Asia Pacific Food Regulation Dynamics | February 2021

Regulation

China Approves New Varieties of Food Additives and Food Related Products

As revealed by the official notice released on Feb 20, 2021, 16 substances were approved by China's NHC, including 10 new varieties of food additives (3 new enzymes, 4 food additives with expanded application scope, 2 processing aids with expanded application scope and 1 food nutritional fortifier with expanded application scope) and 6 new varieties of food related products (2 new FCM additives, 3 FCM additives with expanded scope, and 1 new resin).

Taiwan Supplements Maximum limit of Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters in Infant Formula Foods

On Feb 4, 2021, Taiwan FDA published the amendment of Sanitation Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food. This amendment supplements maximum limit of glycidyl fatty acid esters in infant foods, which is 50 μg/kg for powder and 6.0 μg/kg for liquid. It will take effect on July 1, 2021.

Taiwan Allows the Use of Carbon Dioxide in Food Processing

On Feb 22, 2021, Taiwan FDA published the amendment of Specification, Scope, Application and Limitation of Food Additives. This amendment allows to use carbon dioxide in food processing as a food additive and supplements the specification of carbon dioxide.

Taiwan Revises Method of Test for Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods

On Feb 8, 2021, Taiwan released the revision of Method of Test for Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods - Test of Tetracyclines. The revision revises application scope, apparatus and materials, preparation of reagents, etc. It comes into effect immediately.

Draft

China Consults on 26 National Food Safety Standards

On Feb. 8, 2021, China National Health Commission opened 26 national food safety standards for public feedback. The standards under consultation include three food product standards, nine food nutritional fortification substance standards, three microorganism test methods, nine physical and chemical test methods, and two good manufacturing practice standards.

China Consults on One Bacterial Strain for Baby Foods and Ten New Varieties of Food Additives 

On Feb. 18, 2021, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment released two notices to consult on the use of one food raw material and ten new varieties of food additives. The notice regarding the food raw material aims to expand the application scope of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM to foods for infants under 1 year old. The ten new varieties of food additives include 9 new varieties of enzymes and 1 food additive with expanded application scope.

Taiwan Consults on New Function Claim of Vitamin C

On Feb 20, 2021, Taiwan released the draft amendment of the Regulations Governing of Criteria for the Label, Promotion and Advertisement of Foods and Food Products Identified as False, Exaggerated, Misleading or Having Medical Efficacy. The draft amendment adds a new function claim of vitamin C: helps maintain normal function of teeth and skin

China Consults on Eight New Varieties of FCM Additives and Resins

On Feb. 4, 2021, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment consulted on eight new food-related products, including one new FCM additive, three FCM additives with expanded application scope, and four new resins.

China Consults on Seven Standards of Feed Additives

On Feb 8, 2021, China published TBT notifications regarding the drafts of seven feed additive standards. The additives involved are lactobacillus acidophilus, saccharomyces cerevisiae, 4,4'-diketo-β-carotene (canthaxanthin), enterococcus faecium, cyanocobalamin cobione (Vitamin B12), lactobacillus plantarum, and L-Valine. 

Foods for Medical Purpose are Subject to Food Traceability Management in South Korea

On February 3, 2021, MFDS specified that certain imported FSP (Foods for Special Purpose) should comply with the food traceability requirement from December 12 this year. The FSP foods subject to the food traceability are food for women during pregnancy or lactation, food for special medical purpose, and food for regulating weight, whose sales were over 100 million won (about 89.5 thousand USD) in 2016.

South Korea manages the traceability of FSP through a comprehensive phased approach. In 2014 and 2016, South Korea specified the food traceability requirements for food for newborns and infants and formula milk. The management on food for women during pregnancy or lactation, food for special medical purpose, and food for regulating weight was set to start from 2019.

South Korea Revises the Food Labeling Standards

On February 5, 2021, MFDS promulgated the latest version of Food Labeling Standards. The labeling item of "container/ package materials" on a sub-packaged or re-packaged food product is allowed to change in accordance with the materials used. The liquid tea product can be labeled as "decaffeinated products" with 90% caffeine being removed.

South Korea Prolongs the Transitional Period of Food Label Modification 

On February 18, 2021, MFDS announced to prolong the implementation of the new standard of proportion and spacing of the font on food labels from March 14 to December 31, 2021. The standards of keeping the font proportion over 90% and front spacing less than 5% were released on March 14, 2019, and were given a transitional period of two years.

