▲ Product containing 'Tapentadol'
The government announced on August 14 that "tapentadol," a narcotic substance, has been detected in an overseas direct-purchase food product, leading to its designation and public notice as an item blocked from entering the country.
The Incheon Airport Customs analysis lab notified the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) that tapentadol was detected in a product named "TAWON LIAR" shipped from France via international mail, prompting the ministry to add it to the list of items banned from domestic entry.
Consequently, products containing tapentadol cannot be brought into the country, nor can they be distributed through overseas direct purchases.
The MFDS stated that this product had previously been listed as a harmful food due to the detection of the pharmaceutical ingredient "dexamethasone," and it has now been confirmed to have been modified to include narcotic substances.
Tapentadol is a substance that can cause life-threatening or fatal respiratory depression, and it is designated as a narcotic under the Narcotics Control Act.
Other raw materials and ingredients blocked from domestic entry in overseas direct-purchase foods, aside from tapentadol, include "evodiamine," "benproperine," and "mefenamic acid."
An MFDS official stated, "We will continuously expand inspections on overseas direct-purchase food products suspected of containing harmful ingredients such as narcotics."
(Photo courtesy of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Yonhap News)
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