The administration said the agreement “eliminates significant barriers, especially for small and medium-sized organic businesses.” Until now, companies had to certify their products in both countries. The United States has similar equivalency agreements with Canada, the European Union, and Japan.
Organic food accounted for 10 percent of the agricultural products market in South Korea in 2011, says the Organic Trade Association, a U.S. group. it said the equivalency agreement would benefit consumers and the organic sector in both nations. Some $35 million of U.S. organic processed foods and beverages were sold to South Korea last year and sales are expected to double in five years.
For details on the agreement, click here.