South Korea to Conduct Contactless On-site Inspection of the Foreign Food Facility in 2021

As revealed by notification issued on February 19, 2021, MFDS plans to conduct a contactless on-site inspection of 460 Foreign Food Facilities in 36 overseas countries under the Covid-19 situation. The authority will inspect the overseas facilities via document review and the electronic device "smart glasses".

South Korea Suspends the Food Importation from 36 Countries

On February 4, 2021, MFDS issued a notification listing the foods prohibited from importation based on the rules specified in the Food Sanitation Act. Regions involved include United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenian, Swiss, Serbia, Montenegro, Japan, Israel, Canada, United States of America, and Brazil. Check the suspended food categories at ChemLinked News.

Japan Consults on the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act

On February 1, 2021, MHLW announced the proposed revision to the "Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act". 2 quarantine pests and 7 non-quarantine pests were added in the draft. Besides, it amended the import quarantine measures for 27 existing quarantine pests and 2 newly added quarantine pests.

Japan Revises Regulations Regarding Pesticides and Veterinary Drug Residues

On February 3, 2021, Japan MHLW unveiled the amendment to "Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives, etc. ". It mainly revises the residue limits of 5 pesticides including  Azoxystrobin, Cyflufenamid, Bixafen, Pyrifluquinazon, and Pyriproxyfen. The amendments became effective upon its publication on February 3. (ChemLinked News)

On February 12, 2021, Japan opened an amendment of the "Food and Food Additive Specification Standard" for public consultation. In this draft, MHLW proposes to modify the residue limits of 3 pesticides and 3veterinary drugs, which are Ethaboxam, Tioxazafen, Fenbuconazole, Oxfendazole, Febantel, and Fenbendazole. (Reference Link)

On February 17, 2021, Japan released an amendment to the "Test Method for Substances of Pesticides, Feed Additives or Veterinary Drugs Remaining in Foods". The testing method for Flubendazole (livestock and marine products) has been removed. Besides, the amendment newly includes the testing methods for Asulam (livestock products), Ethofumesate (agricultural products), kresoxim-methyl (livestock and marine products) and Flubendazole (livestock products). (Reference Link)

Walnuts May be Listed as a Mandatory Allergy Labeling Item in Japan

On February 15, 2021. Japan Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) organized an Advisory meeting on food allergen labeling, and it is said that walnut may be subject to mandatory labeling in future. The survey showcased that the anaphylaxis caused by walnuts increased from 74 in FY 2015 to 251 in 2018. However, the CAA official said that it still takes time to collect more scientific evidence and establish a more comprehensive detection method for walnuts.

India Revises Limits of Trans Fatty Acid in Food Products

On Feb 5, 2021, India FSSAI published the amendment to Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation. This amendment stipulates that food products in which edible oils and fats are used as an ingredient shall not contain industrial trans fatty acids more than 2% by mass of the total oils/fats present in the product. This amendment will be effective on Jan. 1, 2022.

India Publishes Requirement of Non-GM Certificate for Imported Food

On Feb 8, 2021, India FSSAI published the requirement of non GM and GM free certificate to accompany imported food. The requirement of non-GM and GM free certificate is applicable to consignments which are dispatched from exporting country on or after Mar. 1, 2021. The tolerance limit for adventitious presence of GMOs at 1% is permissible in imported food crop consignments as listed in Annxure 1 of the order date Aug. 21, 2020.

Thailand Publishes Standards for Edible Oil & Fat and Fish Oil

On Feb 9. 2021, Thailand Ministry of Health published regulations regarding edible oil and fat, fish oil. These regulations stipulate the definition, classification, manufacturing technique, product quality and standards, and method of testing fatty acid content in oil and fats. These regulations come into effect immediately.

Indonesia Establishes Monitoring Mechanism for Side Effects of Health Supplements

On Feb 2, 2021, Indonesia BPOM published the regulation of monitoring mechanisms for the Side Effects of Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements. According to this regulation, distributors of traditional medicines and health supplements are required to report cases of unwanted side effects to the authority.

Indonesia Publishes Regulations on Processed Food and Alcoholic Beverages

On Feb 22, Indonesia BPOM published three food related regulations. They are Processed Food Advertising Supervision, Amendment to the Regulation Concerning Registration of Processed Food, and Safety and Quality Standards for Alcoholic Beverages. These regulations come into effect on Feb 23, 2021.