Indonesian Seafood to South Korea: MFDS 2026 Essentials

A practical, step-by-step residue-testing workflow Indonesian shrimp exporters can use to pass MFDS 2026 antibiotic limits—what to test, how to sample, which labs to use, and how it maps to Korean import inspection and Indonesia’s BKIPM certificate.

We went from repeated “intensified inspections” to zero MFDS border rejections in 90 days by following a simple, disciplined residue-testing workflow. This guide is that workflow. If you’re shipping Indonesian shrimp to South Korea in 2026, use it as your playbook. It answers the questions buyers actually ask and gives you the sampling plan, lab methods, and paperwork MFDS expects to see.

The three pillars of Korea‑ready shrimp compliance

Target the right analytes at the right detection limits. Zero-tolerance compounds must be proved “not detected” at sub-ppb levels using LC-MS/MS. Anything else is theatre.
Sample correctly. Composite sampling across cartons and time is what catches problems before MFDS does. One lazy grab sample can sink a container.
Link your lab data to trade documents. Your COA must tie cleanly to production lots, carton marks, container numbers, and BKIPM Health Certificates. MFDS checks consistency.

Here’s the thing. Most failures we see aren’t farming disasters. They’re paperwork gaps, weak sampling, or labs using the wrong method parameters.

Weeks 1–2: Map risks and validate your supply

Start with a two-week sprint to understand where residues could enter your chain and to align on test targets and limits.

Which antibiotics are zero-tolerance for shrimp in Korea under MFDS?

Based on our experience and MFDS guidance, these are treated as prohibited in shrimp with “action limits” that function like zero tolerance:

Chloramphenicol. Action limit generally 0.3 μg/kg (LC-MS/MS, confirmatory).
Nitrofurans via metabolites AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, SEM. Action limit typically 1.0 μg/kg per metabolite (after acid hydrolysis and 2-NBA derivatization).
Malachite Green and Leucomalachite Green. Action limit commonly 2.0 μg/kg (sum, LC-MS/MS).
Crystal Violet and Leuco Crystal Violet. Many buyers and labs include these at similar sub-ppb LOQs.

We also advise screening for common aquaculture drugs that do have MRLs in finfish but not clearly set for shrimp in Korea. If an MRL isn’t listed, MFDS may treat it stringently. When in doubt, test and document “not detected.”

What detection limits does MFDS use for nitrofurans and chloramphenicol?

MFDS border labs and recognized private labs run LC-MS/MS with LOQs aligned to international MRPLs:

Chloramphenicol: LOQ 0.1–0.3 μg/kg. Action at ≥0.3 μg/kg is common.
Nitrofurans (AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, SEM): LOQ 0.2–0.5 μg/kg. Action at ≥1.0 μg/kg.
Malachite Green + Leuco MG: LOQ 0.2–0.5 μg/kg. Action at ≥2.0 μg/kg (sum). Ask your lab to state LOQ, LOD, and method reference on the COA. Buyers and MFDS look for that line.

Practical takeaway for Week 1–2: Lock your target list and action limits in writing with suppliers and labs. Add heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd) and histamine only if buyer requests or your farm waters suggest a risk profile that needs it. Then set your sampling plan.

Weeks 3–6: Build and run your pre‑shipment testing plan

This is where most teams either get disciplined or get caught.

Define lots. Use a production-day lot or max 10 MT per lot. Don’t mix farms in a lot.
Sampling scheme per lot. Draw 30 primary units across at least 10 cartons and at least two time points in the production run. Composite to 1.0–1.5 kg laboratory sample. Keep a second, sealed duplicate retained at -20 °C.
Lab methods. Insist on LC-MS/MS for chloramphenicol, nitrofurans (with acid hydrolysis + 2-NBA derivatization), and MG/LMG. ELISA is fine for internal screening, not for COAs.
Turnaround. A good Indonesian ISO/IEC 17025 lab will deliver in 3–5 working days. Build that into your cold‑chain and booking timeline.
COA content buyers expect. Product name, species, form, lot size, production date, carton marks; sample ID that matches outer cartons; analytes, methods, LOQs; accreditation details; result line as “Not Detected (<LOQ)” or numeric value with units.

In our experience, adding the container number and pallet IDs to the COA appendix reduces MFDS query emails. It’s five extra minutes that can save five days.

Will MFDS accept ISO 17025 lab COAs from Indonesia or must testing be done in Korea?

