The MFDS encourages production of KF80 masks

Air conditioning filters can also be switched to mask filters

Changes of standards for COVID-19 Prevention Mask made confusion

In order to encourage the KF80 standard health mask to be produced, the MFDS decided to temporarily grant permission to change items that are currently approved under the KF94 standard to KF80.

 

It is judged that the KF80 has less filter requirements than the KF94, which can lead to an increase in mask production.

 

However, there is criticism that the MFDS recommended KF94 to block the virus in the early days of the COVID-19 epidemic, but as the demand for masks increased, KF80 and cotton masks could also be used, causing confusion in the mask supply and demand policy.

 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety prepared a rapid approval plan for health masks according to the COVID-19 pandemic, and informed the first-line manufacturers (importers) on the 9th .

 

The main contents of the rapid approval plan are ▲ temporary permission to change the new filter ▲ temporary permission to change the final mask for health ▲ rapid approval of the imported health mask.

 

First, it is possible to change the filter standard of the health mask.

 

Currently, the filter is a core ingredient of the health mask, and as a rule, it is permitted as a new item when the filter is changed.

 

However, However, filters for air conditioners and air purifiers can be used for health masks temporarily.

 

KF94 standard health masks are also permitted to change permission to KF80 temporarily.

 

Currently, it is classified as KF80, KF94, and KF99 and is permitted as a separate item.

 

Changing the KF94 mask that has already been approved to KF80 will have different efficacy effects, standards and test methods.

 

The efficacy and effectiveness of KF94 is 'protecting the respiratory tract from particulate harmful substances such as yellow dust and fine dust and infectious agents', but if it is changed to KF80, there is no 'effectiveness and effectiveness' of 'protecting the respiratory system from infectious sources'.

 

In addition, dust collection efficiency is changed from 94% to 80%.

 

An industry insider said, "Change from KF94 to KF80 can reduce the filter requirement by 30%".

 

Imported health masks are also quickly approved.

 

It is a policy that permits prompt approval if imported mask raw materials and all product standards are equal to or higher than the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's notice or guidelines.

 

In the case of test reports, foreign test reports were also accepted.

 

It is said that the US N95, the European FFP2, and the KN95 in China are more than the equivalent of the health mask standards in Korea.

 

This measure will be temporarily operated until the effective date of emergency supplies and demands for masks and hand sanitizers.

 

In the situation where the supply and demand of health masks is not smooth, it is interpreted as a way to increase production.

 

When President Moon visited the mask maker on the 6th, Choi Kyu-bok, CEO of Yuhan-Kimberly, suggested that “the filter requirement for KF94 is 20-30% higher than that of KF80.

 

If it is mainly produced in KF80, it will reduce the amount of filter shortage”.

 

President Moon also said it was a "very good plan".

 

However, there is a criticism that the countermeasure against this was that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommended a health mask of KF94 or higher in the early days of the Corona 19 epidemic to prevent viruses, and recently changed to KF80 and cotton mask.

 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommended in the end of January that "KF94" and "KF99" masks are recommended to prevent infections such as new coronavirus".

 

However, on the 12th, if there were respiratory symptoms such as coughing, or if a healthy person cares for a suspicious person, a visitor to a medical institution and a worker in the occupational group at high risk of infection and transmission recommended a health mask of KF80 or higher.

 

On the 3rd of this month, the use of cotton masks is also helpful when there is no high risk of infection or there is no health mask.

 

According to the initial recommendations from the MFDS, manufacturers were more immersed in the production of KF94 masks in high demand, leading to a shortage of KF80 masks.

 

Recently, it has been reported that a reversal phenomenon in which the price of the KF80 mask is more expensive than the KF94 mask is also occurring.

 

Meanwhile, the KF80 mask can block more than 80% of fine particles with an average size of 0.6 μm, and the KF94 and KF99 masks can block more than 94% and 99% of particles with an average size of 0.4 μm, respectively.

 

KF stands for Korea Filter, and the number after it means particle blocking performance.