Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormUnmixed vitamin (bulk powder/crystalline)
Industry PositionNutritional supplement and fortified-food ingredient (health functional food functional ingredient)
Market
In South Korea, riboflavin (vitamin B2) is used as a functional ingredient in health functional foods, with MFDS standards specifying permitted claims, daily intake range, and product specifications for vitamin B2-containing products. UN Comtrade data (via WITS) shows South Korea is an active trader in unmixed vitamin B2 (HS 293623), with substantial export value and volume reported in 2024. Imports into Korea for the same HS line are supplied mainly from China and the European Union in 2024. Market access and downstream sales depend heavily on MFDS controls for imported foods and health functional food labeling/claims, especially for supplement products.
Market RoleActive producer/exporter and importer (trade-active market for HS 293623)
Domestic RoleFunctional ingredient used in health functional foods (supplements) and other vitamin applications under MFDS standards and specifications
Specification
Physical Attributes- MFDS Health Functional Food Code (Vitamin B2) specifies product appearance as having a unique color and flavor with no off-taste and no off-flavor (for vitamin B2 health functional food products).
Compositional Metrics- MFDS Health Functional Food Code (Vitamin B2) specifies vitamin B2 content at 80–180% of labeled amount (for vitamin B2 health functional food products).
- MFDS Health Functional Food Code (Vitamin B2) specifies a daily intake amount of 0.36–40 mg (for vitamin B2 health functional food products).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Overseas manufacturing facility registration (MFDS) → import declaration for health functional food/food additive category as applicable → MFDS inspection/safety control → importer distribution to supplement/food manufacturers
Freight IntensityLow
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighMFDS overseas manufacturing facility registration and import safety controls can block or suspend imports if registration/eligibility, inspection outcomes, or required import declaration steps are not met for the applicable regulatory category (e.g., health functional food products or relevant imported food categories).Confirm the correct regulatory category (ingredient vs. finished health functional food), complete MFDS overseas facility registration where required before shipment, and align import declaration data and compliance dossiers to MFDS standards/specifications.
Labeling And Claims HighFor finished supplement products, non-compliant labeling or unapproved functional claims can trigger enforcement actions, sales disruption, or recalls because MFDS restricts claims to recognized functions and mandates specific label statements (including that the product is not a pharmaceutical).Use only MFDS-recognized vitamin B2 functional wording and ensure all mandatory label elements and disclaimers are included and consistent with MFDS labeling standards.
Supply Concentration MediumKorea’s 2024 imports of HS 293623 were supplied mainly from China and the European Union (UN Comtrade via WITS), creating exposure to supply shocks, price volatility, or export-side disruptions in key supplier regions.Qualify multiple origins and maintain safety stock or dual-sourcing for critical formulations, especially for uninterrupted supplement production programs.
Sustainability- Environmental compliance and wastewater/energy management considerations for industrial vitamin production (where applicable) and supplier ESG screening for chemical/biotech inputs
Labor & Social- High enforcement sensitivity to misleading supplement claims: marketing and labeling must remain within MFDS-recognized functions and required consumer disclosures
FAQ
What health claim is typically allowed for vitamin B2 in South Korea’s health functional food standards?MFDS’s Health Functional Food Code lists the vitamin B2 claim as “Necessary for the energy production in the body” for vitamin B2 health functional food products.
What daily intake range is specified for vitamin B2 in the MFDS Health Functional Food Code?MFDS’s Health Functional Food Code specifies a daily intake amount of 0.36–40 mg for vitamin B2 health functional food products.
What are key labeling constraints for health functional foods in South Korea that matter for riboflavin-containing supplements?MFDS requires health functional foods to carry mandatory label items (including functional information and intake instructions), to include a statement that the product is not a pharmaceutical for disease prevention or treatment, and to limit functional claims to those recognized in MFDS standards or individually recognized by MFDS.