미입력

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Act is to establish matters necessary for promoting the food tech industry, thereby laying the foundation for the convergence of the food industry with advanced and innovative technologies, and contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the people, job creation, and the development of the national economy.

Article 2(Definitions) #

The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

1. "Foodtech" means advanced and innovative technologies used in food-related manufacturing, distribution, and dining services under Article 2(1) of the Framework Act on Food Safety, as prescribed by Presidential Decree;

2. "Foodtech industry" means an industry that utilizes foodtech or develops, produces, or distributes materials, parts, equipment, software, etc., related to foodtech;

3. "Foodtech innovation cluster" means a collaborative body in which foodtech companies, universities, research institutes, and small and medium-sized food companies interconnect and cooperate to create a regional foodtech industry ecosystem.

Article 3(Responsibilities of the State and local governments) #

The State and local governments shall establish and implement policy measures necessary for systematically promoting the food tech industry.

Article 4(Relationship to other statutes) #

Except as otherwise provided in other statutes, the promotion of the foodtech industry shall be governed by this Act.

Article 5(Establishment and implementation of master plans) #

(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall establish and implement a master plan for the promotion of the foodtech industry (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") every 5 years to promote the foodtech industry.

(2) Maser plans shall include the following matters:

1. Promotion goals and basic directions of policies for the foodtech industry;

2. Domestic and international trends and development outlook of the foodtech industry;

3. Preparation and management of statistics related to foodtech;

4. Support for research and development for the development of the foodtech industry;

5. Training of professional human resources necessary for the foodtech industry;

6. Support for start-ups for the development of the foodtech industry;

7. International cooperation related to the foodtech industry and support for entry into overseas markets;

8. Promotion and support of food tech innovation clusters;

9. Other matters necessary for the promotion of the foodtech industry.

(3) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall prepare and implement an implementation plan (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") every year in accordance with the master plan.

(4) When the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs prepares the master plan and implementation plans, the Minister shall have a prior consultation with the heads of relevant central administrative agencies.

(5) If necessary to prepare the master plan and implementation plans, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies or the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, or a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor") to submit relevant materials. In such cases, the heads of relevant central administrative agencies or the Mayor/Do Governor requested to submit materials shall comply with such request unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

(6) Upon preparing the master plan and implementation plans, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall notify the heads of relevant central administrative agencies thereof and publicly announce them as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Article 6(Fact-finding surveys and preparation of statistics) #

(1) The Government may conduct fact-finding surveys on the foodtech sector and prepare and manage statistics thereon in order to formulate and efficiently implement policies related to foodtech.

(2) For the fact-finding surveys and preparation of statistics under paragraph (1), the head of a central administrative agency may request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, and the heads of public institutions under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions (hereinafter referred to as "public institutions") to provide necessary data.

(3) The heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, and the heads of public institutions who receive a request under paragraph (2) shall comply with such request unless there is compelling reason not to do so.

(4) The scope and methods of fact-finding surveys and the preparation and management of statistics under paragraph (1), and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 7(Reporting of foodtech business operators) #

(1) Any person engaged in the foodtech industry who intends to receive support under this Act shall file a report with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as a foodtech business operator, including matters prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as detailed business categories of the foodtech industry, sales related to the foodtech industry, and the status of holding professional human resources.

(2) Where any important matter prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as a change in a detailed category of business among the reported matters, is modified, a foodtech business operator who has filed a report under paragraph (1) shall file a report on such modification with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

(3) Upon receipt of a report under paragraph (1) or a report on modification under paragraph (2), the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall examine the contents thereof and, if they conform to this Act, notify the reporting person within 30 days from the date of receipt whether the report is accepted.

(4) If the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs fails to notify the reporting person of whether to accept the report or of an extension of the processing period under statutes or regulations relating to processing civil petitions within the period prescribed in paragraph (3), the report shall be deemed accepted on the day immediately following the lapse of that period (referring to the relevant processing period if the processing period has been extended or re-extended under statutes or regulations relating to processing civil petitions).

(5) A report filed under paragraph (1) shall remain valid for 3 years from the date the report is accepted, and shall be renewed if the enterprise intends to continue to receive support, etc. under this Act.

