal creates export opportunity

22-Feb-2011 - The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and South Korea means European food and drink businesses will benefit from improved trading conditions, and agricultural exporters will save an estimated €380 million a year thanks to eliminated tariffs.

B2B supplier launches first 100% single source Vietnam chocolate

19-Jan-2011 - The first 100 per cent single source chocolate from Vietnam is being launched by Belgian B2B producer, Grand-Place, who in a bid to increase output is investing heavily in improving the quality of the cocoa beans from the region.

Special edition: Asia

Korea: 'Stringent' regulations promote functional food potential

22-Sep-2010 - The Korean functional food market hinges on obtaining the nation’s precious ingredient claim approval, but breaking that barrier opens the floodgates to huge market potential, according to an industry expert.

Cranberry ingredient gets Korean UTI health claim

20-Sep-2010 - A cranberry ingredient from US firm Proprietary Nutritionals Inc (PNI) can be supported by a health claim in the Korean market, after the nation’s regulator approved a claim linking it to urinary tract health.

News in brief

Weight loss products lead Korean approvals

14-Jan-2010 - Body fat burning products intended for weight loss were the largest portion of recent Korea Food and Drug Administration functional foods authorisations.

Korea deal a massive opportunity for EU food

16-Oct-2009 - The signing of a free trade deal between the EU and Korea has been hailed by the food and beverage industry, as it will unlock new market access for the sector.

News in brief

InBev sells South Korean brewer in debt drive

07-May-2009 - Anheuser-Busch InBev had today announced an agreement with private equity group Kravis Roberts (KKR) to offload its South Korean-based subsidiary Oriental Brewery, thought to be the country’s second largest beer producer.

Scotch makers eye Korean talks for Asian ambitions boost

24-Feb-2009 - Scotch whisky makers see trade talks taking place next month between Korea and the EU as another major step in its continued attempts to develop further into Asia’s spirit markets.