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WTO notification · SPS

South KoreaUpdated: check whether it is now adopted or in forceEmergency

Seeds, fruit and spores; of a kind used for sowing

Official title

Emergency Measures to prevent Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) from entering and spread within the Republic of Korea

South Korea issued an addendum on 12 August 2026 to the earlier SPS notification G/SPS/N/KOR/812. Addenda often report that a measure was adopted, changed, postponed or withdrawn. The measure was first notified on 13 November 2024.

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Source: WTO ePing (opens in a new tab). Summaries by Expodite, which is independent of the WTO.

Published here:

Updated here:

At a glance

Products

Seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum

HS codes
  • 12 · Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
    • 120991 Vegetable seeds, for sowing
Notifying member
South Korea(Korea, Republic of)
Status
Updated: check whether it is now adopted or in force
Objectives
  • Plant protection
Area
SPS: Food safety, animal and plant healthSanitary and phytosanitary measures
Notification type
Emergency notifications (SPS)
Document symbol
G/SPS/N/KOR/812Latest notice: G/SPS/N/KOR/812/Add.2
Keywords
Plant health, Pest- or Disease- free Regions / Regionalization, Plant diseases

Key dates

Distributed by the WTO
Comment deadline
Not set in the notification
Proposed adoption
Not set in the notification
Proposed entry into force

What the notification says

Latest notice (⁨G/SPS/N/KOR/812/Add.2⁩, 12 August 2026)

Addition of a country to the list of countries where ToBRFV occurs and revision of the Additional Declaration for seedlings

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has added a country to the list of countries where Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) occurs. This decision was based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). and ToBRFV is designated as a quarantine pest in Korea. Romania has been added to the list of countries where ToBRFV occurs, and the import of seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum from countries (regions) where ToBRFV occurs will need to meet import requirements for entry into Korea. (See Attachment 1 for details) In addition, the requirement for a separate PCR Test Certificate (Attachment 2) for seedlings has been deleted. Full information about the plants, countries (regions) and additional requirements related to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is available in Attachment 1 (available in English). This measure will apply to consignments shipped on or after 11 August 2026. [Attachment 1] Additional requirements related to ToBRFV. [Attachment 2] PCR Test Certificate.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, notified the 'Measures to prevent Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) from entering and spread within the Republic of Korea' on 17 July 2023 (G/SPS/N/KOR/783) and 19 June 2024 (G/SPS/N/KOR/783/Add.2). APQA has added distributed countries (regions) of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), as a one of the quarantine pests of Korea, which is based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). The below five countries(regions) have been added as ToBRFV distributed countries(regions) and the import of seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum from ToBRFV distributed countries (regions) will need to meet certain conditions for import to Korea (see Attachment 1 for details). Five countries (regions): Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia (Region: South Australia) This measure regarding the added countries (Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia (Region: South Australia)) will be applied on consignment shipped on and after 15 November 2024.

Notices on this measure

Every notice about this measure published here, newest first. Each one is the notifying member's own text.

  1. AddendumG/SPS/N/KOR/812/Add.2Emergency measure

    Addition of a country to the list of countries where ToBRFV occurs and revision of the Additional Declaration for seedlings

    The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has added a country to the list of countries where Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) occurs. This decision was based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). and ToBRFV is designated as a quarantine pest in Korea. Romania has been added to the list of countries where ToBRFV occurs, and the import of seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum from countries (regions) where ToBRFV occurs will need to meet import requirements for entry into Korea. (See Attachment 1 for details) In addition, the requirement for a separate PCR Test Certificate (Attachment 2) for seedlings has been deleted. Full information about the plants, countries (regions) and additional requirements related to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is available in Attachment 1 (available in English). This measure will apply to consignments shipped on or after 11 August 2026. [Attachment 1] Additional requirements related to ToBRFV. [Attachment 2] PCR Test Certificate.