(6) Matters necessary for the methods of filing reports and reports on modification, the processing of acceptance of reports, and the procedures for renewal of reports under paragraphs (1) through (5) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 8(Training of professional human resources) #

(1) The Government shall establish and implement measures, such as education and training, necessary for training professional human resources related to the foodtech industry in order to promote the foodtech industry.

(2) The Government may designate universities or other institutions as specialized institutions for training professional human resources in the foodtech industry for the purpose of training such human resources under paragraph (1).

(3) The Government may provide full or partial financial support for expenses necessary for institutions designated under paragraph (2) as specialized institutions for training professional human resources in the foodtech industry.

(4) Criteria and procedures for designation of specialized institutions for training professional human resources in the foodtech industry under paragraph (2), and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 9(Support for start-ups and financing) #

(1) The Government may provide support necessary to promote start-ups related to the foodtech industry and to facilitate the growth and development of start-up founders.

(2) The Government may provide necessary support, including financial and fiscal support, to foodtech business operators who have filed a report under Article 7 (hereinafter referred to as "foodtech business operators") in order to promote technological innovation in the foodtech sector and to establish a foundation for the foodtech industry.

Article 10(Promotion of technology development) #

The Government may implement the following matters in order to promote the development of foodtech:

1. Surveys on trends and demand in foodtech;

2. Research and development of foodtech;

3. Commercialization of developed technologies, including technological cooperation and technology transfer;

4. Facilitation of the smooth distribution of technical information;

5. Other matters necessary for promoting the development of foodtech.

Article 11(Support for research facilities and equipment) #

The Government may support the securing, management, and joint utilization of research facilities and equipment, or establish and implement necessary policy measures therefor, in order to develop the foodtech industry.

Article 12(International cooperation and entry into overseas markets) #

(1) The Government may establish and implement necessary policy measures, such as international exchange of related technologies and human resources, market development and promotion, and joint research and development, in order to promote entry of the foodtech industry into overseas markets.

(2) The Government may provide necessary financial support, within the scope not inconsistent with international norms, to institutions, organizations, or foodtech business operators participating in policy measures under paragraph (1).

Article 13(Designation of dedicated institutions) #

(1) Where necessary to implement policies for fostering the foodtech industry, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may designate a dedicated institution (hereafter referred to as "dedicated institution") to perform business affairs related to foodtech.

(2) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may, within the budget, provide support for all or part of the expenses necessary for the dedicated institution to perform its business affairs under paragraph (1).

(3) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may revoke the designation of a dedicated institution or suspend all or part of its business for a period of up to 6 months if it falls under any of the following; provided, if it falls under subparagraph 1, such designation shall be revoked:

1. Where it is designated by fraud or other improper means;

2. Where it no longer meets the standards for designation under paragraph (6);

3. Where it refuses to report or submit materials under Article 17(1), or does so falsely, or where it refuses, evades, or obstructs an investigation;

4. Where it becomes difficult to continue performing its BUSINESS affairs due to other significant public interest reasons.

(4) The designation of a dedicated institution shall remain valid for 3 years from the date of designation, and it shall be re-designated before the lapse of the period to continue to perform its business affairs as a dedicated institution after the period.

(5) If the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs intends to revoke the designation of a dedicated institution or order suspension of its business under paragraph (3), he or she shall hold a hearing.

(6) Matters necessary for the standards, procedures, etc. for designation under paragraph (1), revocation of designation and suspension of business under paragraph (3), and re-designation under paragraph (4) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 14(Promotion and support of foodtech innovation clusters) #

(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may implement the following projects in order to promote foodtech innovation clusters:

1. Establishment and operation of support facilities for foodtech innovation clusters;

2. Support for joint research and development and technology demonstration;

3. Enhancement of capabilities of participating enterprises and institutions in foodtech innovation clusters;

4. Support for interconnection and cooperative activities among participating enterprises and institutions in foodtech innovation clusters;

5. Other projects necessary for promoting foodtech innovation clusters as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

(2) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may provide support for all or part of the costs to universities, research institutes, public institutions, companies, etc., participating in projects under paragraph (1).

