As South Korea strengthens its pesticide safety management system, violations of pesticide residue limits have decreased, while agricultural exports continue to rise. This progress is attributed to proactive responses to varying pesticide standards across countries and enhanced education for exporting farmers.
According to the Rural Development Administration (RDA) on October 28, violations of customs standards for agricultural products exported to major markets such as Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and Thailand fell from 49 cases in 2024 to 16 in 2025, with only 9 recorded by September this year.
In contrast, agricultural export revenues increased from $7.57 billion in 2020 to $10.41 billion last year. In the first half of this year, exports reached $5.38 billion, a 5.0% increase compared to the same period last year. While various factors, including prices and exchange rates, influence export growth, the RDA noted that strengthened pesticide safety management has also contributed to stable exports.
When exporting agricultural products, it is essential to meet the different maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by each country. Exceeding these limits or detecting pesticide components not permitted in the importing country can lead to customs rejection, local disposal, or return of the products. If the standards in the importing country are stricter than domestic regulations or if there are no established limits for specific pesticides, farmers may face restrictions on the pesticides they can use for pest control.
To address these non-tariff barriers, the RDA has expanded pesticide safety guidelines and is working to establish residue limits in importing countries. They are providing farmers with safety guidelines that adjust pesticide usage amounts, frequency, and timing to comply with importing countries' standards. Additionally, they offer signage and smartphone QR codes to help farmers easily access these guidelines on-site.
The RDA is also working on establishing new residue limits for pesticides not currently recognized in importing countries. Based on domestic residue test results, they have applied for the establishment of residue limits for imported agricultural products (IT), resulting in 111 new limits set for 19 crops. The RDA has submitted a total of 151 applications, with 40 still under discussion.
This establishment of limits has led to improvements in actual customs procedures. For instance, the residue limit for hexaconazole in Korean chili peppers exported to Japan was set in September 2024, resulting in the lifting of comprehensive inspections. The customs clearance period, which previously took over a week, has been reduced to 1-2 days. Export volumes increased by 33%, from 694 tons in 2023 to 928 tons in 2024.
In the case of grapes exported to Taiwan, 20 customs violations occurred before the establishment of the residue limit for tetraniliprole, resulting in an estimated loss of about $920,000. However, no further violations have occurred since the limit was set in March 2025.
The RDA conducts intensive training for exporting farmers and companies annually from April to May, in conjunction with the grape pre-registration system introduced in 2024. This training aims to manage pesticide use and residue safety from the production stage through the export process to prevent future violations.
The RDA also plans to establish an information provision system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). This service will provide interactive pesticide safety usage information tailored to exporting countries and crops, based on over 36,000 data points accumulated in the agricultural management system. The RDA intends to initially apply this AI service, named 'Isak', to grapes and strawberries in 2027, followed by verification and expansion to other crops.
Seong Je-hoon, head of the RDA's National Agricultural Science Center, stated, "Managing pesticide safety for exported agricultural products is a meticulous task that must be thoroughly prepared from the production stage. We will spare no effort in supporting our farmers to successfully navigate the non-tariff barriers in the global market and enhance the status of our agricultural products."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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