▲ 라벨 인쇄 장비를 이용한 원산지 손상변경(사진제공:인천세관)     © 박상도 기자

(브레이크뉴스인천 박상도 기자) 인천세관이 12일 지난 한 해 동안 원산지표시 위반 업체에 대한 기획조사를 통해, 총 23개 업체(총 적발금액 194억 원)를 적발했다고 밝혔다.

인천세관에 따르면, 수입업체들의 수입신고내역ㆍ무역서류 등을 분석해 원산지표시 위반 혐의업체 29개를 특정하고 현장 조사 등을 실시한 결과,  총 23개 업체가, 수입 물품을 국내 유통시키는 과정에서 라벨갈이(예. 중국산→국산) 등을 통해 원산지를 허위 표시하거나 소비자의 오인을 유도하는 등 ‘대외무역법’의 원산지표시 규정을 위반한 것으로 드러났다.

 
적발 업체들이 수입한 주요 품목은 전자칠판(38억 원), 변압기(32억 원), 액정모니터(31억 원), 종이호일(24억 원), 조명기구(21억 원) 순으로 나타났으며,이들 물품의 원산지는 중국(160억 원), 프랑스(21억 원), 베트남(10억 원), 핀란드(3억 원) 순인 것으로 밝혀졌다.

한편, 이 과정에서 인천세관은 조달청ㆍ환경부 등 유관기관과 협업하여 공공조달 물품, 국민생활 밀접물품에 대한 합동 기획단속을 펼쳤다.

공공조달 물품에 대해 원산지를 허위 조작하여 부정납품한 업체를 조달청과 합동으로 단속한 결과, 총 5개 업체(총 적발금액 70억 원)를 적발했다.

 
이들은 공공기관 등과 국산제품 납품 계약 체결 후, 중국산 제품을 국산으로 속여 납품하는 등 원산지표시 규정을 위반하거나 조달계약 상의 직접생산 기준을 위반한 것으로 드러났다.

이들에 대해 인천세관은 조달청 등 유관기관에 위반사실을 통보하거나 ‘대외무역법’ 위반 혐의로 영업정지 등 행정조치를 취했으며, 조달청은 ‘국가계약법’ 등에 따라 향후 조달계약 참여 제한조치를 취했다.

 
또한, 환경부 산하 한국물기술인증원과 합동으로 수도용품의 원산지표시 위반 여부를 단속하는 등 국민안전과 밀접한 물품에 대해 기획조사한 결과, 수입한 수도용품, 미용기기, 종이호일, 조명기구 등에 대해 원산지표시 규정을 위반한 13개 업체(총 적발금액 83억 원)를 적발했다.

 
이 중, 수입업체 4곳의 수도용품은 ‘수도법’ 상의 위생안전기준을 충족하지 못하는 등 법령상의 수입 요건 또한 위반한 것으로 드러났다.

*아래는 위 기사를 ‘구글 번역’으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다.‘구글번역’은 이해도 높이기를 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다. <*Below is the [Full Text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is trying to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>

Incheon Customs discovered violations worth 19.4 billion last year in a planned investigation of violations of country of origin labeling
A total of 23 companies including 5 public procurement companies that turned Chinese products into Korean products
-Break News Incheon Reporter Park Sang-do

Incheon Customs announced on the 12th that it had uncovered a total of 23 companies (a total of 19.4 billion won) through a planned investigation into companies that violated the country of origin labeling over the past year.

According to Incheon Customs, by analyzing import declaration details and trade documents of importers, 29 companies suspected of violating the country of origin were identified, and as a result of on-site investigations, a total of 23 companies were found to be labeling themselves in the process of distributing imported goods in Korea. It was revealed that the country violated the country of origin labeling regulations of the Foreign Trade Act by falsely indicating the country of origin or inducing misunderstanding among consumers through this (e.g., made in China → domestic).

 
The main items imported by the caught companies were electronic blackboards (3.8 billion won), transformers (3.2 billion won), liquid crystal monitors (3.1 billion won), paper foil (2.4 billion won), and lighting fixtures (2.1 billion won). The country of origin of these items was found to be China (KRW 16 billion), France (KRW 2.1 billion), Vietnam (KRW 1 billion), and Finland (KRW 300 million) in order.

Meanwhile, in this process, Incheon Customs collaborated with related organizations such as the Public Procurement Service and the Ministry of Environment to carry out joint planning and crackdowns on public procured goods and goods closely related to people's lives.

As a result of a joint crackdown with the Public Procurement Service on companies that falsely manipulated the country of origin of public procured goods and delivered them, a total of 5 companies (total discovered amount of KRW 7 billion) were caught.

 
After signing a supply contract for domestic products with public institutions, they were found to have violated the country of origin labeling regulations or direct production standards in procurement contracts by falsely supplying Chinese products as domestic products.

Regarding them, Incheon Customs notified related organizations such as the Public Procurement Service of violations or took administrative measures such as suspension of business for violating the ‘Foreign Trade Act’, and the Public Procurement Service took measures to restrict participation in future procurement contracts in accordance with the ‘National Contract Act’.

 
In addition, as a result of a planning investigation on products closely related to public safety, such as jointly cracking down on violations of the country of origin labeling of water supplies with the Korea Water Technology Certification Authority under the Ministry of Environment, the country of origin is indicated on imported water supplies, beauty devices, paper foil, lighting fixtures, etc. Thirteen companies that violated the regulations (a total of 8.3 billion won) were caught.

 
Among them, it was found that the water supplies of the four importers also violated the import requirements of the law, such as failing to meet the hygiene and safety standards under the ‘Water Supply Act’.