Article 15(Application for regulatory improvement) #

(1) A foodtech business operator and a university or research institute conducting foodtech-related research may, where necessary for the development of the foodtech industry, apply for regulatory improvement to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

(2) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall, upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1), notify the head of the relevant administrative agency of the details of the application, and the head of the relevant administrative agency shall review the details of such application and reply to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in writing with the results within 30 days. In such cases, the head of the relevant administrative agency shall proactively process the details of the application that do not require regulatory revision.

(3) Where the head of a relevant administrative agency requests a person who has applied for regulatory improvement under paragraph (1) to supplement materials in order to review whether to improve regulations, the period taken to supplement the relevant materials shall not be included in the reply period under paragraph (2); provided, even in such cases, the results of the review shall be replied within 45 days, and if a reply is impossible, a request for an extension of the reply period may be made only once within the extent of 30 days.

(4) If the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recognizes that regulatory improvement is necessary, contrary to the result of the review by the head of the relevant administrative agency, the Minister may request the abolition or improvement of regulations or submit an opinion to the Regulatory Rationalization Committee (hereinafter referred to as "Regulatory Rationalization Committee") under Article 23 of the Framework Act on Administrative Regulations under Articles 17 and 17-2 of that Act, and the Regulatory Rationalization Committee may conduct an examination under Article 18 of that Act. <Amended on Feb. 19, 2026>

(5) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall notify a person who has applied for regulatory improvement under paragraph (1) of the reply submitted by the head of the relevant administrative agency under paragraph (2) or measures taken under paragraph (4) by using an information and communications network, mail, etc.

(6) Detailed matters necessary for the application and processing of regulatory improvement under paragraphs (1) through (5), and procedures and methods therefor, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 16(Management and supervision of regulatory improvement) #

(1) The head of a relevant administrative agency shall manage and supervise projects, etc. implemented upon being granted regulatory improvement under Article 15.

(2) If a person granted regulatory improvement falls under any of the following, the head of a relevant administrative agency may revoke the application of such regulatory improvement or order corrective measures; provided, if it falls under subparagraph 1, the application thereof shall be revoked:

1. Where it has been granted by fraud or other improper means;

2. Where it is deemed clearly impossible to achieve the purpose of the regulatory improvement;

3. Where it is deemed clearly impossible to achieve the purpose of the regulatory improvement.

(3) Detailed matters related to paragraphs (1) and (2), and procedures for revocation of application of regulatory improvement, etc., shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 17(Reports and investigations) #

(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may, where the Minister deems it necessary to implement the Act, such as confirming whether a foodtech business operator has violated reported matters or supervising a dedicated institution, require the foodtech business operator and the dedicated institution to report or submit materials concerning the Government's support as prescribed by Presidential Decree, or have subordinate public officials investigate relevant books or documents.

(2) Where an investigation is conducted under paragraph (1), an investigation plan including the date, reason, and details of the investigation shall be notified to the person subject to the investigation at least 7 days prior to the commencement thereof; provided, this shall not apply where it is urgent or where prior notice is likely to defeat the purpose of the investigation.

(3) Public officials conducting an investigation under paragraph (1) shall carry an identification verifying their authority and present it to the relevant persons.

Article 18(Delegation or entrustment of authority or duties) #

(1) The authority of the head of a central administrative agency under this Act may be partially delegated to the head of an affiliated agency or the head of a local government as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

(2) The head of a central administrative agency may entrust part of the duties under this Act to a dedicated institution or a relevant institution or organization as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 19(Legal fiction as public officials for purpose of applying penalty provisions) #

Any of the following persons shall be deemed public officials for the purposes of applying Articles 127 and 129 through 132 of the Criminal Act:

1. Executives and employees of a dedicated institution performing business affairs under Article 13(1);

2. Executives and employees of an agency or organization engaged in business affairs entrusted under Article 18(2).

Article 20(Administrative fines) #

(1) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding 5 million won:

1. A person who files a report under Article 7(1) or a report on modification under paragraph (2) of that Article by fraud or other improper means;

2. A person who fails to file a report on modification, in violation of Article 7(2);

3. A person who refuses to report or submit materials under Article 17(1), or does so falsely;

4. A person who refuses, evades, or obstructs an investigation under Article 17(1) without good cause.

(2) Administrative fines under paragraph (1) shall be imposed and collected by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.