On September 7, 2023, the Philippines FDA issued FDA Circular No.2023-009, announcing to adopt the 2015 Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes (PDRI) Percent Recommended Energy Intakes/Recommended Nutrient Intakes (%REI/RNI) as the new dietary standard for all prepackaged processed foods. This move repeals Bureau Circular No. 16 s. 2005, which previously adopted the 2002 Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI) as the dietary standard.

In early September, Indonesia food and drug administration (BPOM) published No. 22 of 2023 on Raw Materials Prohibited in Processed Food and Ingredients Prohibited from Use as Food Additives, as a replacement of BPOM Regulation No. 7 of 2018 on Prohibited Raw Materials in Processed Foods. For locally-produced and imported processed food products, they shall not contain any listed substances. The new regulation came into force on August 15, 2023.

On September 4, 2023, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued Food (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2023, primarily focusing on microbiological standards for non-ready-to-eat (non-RTE) foods. The amendment will come into effect on March 4, 2024.

The latest regulation mainly adds new enzyme species permitted for use in food production and diversifies the sources for some existing enzymes.

In August of 2023, China’s registration channel of health food products reopened with a series of key regulations published. South Korea introduced meat alternative and FSMP standards in Food Code. Japan proposed to revise the approval matters for powdered infant formula. Thailand proposed to revise the labeling requirements for prepackaged food. India issued the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) First Amendment Regulations, 2023. EU added a new authorized substance for the manufacturing of plastic FCMs. UK proposed legislative reforms on nutrition and health claims. US proposed to restrict the use of partially hydrogenated oils in foods. Canada authorized the use of a new food enzyme. Australia and New Zealand Call for Public Submissions on Proposed Changes to MRLs for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Food.