Is the Secondhand Trade of Health Functional Foods Okay as It Is?

Since the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the economic downturn has continued.Consumer purchasing sentiment remains sluggish.However, in the midst of this economic stagnation, there is one market that is showing signs of vitality-the secondhand market.In difficult economic conditions, consumers are turning to more affordable used products instead of expensive new ones.As more consumers adopt this approach, the secondhand market is becoming more active and continues to expand.According to Data News, it is growing rapidly at an average annual rate of 30%.In particular, online secondhand trading platforms-which offer easy access and convenient transactions-are experiencing the fastest growth.Something significant and remarkable has recently happened in the increasingly active secondhand market: the emergence of health functional foods.Due to concerns over safety, consumer protection, and the maintenance of a sound distribution system, the sale of health functional foods between individuals had previously been restricted.However, the Regulatory Reform Committee under the Office for Government Policy Coordination of Korea has introduced a new system allowing person-to-person transactions of health functional foods, aiming to enhance consumer convenience and promote resource utilization.This system, known as the "Health Functional Food Secondhand Trade" initiative, is scheduled to be implemented on a trial basis from May 8, 2024, to December 31, 2025, and transactions must comply with the guidelines described in the following Table 1.However, the problem is that violations of the above guidelines are occurring.On one online platform, there were approximately 1,800 violations during a three-month trial period, and