# Development and Application of the Agricultural Product Safety Index in Major Countries and Imported Food Safety Index for Korea

## TL;DR

This study creates two food safety indices to evaluate risks in agricultural products from major countries and applies them to South Korea's imports.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development of the Agricultural Product Safety Index and the Imported Food Safety Index for assessing food safety risks.

## Key findings

- Australia consistently showed the highest food safety level among major exporting countries.
- The indices offer a transparent framework for monitoring import-related food safety risks.
- The study highlights the need for expanded geographical coverage and validation techniques.

## Abstract

With the growth of international trade, concerns over the safety of imported agricultural products in South Korea have intensified due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, radiation contamination risks, and the prevalence of GMOs. In response, this study develops two composite indices—the Agricultural Product Safety Index (APSI) and the Imported Food Safety Index (IFSI)—to quantitatively assess food safety risks across major exporting countries and apply them to Korea’s import structure. The indices integrate production and distribution risk indicators based on publicly available data and adhere to five key principles, including applicability, reliability, boundedness, independence, and representativeness. Empirical results from 2014 to 2021 indicate that Australia consistently demonstrates the highest food safety level, followed by the United States, Argentina, Ukraine, and Brazil. While the indices provide a structured and transparent framework for monitoring import-related safety, their scope is limited to selected countries and excludes biological hazards due to data limitations. Future research should expand the geographical coverage and incorporate empirical validation techniques. These findings contribute to the development of evidence-based policy instruments aimed at enhancing food safety governance in global supply chains.