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The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on the 1st that it has drawn up next year's budget proposal at a total of 882.9 billion won, an increase of 50.9 billion won compared to this year's budget of 832.0 billion won.

The MFDS stated that the proposal was formulated with a focus on driving the growth of K-food and medical products while taking public food and drug safety as its foundation.

The ministry allocated a total of 204.4 billion won toward establishing safe food supplies and healthy dietary environments. In detail, this includes 10.7 billion won for the safety management of agricultural, livestock, and marine products; 4.7 billion won for the safety management of imported and distributed food, such as overseas direct purchases; 2.8 billion won for local safety management of imported food; 7.5 billion won for food safety surveillance and response; and 10.0 billion won for food poisoning prevention and management.

As the distribution of agricultural products via online shopping and dawn deliveries increases rapidly, the ministry will install one additional rapid inspection center for agricultural products in the Gyeongsang and Jeolla regions, following the center in the Seoul metropolitan area (Gimpo), to help promptly intercept non-compliant agricultural products prior to delivery.

A total of 70.8 billion won was allocated for digital and AI transformation as well as the advancement of food and drug safety systems. This includes 4.6 billion won to establish a new narcotics addiction management system for integrated tracking of treatment and rehabilitation records, and 11.5 billion won to build an integrated AI-based food information system. An allocation of 5.5 billion won was made to develop an auxiliary system for pharmaceutical review and approvals.

To enhance global competitiveness by driving the growth of K-food and medical products, a total of 175.2 billion won was allocated. This comprises 2.0 billion won to support the Korea Agency of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Accreditation and Services; 3.9 billion won to strengthen global competitiveness in food safety; 5.8 billion won to boost the international competitiveness of biopharmaceuticals; 8.4 billion won to reinforce cosmetics safety management; 4.8 billion won for regulatory technical support in global pharmaceutical license reviews; and 4.9 billion won to build a quality certification base for domestic biopharmaceutical raw materials and supplies (R&D).

The MFDS will provide and support Halal certification consulting for small and micro food businesses in South Korea. Ahead of the "Cosmetics Safety Assessment System" scheduled for phased introduction starting in 2028, the ministry will also support the preparation of documentation required for safety assessments, enhancing the international competitiveness of the domestic cosmetics industry.

A total of 214.1 billion won was allocated to provide a reassuring daily routine in food and pharmaceuticals for all citizens. This includes 8.0 billion won to support the Korea Orphan & Essential Drug Center and 5.0 billion won for research and development (R&D), such as technology development and commercialization to support the stable supply of essential medicines. The MFDS will introduce a state-led supply-and-demand adjustment system in which the government stockpiles medicines that suffer from periodic supply instability due to concentrated demand at specific times, releasing them into the market when shortages occur.

In addition, to effectively tackle the worsening narcotics issue, the ministry will expand the regions covered by wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance on drug use to assess the actual consumption status of illicitly distributed narcotics, including emerging designer drugs. It will also expand hands-on and participatory drug prevention education for adolescents.

The MFDS stated, "Once the 2027 budget proposal is finalized through deliberation and resolution in the National Assembly, we will do our utmost to protect public health and safety by smoothly executing national tasks and key policies of the government of popular sovereignty."

                                                                                                        Lee Jeong-yeon