MFDS does not waive border testing just because you have a COA. But a credible COA from an ISO/IEC 17025 lab in Indonesia is routinely accepted as supporting evidence by importers and inspectors. It helps move you from “intensified” back to “general monitoring” faster after a clean streak. We keep a shortlist of Indonesian labs with proven LC-MS/MS capability for these analytes. Need a current list or a COA template? If you want our template pack with sampling worksheet and COA example, Contact us on whatsapp.

How many samples per lot should I test before shipping shrimp to Korea?

For 5–10 MT lots: One composite sample as above is standard. If your farm has any prior nitrofuran risk, add a second independent composite.
For 20 MT containers with multiple lots: One composite per lot. Don’t rely on one test to cover mixed lots.
Retention samples: Always keep a frozen duplicate for 60 days beyond arrival at the Korean port.

Practical takeaway for Week 3–6: Ship only after clean LC-MS/MS results are in hand and linked to carton codes. If your buyer wants faster cycles, pre-stage samples during glazing and had-finished product ready to pack after the “all clear.”

Weeks 7–12: Scale, monitor, and reduce inspection risk

Once you’ve run three clean shipments, you can move to a risk-based cadence.

Maintain monthly verification testing at minimum, plus every shipment during harvest transitions, new ponds, or after vet treatments.
Keep supplier antibiotic inventory logs, feed-medication declarations, and water-treatment records on file. Korean buyers increasingly ask for these in 2025–2026.
Audit your lab annually. LOQs drift if they don’t run proficiency tests.

How do I link my residue test report to the BKIPM Health Certificate for Korea?

In e-SKIPP, upload the COA as an attachment to the Health Certificate application.
Ensure the sample ID on the COA matches the production lot code and carton markings listed on the Packing List.
Enter analyte panel titles in the remarks field. Example: “LC-MS/MS screening for chloramphenicol, nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ/AMOZ/AHD/SEM), MG/LMG.”
List container and seal numbers on both the COA appendix and the HC. Consistency is what MFDS checks first.

Do I need to test every shipment or can farm-level monitoring records suffice?

If you’re on “general monitoring” with clean history, buyers often accept a monthly residue COA plus farm records. But if you’ve had a recent violation or changed farms, test every shipment until you re-establish a clean streak of three to five entries. The reality is, MFDS can still pull any lot for lab testing at arrival.

What happens if MFDS detects antibiotics in shrimp?

Border finding above the action limit triggers a non‑compliance. The importer can usually request reanalysis on the retained sample at the MFDS lab. If confirmed, the lot is rejected or must be returned or destroyed.
Your product may be moved to “intensified inspection,” meaning 100% of future lots get border lab tests for a defined period. It’s costly and slow.
What to do next. Freeze internal holds, test retained samples at a different ISO 17025 lab by LC-MS/MS, map the contamination path, and present a corrective-action plan to your buyer. We’ve seen risk status lifted faster when the exporter shares a clear root‑cause and farm remediation timeline.

Five common mistakes that trigger MFDS holds

Using ELISA-only COAs. MFDS and Korean buyers want LC-MS/MS with LOQs listed.
Weak composites. A couple of tails from one carton won’t represent a 10 MT lot.
Missing hydrolysis step for nitrofurans. If the lab isn’t releasing AOZ/AMOZ/AHD/SEM metabolites, they’re under‑reporting risk.
COA–document mismatches. Carton marks, lot codes, or container numbers don’t align across COA, packing list, and BKIPM HC.
Shipping before results. It saves two days. It can cost two months.

Useful panels, realistic timelines, and costs

Turnaround time. LC-MS/MS panels in Indonesia are typically 3–5 working days from sample receipt. Plan 1–2 days for sampling and courier.
Cost range we’ve paid. IDR 2.5–5.0 million per banned-drug panel per sample for LC-MS/MS at ISO 17025 labs, depending on the analyte list and urgency. Adding metals or histamine is extra.
Heavy metals. Not a common failure point for shrimp bound for Korea, but if your farm draws from mining-adjacent waters, add Hg, Pb, and Cd quarterly.

Where our products fit. Our Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught) lines follow this exact workflow. We provide pre‑export LC-MS/MS COAs linked to carton codes and BKIPM HCs, and we can align sampling plans to your importer’s SOPs. If you need help tailoring a residue-testing plan to your farms and buyer specs, Contact us on whatsapp.

A final thought. MFDS 2026 isn’t about catching you out. It’s about proving due diligence with data that stands up to lab confirmation. Get the analytes right, sample like a pro, and make your paperwork bulletproof. Do that, and Korea becomes a predictable, repeatable lane for Indonesian shrimp.

If you want to see how we standardize cut formats and cold‑chain for Korea across species, you can also View our products.