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As we step into 2025, the global food sector faces a dynamic regulatory landscape shaped by new requirements and the conclusion of transitional arrangements. This article provides an overview of key regulatory updates taking effect in 2025 across different regions, alongside expiring transitional policies that will impact businesses worldwide.The table below outlines the effective dates, regions, titles, and main content of significant regulations, helping stakeholders stay informed and prepared for compliance.
1. January
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-01-01 | Taiwan, China | Labeling Requirements for Infant and Follow-up Formula
| On February 1, 2023, Taiwan FDA promulgated this regulation. In addition to the mandatory labeling requirements for packaged foods, this regulation specifies additional labeling items for infant and follow-up formula products, including:
Notably, statements such as "humanized," "maternalized," or any other similar expressions suggesting superiority to breast milk are prohibited. |
2025-01-01 | Taiwan, China | Regulations Governing the Labeling of Formula for Certain Disease (Amendment to the second point)
| On October 19, 2022, Taiwan FDA announced amendment to the second point of Regulations Governing the Labeling of Formula for Certain Disease. The amendment introduces a new requirement that the product must prominently display the wording "特定疾病配方食品 (Formula for Certain Disease)” on the front of the packaging. The font length and width must be no less than 0.4 cm, with consistent font size, and the text color must clearly contrast with the background color. |
2025-01-01 | Vietnam | Vietnam’s Circular 33/2024/TT-BYT, issued on November 18, 2024, outlines the milk products and functional foods for children under 6 years old that are subject to price stabilization and declaration, as well as corresponding declaration requirements. It is stipulated that organizations and individuals declaring milk and functional foods for children under 6 years old in their declaration documents and on product labels are required to submit a price declaration document to the agency designated by the provincial People's Committee. This Circular will take effect on January 1, 2025, replacing Circular No. 30/2013/TT-BYT and Circular No. 22/2018/TT-BYT on the effective date. (Read more) | |
2025-01-01 | South Korea | Regulation on Exceptions of Prohibited Labels and Advertisements of Food Function Claims | On October 17, 2024, South Korea MFDS announced revisions to the Regulation on Exceptions of Prohibited Labels and Advertisements of Food Function Claims. The amendments introduce specific requirements for foods eligible for functional claims supported by scientific data, including:
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2025-01-03 | South Korea | On January 2, 2024, South Korea MFDS promulgated the revised Health Functional Food Act, which introduces the new food category of custom health functional food. To engage in this business, operators must have the required facilities and report their business to the MFDS. Additionally, a custom health functional food manager must be appointed at the sales location to oversee safety and hygiene management. of the facility. (Read more) | |
2025-01-03 | South Korea | The amendments in this regulation align with the revisions to the Health Functional Food Act, detailing specific requirements for custom health functional food businesses and the qualifications necessary for custom health functional food managers. | |
2025-01-03 | South Korea | The amendments require business operators to report food contamination incidents and outline corresponding penalties for violations. | |
2025-01-03 | South Korea | The amendments in this regulation complement the revisions to the Food Sanitation Act by specifying the cases that require reporting of food contamination incidents. | |
2025-01-03 | Thailand | This announcement revises the nutrition criteria of “healthier choice” logo in beverage products, clarified the nutrition criteria in seasoning products, and introduced new criteria for some instant food and alternative milk products. (Read more) | |
2025-01-10 | South Korea | The amendments in this regulation complement the revisions in the Food Sanitation Act by specifying methods for reporting food contamination incidents. | |
2025-1-13 | Australia & New Zealand | Amendment No.234 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code | On January 13, 2025, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released Amendment No. 234 to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Major revisions involve two processing aids and one food produced using gene technology. |
2025-1-20 | European Union | According to the Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 published on December 31, 2024, EU officially prohibits the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials (FCMs). The Regulation will be effective on January 20, 2025, with provided transitional provisions. (Read more) | |
