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South Korea Updates the Packaging Materials Recyclability Grade Evaluation Standard
On January 7, 2021, MOE (Ministry of Environment) revised Packaging Materials Recyclability Grade Evaluation Standards. The Evaluation Standards of glass bottles and PET bottles are modified. Colored glass bottles, coated glass bottles and glass bottles with labels directly printed on the bodies are removed from "difficult to recycle". In addition, the PET bottles without labels or labeled on the bottle caps are upgraded to "best to recycle".
South Korea Launches Automatic Labeling System
On January 19, 2021, MFDS introduced the automatic labeling system "Food Label Bot". This system is designed to assist enterprises in producing the food labels efficiently. After inputting the essential information, the system will provide an example of the food label. This system can render food labels of 130 food categories. Check ChemLinked News and find out how to use the system.
South Korea Consults on the GMO Food Labeling Standard
On January 28, 2021, South Korea proposed a draft of the Labelling Standard of Genetically Modified Foods. MFDS proposed to approve indicating "Non-GMO" on foods whose GMO ingredient is less than 0.9%. In addition, MFDS is going to add "health functional foods" and "livestock products" to the "GMO Food exempted from labeling GMO labels" when relevant certificates can be presented.
Japan Revises the Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives
On January 15, 2021, MHLW unveiled the amendment to "Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act". It states that ammonium hydrogen sulfite water, chitin-glucan, dipotassium DL-tartrate, and polyvinylimidazole - polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymers are considered to be harmless to the human body, and they are permitted to be used in food. Besides, their specifications and usage standards are specified in the "Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives, etc." This amendment came into effect from the date of promulgation. (ChemLinked News)
On January 21, 2021, Japan MHLW released the amendment of "Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives". According to the amendment, when soft drinks other than mineral waters, frozen fruit drinks, and raw fruit juice is mixed with lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fermented milk, or lactic acid bacteria beverages after sterilization or degerming, the mixing process must be managed by appropriate methods that are not contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms. This revision is implemented as of the release date. (Reference Link)
On January 25, 2021, Japan released the amendment of "Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives" for public consultation. The MHLW proposed to modify residue limits of 5 pesticides and veterinary drugs, including diethofencarb, pymetrozine, myclobutanil, deltamethrin, and tralomethrin. (Reference Link)
On January 29, 2021, Japan unveiled the revision of ingredient standards for sterilization or degerming of mineral water (referring to soft drinks made only from water) of "Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives" for public consultation. The ingredients involved are hexavalent chromium, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. (Reference Link)
Japan Announces the Imported Foods Monitoring Plan in 2021
On January 18, 2021, Japan unveiled the Imported Foods Monitoring Plan 2021 for public consultation. This plan aims to promote the implementation of focused, efficient and effective monitoring and guidance of imported foods, thereby further ensuring the safety of imported foods. The plan is applied from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
Japan Updates the List of Countries/Regions Acceptable for Dairy Sanitary Certificates
The sanitary certificates issued by Jersey and Czechia are newly accepted. By now, Japan has approved the health certificate from 49 countries/regions.
Japan Announces the Import Plan for Butter and Skim Milk Powder
As revealed by the MAFF, Japan imported 20,000 tons of butter and 4,000 tons of skim milk powder in 2020. However, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, there is still a lot of inventory left. Therefore, on January 29, 2021, the MAFF announced the plan of 2021, which stated that Japan would import 6,400 tons of butter and 750 tons of skim milk powder in 2021.
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