./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.98.382
12 August 1998
(98-3171)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.4.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  REPUBLIC OF KOREA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Environment (MOE)          
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.  ICS
numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Processed foods, beverages,
liquors, confectionery, health and preferred foods, fruits and vegetables, cosmetics
(including detergents), toys and dolls, stationery, personal accessories such as wallets andbelts, quasi-drugs, dress shirts and underwear.
5. Title and number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  (1) Revision of the
Ordinance of the Standards for Packaging Methods and Materials;  (2) Revision of the
Directive for the Annual Reduction of Packaging Materials Made of Synthetic Resin
(3 pages, English)
6. Description of content:
(1) Manufacturers, importers and retailers of products except fruit and vegetables
(hereinafter referred to as "manufacturers") shall label the empty ratio of
packaging, packaging materials and the number of layers of packaging on thesurface of the packaging.  This provision does not apply to one-layer packaging
using containers (e.g. bottled beverages).  The empty ratio of packaging shall be
measured according to the Korean Industrial Standard (KS) A1005-1996.
(2) Some products are newly included in the Annex of the Ordinance, which
stipulates the empty ratio and the number of layers of packaging manufacturers
shall abide by (see the attached proposed revision of the Annex).  The Annex
originally entered into force in August 1993.
(3) In addition to polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-laminated or coated packaging materials,
which have been prohibited, PVC-shrink wrap materials shall also be prohibited.G/TBT/Notif.98.382
Page 2
6. Description of content: (cont'd)
(4) In order to facilitate recycling of the packaging wastes, composite packaging
materials principally made of synthetic resin for food containers (except for
packaging using film) which cannot be easily separated are prohibited.
Exceptions for composite materials used to protect products can be made by the
MOE through consultation with designated agencies.
(5) The reduction ratio of trays made of synthetic resin, which are used for
cosmetics, toys and dolls, sets of goods such as primary food, processed food,
beverages, liquor, health and preferred foods, cosmetics shall be 100 per cent.
The reduction ratio refers to the ratio of the number of items using synthetic
resin-trays, of which 50 per cent or more are recovered and recycled [including
disposal] to the total number of items a manufacturer produced, imported, or sold
in a year.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  
Environmental protection
8. Relevant documents:  Announcement will appear in the Official Gazette published by
Korean Government 
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } 1 January 1999
10. Final date for comments:  30 September 1998
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body:   MOE (Tel:  + 82 2 504 9259  Fax:  82 2 504 9210)