식품표시에 관한 외국의 입법 동향 및 시사점

Abstract

Food labeling is the only means by which consumers can obtain additional information about the product they intend to purchase. In the case of food, the importance of objective food labeling is further emphasized due to information asymmetry. The food labeling system is the most important information exchange channel that resolves information asymmetry between businesses and consumers. Accordingly, most developed countries are implementing food labeling systems for consumers’ right to know. However, since securing food safety and protecting the right to know, which the food labeling system aims for, have conflicting aspects with the protection and development of the food industry, appropriate compromise or harmonization is unavoidable in realistically enacting the food labeling system. As a result, food labeling legislations show different aspects by country and by era. In recent years, various legislative improvements have been made due to the new type of food labeling system and damage caused by it, such as the introduction of the expiration date system as well as the functional labeling system for general foods, post advertisements through SNS and back advertisements through famous influencers. The enactment and revision of the food labeling-related acts are being carried out from various angles not only in Korea but also abroad. In this regard, this article intends to examine the recent domestic and foreign legislative trends on food labeling and seek its implications. To this end, the current legislation related to food labeling will be reviewed, and the current legislation directly or indirectly related to food labeling, such as the Food Labeling and Advertising Act, which serves as the general act on food labeling and advertising, as well as the Labeling and Advertising Act and the Electronic Commerce Act, will be reviewed,(II.) trends in food labeling laws in the United States, EU, and Japan are reviewed as a comparative study to derive implications for Korea.(III.) Based on this, some legislative suggestions are presented in place of the conclusion.(IV.)