Press Release

Korea’s Polio Vaccine Manufacturing Facility Becomes Asia’s First to Receive WHO Certificate of Containment

- Korea’s polio vaccine manufacturing facility became Asia’s first, and world’s third to receive the WHO Certificate of Containment (CC).

- KDCA supports polio vaccine manufacturing facilities’ certification by operating the National Authority for Containment (NAC) and closely collaborating with WHO on biosafety management.

Osong, 21 October 2025 ━ The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that Korea’s polio vaccine manufacturing facility awarded Asia’s first, and world’s third Certificate of Containment (CC) from the World Health Organization (WHO).

※ Polio vaccine manufacturing facility (LG Chem Ltd.): The facility established the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) production line, and received WHO prequalification (PQ) approval in 2020. It has supplied vaccines to UNICEF since 2021 (supplied 40.86 million doses as of 2024, accounted for 35% of the global IPV market share).

※ Countries with WHO-certified “Poliovirus-essential facility”: Belgium (2025), Denmark (2025), Republic of Korea (2025).

The WHO Certificate of Containment for Korea’s poliovirus-essential facility (LG Chem Ltd. polio vaccine manufacturing facility) holds a great significance as it recognizes not only the safety of the facility but also the nation’s biosafety management capacity at the international level.

This shows that the facility is equipped with safety and risk management capacities required not only for responding to poliovirus but also for developing and producing vaccines for emerging infectious diseases with high potential risk.

Since 1988, WHO has implemented the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which requires a large-scale immunization by nation to eradicate polio (poliomyelitis). All poliovirus-essential facilities are required to obtain the WHO  Certificate of Containment by 2026.

The WHO certification is an assessment process that evaluates a facility’s compliance with containment standards and risk management systems for the safe handling of poliovirus, which is based on the 4th edition of WHO Global Action Plan for Poliovirus (GAPIV). This process evaluates 14 detailed criteria of biosafety and biosecurity, including—bio-risk management system, training, security, facility physical requirements, and emergency response. A facility that fully meets all 14 criteria is able to obtain Certificate of Containment as poliovirus-essential facility.

Since 2018, KDCA has operated the National Authority for Containment (NAC), providing risk management training, on-site inspection, and technical support to poliovirus-essential facilities.

KDCA Commissioner Dr. Seung-kwan Lim stated, “The WHO Certificate of Containment marks the international recognition of Korea’s advanced national biosafety management system and the robust risk management system of domestic polio vaccine manufacturers.” He also added, “KDCA is committed to actively participating in global efforts in eradicating polio by conducting national surveys on polio infectious materials in line with WHO the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).”