Law passes Gyeonggi provincial assembly … Compensation ranging from KRW 5 million up to a maximum of KRW 100 million granted in the event harmful substances found

Gyeonggi Province plans to enhance their high-class agro-livestock brand, known as “G” mark.
The ‘Bill on Gyeonggi’s high class agro-livestock safety compensation’, which was presented for discussion by Gyeonggi Province last July, was amended and approved during the 2nd meeting of the 227th temporary Gyeonggi provincial assembly, which took place on the 23rd.

The enshrinement in law of the idea of providing compensation in the event of a failure in the safety of agro-products is, in essence, a guarantee of safety for all agro-livestock products that carry the “G” mark. The bill that was passed on the 23rd states that the Province has the responsibility to strictly manage the production and distribution of agro-products, and in the event that a level greater than 50% of the permissible level of harmful substances is detected in any one of the 199 types of toxin-free rice and 23 types of antibiotic-free livestock products, compensation will be paid to the consumers affected.

The amended bill lowers the amount of compensation from KRW 10 million (KRW maximum 100 million) per harmful material, as stated in the original bill, to KRW 5 million. It also changes the term of certification, from ‘-199G Rice’ and ‘-23G Meat’ to ‘G+Rice’ and ‘G+ Meat’, labels that were thought to be more consumer-friendly, and which better reinforce the “G” mark.
Along with such amendments, plans were made to extend the designated inspection institution, from the current Gyeonggi Province Health & Environment Center to a higher-level governmental organization or a local government based inspection center, based on article 18 of the Food Sanitation Act.
G+Rice, which is strictly guaranteed to be safe, from cultivation up to purchasing point, is produced in 5 cities including Yeoju, Anseong, Gimpo, on over 2,500ha of land. It will be distributed by E-mart starting this November.

In addition, the Province plans to form a G+Rice United Committee in order to activate promotion, consultation, and development of package materials, and also plans to do their utmost to find paths towards promising new markets for G+Meat.