Contents
- Pick the report that fits how you sell
- Documents and timelines
- Moving, closing or a pop-up
- How we help
- FAQ
Selling health functional foods only online from home in Korea still requires a health functional food sales business report. For e-commerce or mail-order sales where buyers never visit the office, a residential building may be used as the office, so you can report your home address as the business premises. The report goes to the city, county or district office where the premises are, after you complete the safety and hygiene training.
For the general rules see our health functional food sales guide.
Pick the report that fits how you sell
| How you sell | What you need |
|---|---|
| Buy finished products and sell them only on an online store | General sales business report. A home office is allowed if buyers do not visit. |
| Sell your own brand made by a licensed manufacturer (OEM) | Distribution-specialist sales report. A home office is allowed for e-commerce, but you need the contract manufacturing agreement and storage. |
| Make the products yourself | A manufacturing licence from the regional MFDS office, not a sales report. The workshop must be a separate building or separated from other uses, so a home rarely works. |
| Buyers come to your home to pick up | The home office rule requires no buyer visits, so consider separate premises. |
The mail-order (online sales) report under the E-Commerce Act is a separate filing; see our online sales report page. Decide early whether storage will be at home or in a contracted warehouse, so the report stays consistent.
- Decide whether you are a general seller or a distribution specialist.
- Complete the training before opening: 2 hours for general sales, 4 hours for distribution specialists.
- Prepare the report with your home address as the premises.
- File with the local district office and receive the report certificate.
- File the online sales report and start selling.
Documents and timelines
| Type | Documents | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| General sales | Report form, training certificate (not needed if the official can check it) | Decision notice within 3 days; if none, the report is treated as accepted |
| Distribution specialist | Report form, training certificate, contract manufacturing agreement, storage contract if any | Same 3-day rule |
| After reporting | Annual training | 2 hours every year per premises |
Moving, closing or a pop-up
If your home is the registered premises, file a change report when you move. Changes to the trade name, the representative, a contracted storage address or, for distribution specialists, the contract manufacturer also need a change report. When you stop selling, file a closure report with your certificate within 1 month of closing; it can be filed together with the tax office closure. A general seller who wants to sell briefly elsewhere, such as at an event, files a separate report with a copy of the certificate for up to 1 month.
How we help
YouSun Administrative Agency confirms which sales type fits, checks the report, manufacturing agreement and storage documents, files the report and handles corrections. If you plan to manufacture or import later, see the stages on our health functional food service page.
FAQ
Q. Do I need to report if I only sell a little on the side?
A. Yes. The law has no small-volume exemption; any sales business reports per premises.
Q. What if I sell without reporting?
A. Operating without the report can lead to criminal penalties, including imprisonment or a fine.
Q. Can I report before the training?
A. Training comes first in principle. If set reasons such as illness or an accident prevent it, you may take it after opening.
Q. What if I import products myself?
A. A sales report is not enough. You need an imported food import and sales business registration with the regional MFDS office, then an import declaration and inspection for each product.
Tell us how you sell, and the type follows
Share what you sell, where it comes from and how you sell it, and YouSun Administrative Agency will confirm the report type and documents. Call 02-325-8222, weekdays 09:30~17:30 KST.
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