SK Bioland Obtains KFDA Permit for Health Supplement Made with Garlic Extracts

Company actively Explores Rapidly Growing Health Supplement Market



● Bioland obtains Korea’s first KFDA permit for lactic-acid fermented garlic extracts with natural material fermenting technology accumulated over a period of 30 years

● Company targets 60 billion won in sales in the rapidly growing health supplements market (11.8% growth in 2015 over the preceding year) by 2021



SK Bioland (Jeong Chan-bok, CEO), the No. 1 supplier for the local natural raw materials market, has developed a functional raw material composed of garlic extract, whose acrid taste and odor is eliminated using lactic acid. The KFDA recently approved it, ing, ‘This product can boost the health of the liver.’ (* Approval of functional ingredient No. 2016-16 of individual functional health supplements) With the current approval, SK Bioland is now in a position to exclusively produce lactic-acid fermented garlic extracts.



Independently developed lactic-acid fermented garlic extracts – eliminating odor and acrid taste

The excellent health effects of garlic have not been sufficiently highlighted in the past due to its peculiar taste and odor, although its beneficial effects have been widely verified in many countries around the world. SK Bioland has succeeded in removing such weaknesses by using the technologies for extracting, fermenting and refining natural raw materials that it has accumulated over a period of thirty years.



“We have succeeded in enabling everyone to enjoy garlic, recognized as a ‘super-food’ all around the world, by overcoming its unique acrid taste and odor while preserving its beneficial ingredients _ base_d on more than seven years of research and development on lactic acid fermentation,” explained one SK Bioland executive, adding, “It will contribute to the consumption of garlic in the domestic market while correcting the perspective of the wider world by highlighting its positive effect on liver health, which has been verified in human clinical trials.”



Rapidly growing market explored by supplying finished products rather than raw materials

SK Bioland plans to launch its ODM business in the long term _ base_d on sound product planning while supplying lactic-acid fermented garlic extract to major health supplement producers in Korea.



At present, the local health supplement market is enjoying a high annual rate of growth of around 7.4% per year since 2011, and peaking at 11.8% in 2015. The local market has greater growth potential as its current value of 2.4 trillion won is tiny compared to overseas markets worth a whopping 400 trillion won.



SK Bioland began to develop a _ base_ for generating revenues while growing its sales after noting the potential of the health supplement market some time ago. The company has obtained KFDA approvals of various health supplement raw materials, including that of hyaluronic acid, which is proven to be effective in ‘helping preserve skin moisture’ (Approval No. 2008-38), in 2008. It has also steadily developed high value-added raw materials for specialty health supplements, including hyssop, which improves joint flexibility, and buckwheat, which helps reduce body fat.



“We have set a target of 60 billion won in sales by 2021 as steady growth is expected, after posting 19.1 billion won in sales in the health supplement line in 2015,” said a SK Bioland executive. “We will expand our business domain by ODM and OEM production while steadily commercializing our highly functional health supplements by enhancing our in-house R&D capabilities.”





Existing SK Bioland products approved by the KFDA (2nd class bioactive ingredients)

- Hyaluronic acid approved for its effectiveness in helping to preserve skin moisture.

- Rhodiola sachalinensis approved for its effectiveness in helping improve fatigue caused by stress.

- Angelica compound extracts approved for their effectiveness in helping improve the memory of senior citizens.

Reference materials 

1. Certificate of approval for functional raw materials for health supplements (issued by the KFDA Administrator on 28 September 2016) 

2. SK Bioland’s new logo (SK Bioland’s new logo in Korean and English)