The South Korean government has significantly tightened its "decaffeinated" labeling rules, allowing the term only on products whose actual residual caffeine falls below a set threshold.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced the revised "Food Labeling Standards" on Wednesday. Under the new rule, the terms "decaffeinated" or "made with decaffeinated beans" may be used only when the caffeine remaining in coffee beans is 0.1 percent or less on a dry-matter basis. The revision takes effect January 1, 2028.
The previous domestic standard allowed products to carry a decaf label if 90 percent or more of the caffeine had been removed. Critics had long pointed out that if beans started with a high caffeine content, a substantial amount could remain in the final product even after most of it was stripped away. That left a gap between the "decaf" label and what consumers actually experienced.
The revision shifts the standard from "removal rate" to "residual amount." In other words, the measure is no longer how much caffeine was removed but how much ultimately remains. The approach mirrors regulatory frameworks used in major markets such as the United States.
The decaffeinated coffee market is growing rapidly. According to MFDS data analyzed by Rep. Park Hee-seung of the Democratic Party, domestic decaf coffee production in 2024 was roughly 2.9 times higher than in 2020. Imports also rose 1.7-fold over the same period, pointing to a clear expansion in demand. The trend is attributed to rising numbers of consumers looking to cut caffeine intake, including pregnant women, students preparing for exams and night-shift workers.
Industry officials view the measure as an opportunity to bolster consumer trust. Some products that currently qualify for a decaf label without issue will now have to manage their actual residual caffeine levels, meaning quality control standards are expected to become considerably stricter.
The MFDS also tightened labeling rules for alcoholic beverages in the same revision. As collaboration products designed to resemble ordinary beverages have proliferated, cases of consumers unknowingly buying alcohol have emerged. In response, alcoholic products shaped like regular food items must now display the words "alcohol" or "alcoholic beverage" on the front of the package.
The wording must be printed in at least 20-point type and clearly distinguished from the background color so consumers can easily recognize it. The aim is to reduce confusion over alcoholic drinks that look like soft drinks and to strengthen consumer safety and the right to know.
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