As caffeine containing foods become popular, the problem of adverse effects due to excessive caffeine intake is emerging. The cases claiming adverse effects by adolescents and adults due to intaking high-caffeine drinks (such as energy drinks, etc.) as well as existing caffeine-containing foods (coffee, tea, etc.) are becoming frequent.
The adverse effects of caffeine ingestion range from relatively mild symptoms such as nervousness and sleep disorders to serious adverse effects such as strokes and seizures. However, the Korean caffeine labeling system does not provide adequate information to consumers.
It is, therefore, necessary to impose an obligation to label such information as caffeine content, recommended daily intake, and a phrase of warning about adverse effects when ingested with alcohol upon a person or business entity that manufactures, processes, subdivides, or imports foods, etc., and to make dispositions such as corrective orders and business suspension in case of violating this provision for consumers to take caffeine with more accurate information.

Details

The amendment newly inserts an obligation to label such information as caffeine content, recommended daily intake, and a phrase of warning about adverse effects when ingested with alcohol upon a person who manufactures, processes, subdivides, or imports foods, etc., and authorizes making dispositions such as corrective orders and business suspension to a person who sells, manufactures, processes, subdivides, or imports foods, etc., for the purpose of selling foods, etc., in violation of the labeling obligation (Article 6-2 newly inserted).

Article 6-2 (Labeling of Caffeine Content, etc.) (1) A person who manufactures, processes, subdivides, or imports foods, etc., shall mark the following regarding caffeine on the foods, etc., prescribed by Ordinance of the Prime Minister
1. Caffeine content
2. Recommended daily intake
3. A phrase of warning about adverse effects when ingested with alcohol
4. Other matters prescribed by Ordinance of the Prime Minister as matters necessary to provide information to consumers on the caffeine content of the relevant food, etc.
(2) Matters necessary for labeling standards and methods of caffeine content, etc., pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Prime Minister.
(3) No one shall sell foods, etc., without labelling the caffeine content, etc. pursuant to paragraph 1 or violate the labeling standard and method pursuant to paragraph 2, or manufacture, process, subdivide, import, pack, store, display, transport such foods, etc., for sale or use them for business.