Korea, Republic of (KR)

Australia regained freedom from High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) as of 13 June 2025 and information is available on the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) website. 

The department is working closely with industry and trading partners to re-establish trade to affected markets where trade is not already restored. Despite the return of Australia’s HPAI freedom status, export certification for some poultry and ratite meat, meat products, rendered meals, pet food, eggs and egg products may continue be affected for Australian product while trading partners undertake their own risk assessment processes. 

The Department will issue regular Market Access Advices (MAAs) to advise exporters of relevant trade developments and the status of export certification. Exporters are advised to refer to the latest MAAs for the most up-to-date information. MAAs can be viewed on the department’s website here: Egg export industry notices - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au).

The MAAs include an Attachment which shows countries and products affected. The Attachment specifically states which export health certificate templates for egg and egg products have been affected. Exporters should ensure they are reviewing the most up to date MAA and attachment with current market access information.

Markets that are not listed in the Attachment to the MAA should not have certification affected. The department recommends that all exporters of egg and egg products work closely with their importers to ensure any exported product will be accepted at border clearance.

For all enquiries, please email exportstandards@aff.gov.au.

Exporters are reminded that it is an offence to provide false or misleading information to the Australian Government.

1.1 Establishment registration

Establishments are required to be export registered to export eggs from Australia to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Exceptions to establishment list and overseas registration

Preparation of goods at an export registered establishment and an export permit is not required if you are exporting the following, as these goods are not prescribed under the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021;

  1. (a) eggs from a species other than Gallus gallus;
  2. (b) egg products derived from eggs from a species other than Gallus gallus;
  3. (c) eggs or egg products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material;
  4. (d) liquid egg products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres;
  5. (e) eggs or egg products not covered by paragraphs (a) to (d) exported in a consignment of not more than 10 kilograms;
  6. (f) egg products in the form of a tablet or capsule;
     
  7. (g) eggs or egg products for export to New Zealand.

Note

However, if the Republic of Korea (South Korea) requires a government certificate for the entry of the above goods, a certificate can be issued by the department – provided that the goods have been prepared in an export registered establishment.

1.2 Overseas listing

Establishments are required to be establishment listed to export eggs from Australia to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Initial listing procedure 
Export registrationYes
Establishment listing required for Republic of Korea (South Korea)No

1.3 General information

An import permit is required for eggs exported from Australian to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

The validity of the permit is subject to change as determined by the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Farms that produce shell eggs must ensure that Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium has not been isolated in the production farm/s of the edible eggs during the last 90 days before export.

Establishments can check if they are listed with South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

For enquiries about gaining access to export whole eggs in shell to South Korea, contact the Department at dairyeggsfish@agriculture.gov.au.

2.1 Operational requirements additional to Australia’s export legislation

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known additional requirements that differ from those required in the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

2.2 Microbial and residue sampling and maximum acceptable limits

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of egg and egg products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

  • These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Republic of Korea (South Korea) standards and the Australian standards.
  • Any detection of a residue above the Republic of Korea (South Korea) MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note

Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

3.1 Cage, barn and free-range table eggs

For table eggs produced for human consumption, use Health Certificate template EX46EG with endorsement 5268.

EX46EG embedded endorsement

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are:

  • In sound condition
  • Fit for human consumption
  • Of Australian origin
     
Endorsement 5268
  1. Poultry that is used to produce the above products has been hatched and bred in Australia.
  2. There have been no outbreaks of HPAI for the last one (1) year in Australia prior to export, or MAFRA has provided permission for exports to resume following efficient stamping out.
  3. There have been no outbreaks of notifiable LPAI or Viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease for the last three (3) months prior to the export of the edible eggs within a radius of 10km from the edible egg producing farm, including storage.
  4. Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium has not been isolated in the production farm/s of the edible eggs during the last 90 days before export.
  5. In accordance with the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021, the eggs have been sourced only from farm/s where disease management controls are in place that ensure only healthy flocks are used for laying.
  6. The products listed above have been handled to avoid contamination with pathogens of infectious livestock diseases.
  7. In accordance with Australia's National Residue Survey for eggs and egg products, the eggs do not contain residual substances (antimicrobials, pesticides, hormones, heavy metals, etc.), microorganisms, food irradiation, ionisation and food additives at levels which may cause any harmful effect on public health.
  8. In accordance with the Australian standard for construction of premises and hygienic production of edible eggs, the packing material used is hygienic and harmless to human health.
  9. The edible eggs listed above are from the species Gallus gallus.

For information on how to lodge a Request for Export (REX) for eggs and eggs products, follow the link.

Note

Exporters must ensure that two export certificates are provided, the duplicate copy usually retained by the exporter or importer must be presented to South Korean authorities at the port of entry. The Department recommends exporters retain a scanned copy or photocopy of the certificate for their records.

All consignments of table eggs to the Republic of Korea must be sealed with an Australian Government seal. The seal number must be written on the export certificate. Until further notice, exporters must record all seal numbers in the goods description field. Refer to section 6 for further details.
 

3.2 Egg products that are not heat treated

There is no agreed certificate for the import of not heat-treated egg and egg products into the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

3.3 Egg products that are heat treated

There is no agreed certificate for the import of heat-treated egg and egg products into the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

3.4 Manufacturing grade products

There is no agreed certificate for the import of manufacturing grade products into the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

3.5 Consignments under 10kg and trade samples

There is no agreed certificate for the import of consignments under 10kg and trade samples into the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

4.1 Import permit

An import permit is required for eggs exported from Australian to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

The validity of the permit is subject to change as determined by the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

4.2. Port of entry inspection and testing

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known additional requirements for port of entry inspection and testing of egg and egg products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.1 Packaging

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.2 Labelling

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known specific requirements for labelling in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.3 Shelf life

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.4 Use-by date

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known specific requirements for use-by date in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.5 Shipping marks

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has no known specific requirements for shipping marks in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

6.1 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout

Eggs and egg products must be transported to ensure their condition and integrity is maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control (Eggs and Eggs Products) Rules 2021.
 

The Republic of Korea requires that table eggs be exported in containers bearing an official Australian Government container seal.

The Australian Government seal must be applied to the air/sea freight containers by a government authorised officer. The consignment details, export certification number(s), Seal number and export eligibility details must be documented on a load – out form.

To organise sealing of consignments, contact the Department’s Audit Services team at auditservice@aff.gov.au. Please note that adequate notice needs to be given to allow scheduling of an officer to conduct the sealing activity.

No additional documents required.

Not applicable.

31/05/2024 - Added High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza certification alert.
03/01/2024 - Updated information on NEXDOC certificates (section 3.1).
20/09/2023 - Updated sealing requirements (sections 3.1 and 6).
20/06/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 2.2).
29/05/2023 - Major review of all content.