(1) Reasons for Proposal
A. The amendment of the relevant regulations in accordance with the revision of the Fertilizer Control Act (Feb. 11, 2020) and its enforcement (Aug. 12, 2021) promotes the supply of high-quality, guaranteed safe fertilizers.
B. In addition, improve and supplement some of the shortcomings that have emerged in the operation of the current system.
(2) Major Provisions
A. Unify the “establishment or designation” of legal standards as “establishment” (Article 1, Article 4, attached Table 3, and attached Form).
Amend and enforce (Aug. 12, 2021) Article 4 (1) of the Fertilizer Control Act by unifying the "establishment of legal standards or the designation of byproduct fertilizer" as "establishment."
* For current legal standards and byproduct fertilizer, “establishment” and “designation” are used, respectively.
B. Establish imported fertilizers subject to risk inspection and risk standards (attached Table 7).
The amendment is intended to determine the objects and standards for risk inspection for heavy metals in imports of fertilizers and their raw materials and their possible restriction.
* Article 10 (1) of the Fertilizer Control Act and Article 10 (1) of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act to be revised and enforced (Aug. 12, 2021).
C. Change the post-management agency of wastewater treatment sludge (attached Table 6).
As the quality inspection and distribution control duties of fertilizers have been transferred to the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (Aug. 12, 2021), allow the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service to carry out the post-management (distribution control) of wastewater treatment sludge.
* Article 26 of the Fertilizer Control Act and Article 19 (2) and (3) of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act to be revised and enforced (Aug. 12, 2021).
D. Set the standard for phenol in fertilizers (Article 6).
Intend to establish control standards for phenol, which is a leachate from fertilizer, following the media reports (Daejeon MBC on Jan. 13, 2021) that villagers were exposed to foul odors and phenol leachate as hundreds of tons of compost was landfilled.
* Phenol is a substance harmful to the human body and is controlled as a pollutant in the Soil Environment Conservation Act, the Water Environment Conservation Act, etc.
