Indonesia is brightening the mood of the domestic ramen industry as it relaxes import regulations on Korean ramen. This is due to the expansion of export opportunities to Indonesia, the world's second-largest ramen-consuming country, amid sluggish domestic demand that has left ramen companies in a dilemma. Thanks to the achievements of regulatory diplomacy by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, companies such as Samyang Foods, Nongshim, and Ottogi are expected to see a rebound in their performance next year.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, starting this month, Indonesia has lifted the requirement for an ethylene oxide (EO) test and inspection certificate for Korean ramen and other instant noodle products. EO is a component used as a fumigant and sterilizer for agricultural products. Indonesia is the world's second-largest instant noodle market after China. According to the World Instant Noodles Association, Indonesia's instant noodle consumption reached 14.5 billion servings last year, accounting for 15% of global consumption, which is more than three times that of Korea (4.04 billion servings).
Indonesia began requiring EO test and inspection certificates since 2022, following the detection of 2-chloroethanol (2-CE), a metabolic byproduct of EO, in Nongshim's 'Assorted Seafood Noodle Soup' and Paldo's 'Rabokki' exported to Germany the previous year. While EO is classified as a carcinogen, 2-CE is not. In response to the controversy abroad, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety collected the related products and conducted field investigations. It was confirmed that 2-CE was present at 0.11 mg/kg in the imported dried vegetables from Nongshim's Assorted Seafood Noodle Soup and at 12.1 mg/kg in the powdered soup of Paldo's Rabokki, but no EO was detected.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety determined that consuming the affected products poses no harm to human health. It stated that 2-CE can occur naturally. A food industry official said, '2-CE can be formed when EO reacts with chlorine and can also arise unintentionally through various chemical reactions,' adding, 'It can occur even during the blending process of perfectly safe materials and supplies.'
Unlike the U.S. and Canada, which have established separate standards for EO and 2-CE, the European Union has maintained a limit that the combined value of 2-CE and EO cannot exceed 0.02 to 0.1 ppm. However, after 2-CE was detected in Korean ramen, exporters were required to submit an accredited test inspection certificate proving compliance with EO-related regulations and an official certification from the Korean government each time they exported.
Indonesia has also adopted EU regulations. According to the Agricultural and Food Export Information, Indonesia's ramen export value increased from $12.18 million in 2021, before the regulation was tightened, to $14.72 million in 2022, and then plummeted to $9.03 million last year.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety actively sought to delay the implementation of stricter regulations immediately after the EU announced its plans to tighten them. An official from the ministry noted, 'We continuously requested the lifting of the enhanced regulatory measures based on the fact that EO was not detected in Korean ramen.' They added, 'In June, the regulation was relaxed by exempting the submission of EO test certificates for Korean ramen while introducing a 20% random inspection at customs, and starting in July, it was completely excluded from the enhanced management list.'
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that, particularly for the relaxation of regulations in Indonesia, it held a bilateral meeting with the head of Indonesia's Food and Drug Agency during the Asia-Pacific food regulatory authorities conference (APRAs 2024) in May. With Indonesia agreeing to exclude the products being shipped this month from enhanced management, domestic ramen companies are expected to significantly save time and expenses. According to the ramen industry, instant noodle exports to Indonesia are estimated to increase by $7.38 million (about 10.3 billion won) next year compared to this year.
Samyang Foods recently faced a potential crisis. In June, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) took recall action on 'Buldak Bokkeummyeon 3X Spicy,' 'Buldak Bokkeummyeon 2X Spicy,' and 'Buldak Bokkembap' due to the risk of acute poisoning. There was a possibility that the recall action could spread to other EU countries. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained, 'While consulting with DVFA, we clarified that the capsaicin content reduces when the ramen is cooked and presented the actual capsaicin content analysis of the cooked products.' The recall measure was lifted rapidly after about a month.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the ramen export value from January to November this year reached $1.1384 billion (1.5967 trillion won), a 30% increase compared to the same period last year. This marks the highest level ever. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a star export product. It is hoped that the relaxation of regulations in various countries will serve as a blessing for the food industry's exports.