South Korea is seeking to make its red pepper paste a global standard for spicy sauces.
 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on Thursday that the 40th Codex Alimentarius Commission in Geneva Tuesday approved South Korea’s proposal to review a project aimed at making South Korean red pepper paste a global standard.
 
South Korean red pepper paste, known locally as gochujang, has already been recognized as an Asian standard since 2009, along with soybean paste. Three other South Korean foods --- kimchi, ginseng and laver products ---have also been given the status as global or Asian standards.
 
Codex food safety and trade practice standards are used as international benchmarks for resolving disputes by 187 member countries.
 
The ministry said the global body on Tuesday also endorsed its suggestion to develop global standards for dried sweet potato and dried persimmon.