Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
South Korea to change how it buys pine wilt disease treatments
South Korea’s Forest Service is changing how it buys treatments for pine wilt disease, which affects pine trees.
The agency will replace its current contract system with one that selects multiple suppliers.
The new system is intended to encourage price and quality competition and give public agencies more choice.
The Forest Service also plans to work with the Public Procurement Service and drug companies on the change.
South Korea’s forest research institute will expand checks on treatment effectiveness and resistance to medicines used over long periods.
The changes aim to support reliable supplies and help prevent the disease from spreading further across the country.
South Korea’s Korea Forest Service will change how it buys treatments for pine wilt disease.
It will replace a three-party unit-price contract system with a multiple-award contract system.
The change is intended to support a stable supply of preventive injections and give buyers more product choices.
The new approach is designed to encourage competition on price and quality among suppliers.
The National Institute of Forest Science will expand research into treatment resistance and product effectiveness.
- Who
- South Korea’s Korea Forest Service, working with the Public Procurement Service and the pharmaceutical industry.
- What
- It will change its purchasing system for pine wilt disease treatments and strengthen checks on their effectiveness.
- When
- The Korea Forest Service announced the plans on Nov. 6, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- To ensure a stable supply, widen product choice and encourage competition on price and quality.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Korea Forest Service announced plans to change its purchasing system and strengthen effectiveness testing.
The agency plans to hold cooperation meetings with the Public Procurement Service and the pharmaceutical industry.
The National Institute of Forest Science plans to continue and expand research on resistance and product effectiveness.
- Current purchasing system
- Three-party unit-price contracts
- Planned purchasing system
- Multiple-award contracts
- Agencies involved
- Korea Forest Service and Public Procurement Service
- Research body
- National Institute of Forest Science
- Announcement date
- Nov. 6, 2026
1 source
What people are saying
Pine wilt disease treatments are selected after the committee reviews matters such as how long their effects last, and purchase contracts are then pursued through the national procurement system.
We will prevent the nationwide spread of pine wilt disease early and pursue a more transparent control policy.