The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Friday it signed a business agreement with Hankook Vaccine to stabilize the online supply chain for syringes.
The ministry said the agreement is expected to help ensure a steady supply of syringes needed by online shopping malls and medical clinics.
Hankook Vaccine has applied for special extended work hours — an exemption from the 52-hour workweek limit — to support online supply stability, enabling additional syringe production and securing more inventory, the ministry said.
The ministry noted that it and the Ministry of Economy and Finance recently issued a notice banning hoarding and price-gouging of syringes and needles, but some online shopping sites are still reporting sold-out items.
MFDS Commissioner Oh Yu-kyoung said syringes are an essential medical device that must be available for patient treatment. She said the ministry is providing active support to keep production on track, including dispatching staff to the top 10 manufacturers by output.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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