    Open on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Official WTO document (opens in a new tab)Notified document (English) (opens in a new tab)Notified document (English) (opens in a new tab)

  2. AddendumG/SPS/N/KOR/812/Add.1Emergency measure

    Emergency Measures to prevent Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) from entering and spread within the Republic of Korea

    The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, has added distributed countries (regions) of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), as a one of the quarantine pests of Korea, which is based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). The below 14 countries (regions) have been added as ToBRFV distributed countries (regions) and the import of seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum from ToBRFV distributed countries (regions) will need to meet certain condition for import to Korea (see Attachment 1 for details). 14 countries (regions) are added to ToBRFV distributed countries (regions): China (Hebei, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jilin, Zhejiang, Anhui, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan, Sichuan, Gansu, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Colombia, Egypt, Australia (Region: New South Wales, Victoria). Full information about the plants, countries (regions) and additional requirement related to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is available in the Attachment 1 (available in English). This measure will be applied on consignment shipped on and after 22 December 2025. [Attachment 1] Additional requirements related to ToBRFV. [Attachment 2] PCR Inspection Certificate.

    Open on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Official WTO document (opens in a new tab)Notified document (English) (opens in a new tab)Notified document (English) (opens in a new tab)

  3. Emergency notificationG/SPS/N/KOR/812Emergency measure

    Emergency Measures to prevent Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) from entering and spread within the Republic of Korea

    The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair (MAFRA) in the Republic of Korea, notified the 'Measures to prevent Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) from entering and spread within the Republic of Korea' on 17 July 2023 (G/SPS/N/KOR/783) and 19 June 2024 (G/SPS/N/KOR/783/Add.2). APQA has added distributed countries (regions) of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), as a one of the quarantine pests of Korea, which is based on the result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). The below five countries(regions) have been added as ToBRFV distributed countries(regions) and the import of seeds for sowing and seedlings (such as nursery/root stocks, cuttings and scions) of Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum from ToBRFV distributed countries (regions) will need to meet certain conditions for import to Korea (see Attachment 1 for details). Five countries (regions): Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia (Region: South Australia) This measure regarding the added countries (Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia (Region: South Australia)) will be applied on consignment shipped on and after 15 November 2024.

    Open on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Official WTO document (opens in a new tab)Notified document (English) (opens in a new tab)Notified document (English) (opens in a new tab)

Sources

Expodite writes its summary from the official record. The notification and the documents it notifies are on the WTO's own websites.

All updates from South Korea

  1. WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for comments

    Proposed amendments to Standards for Recognition of Temporary Standard and Specifications for Foods

    The Republic of Korea is proposing to amend the 'Standards for Recognition of Temporary Standard and Specifications for Foods'. The regulations on applying for temporary standards and specifications of new food ingredients, food additives, etc. have been improved as following; 1) Revisions…

    Symbol: G/SPS/N/KOR/855Comments until 5 January 2027

  2. WTO notificationTBTProposed measure, open for comments

    Draft Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Industrial Standardizatoin Act

    New tailored certification audit types (D, E, and G types) and procedures are newly introduced, and specific audit criteria for each type are established to accommodate various industrial environments, such as entities without manufacturing facilities (Article 13, Annex 7-2, Annex 8, and Annex 9).

    No products listed by the notifying member

    Symbol: G/TBT/N/KOR/1387Comments until 3 January 2027

  3. WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for comments

    Partial Amendment Notice (Draft) of Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods (Advance Notice No. 2026-513, 23 October 2026)

    The proposed amendments seek to: A. Strengthening common manufacturing standards for functional ingredients (Draft Articles 2.1.3 and 2.2.3) - Establish specifications for the use of mixed functional ingredients and other ingredients to prevent misuse and side effects and ensure safe intake by…

    Symbol: G/SPS/N/KOR/854Comments until 3 January 2027

  4. WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for comments

    Partial Amendment Notice (Draft) of Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods (Advance Notice No. 2026-512, 23 October 2026)

    The proposed amendments seek to: A. Reorganization of the structural framework of the Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods (Draft Articles I.2, I.3, I.4, I.5, II.1, II.2, II.3, II.4, II.6, and [Annex 4]) The provisions for 'Collection and Handling of Test Samples' were…

    Symbol: G/SPS/N/KOR/853Comments until 3 January 2027

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