2025-01-22 | Philippines | On January 7, 2025, the Philippines FDA released FDA Circular No.2025-0001 Guidelines on the Classification of Vitamins and Minerals for Food/Dietary Supplements for Adults under Processed Food Product, which intends to establish a guideline on the product registration of food supplements. It provides guidance to all Food Business Operators (FBOs) on the classification of vitamins and minerals as food/dietary supplements for adults, and sets updated limit of vitamins and minerals to be classified as food/dietary supplements of adults. (Read more) |
2. February
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-02-08 | Chinese mainland | GB 19644-2024 National Food Safety Standard Milk Powder and Modified Milk Powder | This standard specifies the terms and definitions, as well as the technical requirements of milk powder and modified milk powder in China. Compared with its 2010 version, changes this time involve the application scope, product definition, sensory and physicochemical requirements, microbial limits and labeling. (Read more) |
2025-02-08 | Chinese mainland | GB 2760-2024 National Food Safety Standard Standard for Uses of Food Additives | GB 2760-2024 specifies the principles for the use of food additives, the permitted types of food additives, their usage scope, and the maximum allowable usage or residue levels. This standard stands as the primary and most important legal framework for the regulation and proper use of food additives in China. (Read more) |
2025-02-08 | Chinese mainland | GB 4806.15-2024 National Food Safety Standard Adhesives for Food Contact Materials and Articles | GB 4806.15-2024 specifies the terms and definitions, product classification, basic requirements, technical specifications, labeling, etc. of adhesives used in food contact materials and articles. (Read more) |
3. March
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-03-01 | Chinese mainland | GB 23350-2021 specifies the requirements on restricting excessive package of foods and cosmetics and the calculation methods for the limited indicators. Major revisions in the second amendment sheet involve package layers, package cost, total mass of commodities and k values. Most revisions will take effect on March 1, 2025, except for the new k values affecting product types such as tea and complementary baby foods, which was enforced with immediate effect (Mar. 25, 2024). (Read more) |
4. April
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-04-01 | India | Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and Residues) First Amendment Regulations, 2024 | On October 24, 2024, FSSAI released the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and Residues) First Amendment Regulations, 2024, which shall come into force on April 1, 2025. The amendment revises crop contaminants and naturally occurring toxic substances. The amendment also specifies a list of 14 antimicrobials and other drugs that are strictly prohibited for use in the production of meat, dairy products, poultry, eggs, and aquaculture. |
2025-04-01 | Japan | On December 24, 2024, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released a draft amendment to the Food Labeling Standards. The proposed changes mainly concern food additives and nutrition labeling. Key amendments:
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2025-04-10 | Thailand | Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 454 regarding Natural Mineral Water | This regulation is applicable to natural mineral water. It specifies the definition, classification, quality improvement requirements, quality standard, mineral contents, microorganism levels, the use of food additives, package and labeling requirements of natural mineral water sold in Thailand. (Read more) |
5. May
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-05-01 | India | On October 25, 2024, FSSAI released the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) First Amendment Regulations, 2024. The amendment shall come into force on May 1, 2025, except provisions related to Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK), which shall come into force with immediate effect. (Read more) |
6. June
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-06-01 | Japan | Japan's revised Food Sanitation Act introduced a Positive List system for synthetic resins in 2020, permitting only approved synthetic resins for use in food contact materials. On September 27, 2024, Japan officially approved an amendment to the Positive List, revising the usage standards for four substances and adding 13 new additives. These changes took effect immediately on the same day, September 27, 2024. Notably, Japan’s Positive List of Food Contact Materials is being phased in over a 5-year transitional period. The full implementation of the list is scheduled for June 1, 2025. (Read more) |
7. August
Effective date | Region | Regulation title | Main content |
2025-08-01 | Vietnam | On July 18, 2024, Vietnam's Ministry of Health promulgated QCVN 20-1:2024/BYT, a National Technical Regulation that regulates the limits of contaminants in health supplements/dietary supplements, excluding wine products declared as health supplements. The regulation will come into effect on August 1, 2025. (Read more) |
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