Asia Pacific Food Regulation Dynamics | October 2020

Regulations

China Approves 45 National Food Safety Standards (GB) in October

On Oct. 11, China approved two GB standards on Feed additives, which are GB 7300.402-2020 Feed Additives - Part 4: Enzymes - Phytase and GB 7300.1001-2020 Feed Additives - Part 10: Flavouring and appetising substances — Sodium glutamate.

On Oct. 13, 2020, China announced the release of 42 national food safety standards (compulsory GB standards). The release included the update of 8 standards, the formulation of 30 new standards, and the revision of 4 standards, covering food additives, microbiological examinations, etc.

On Oct. 21, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the GB 38995-2020 Infant Feeding Bottles and Teats. It will come into effect on Nov. 1st, 2021. It is the first mandatory standard in China specifying the technical requirements, corresponding testing methods and labeling items of infant feeding bottles and teats.

China Publishes New Guidelines on Health Food Testing and Assessment

On October 31, 2020, China State Administration for Market Regulation published three health food related technical guidelines for testing and assessment, which took immediate effect. The three guidelines involve toxicological testing, safety testing of bacterial strains used in health food, and physicochemical and hygienic examination.

Taiwan Publishes Hygienic Standards of Microorganism in Foods

On October 6, 2020, Taiwan FDA published the Hygienic Standards of Microorganism in Foods. This standard stipulates the maximum limits of microorganism and its toxin or metabolic in foods such as milk and dairy products, infant formula, fresh foods, beverages, frozen foods, etc. This standard will come into effect on July 1st, 2021. 

Drafts

China Consults on 30 Food Related National Standards

In October, China SAMR and the Standardization Administration consulted on 30 food related national standards, including 12 GB/Ts (recommended standards) and 18 GBs (mandatory standards). The GB standard drafts involve food contact materials and food additives. It is worth noting that in the draft of GB/T on terminology and classification of alcoholic beverages, the alcohol content of low-alcohol beer and low-alcohol wine has been lowered to 0.5% vol ~ 2.5% vol and 0.5% vol ~ 7.0%, respectively.

China Consults on Six New Varieties of FCM Additives and Resins 

On October 16, 2020, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment consulted on six new varieties of food related products. Comments should be sent to biaozhun@cfsa.net.cn before November 16, 2020. The six substances are calcium hydroxide, alkanes, C11-15-iso-, C.I. pigment blue 15, glass fiber, talc, 2-Propenoic acid, and [2-methyl-, polymer with N-(butoxymethyl)-2-propenamide, ethenylbenzene and ethyl 2-propenoate].

Taiwan Consults on Restrictions of Raw Food Material Aloe

On October 7, 2020, Taiwan FDA opened the draft of Restrictions and Labeling Method of Food Raw Material Aloe for public comments. According to this draft, aloin contained in aloe used as food raw materials should be lower than 10 ppm. Food using aloe as raw materials should label that it is not recommended for women in menstrual period, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, sufferers of digestive diseases, liver diseases or kidney diseases to eat. Comments should be submitted to yoannaluo@fda.gov.tw within 60 days starting from Oct. 7, 2020. This regulation will come into effect on January 1^st, 2022. 

Supervision

China Publishes 2020 Plan for Making and Revising Food Safety GB Standards 

On October 13, 2020, National Health Commission of People's Republic of China released the notification regarding 2020 Food Safety National Standard Project Plan. The Plan lists 46 GB standards that will be made or revised, which includes 12 nutritional and special diet food standards, 2 contaminant limit standards, 1 standard on radioactive substance in food, 4 food product standards, 14 food additive standards, 3 production and operation standards, 7 physicochemical test method standards and 3 micro-organism test method standards.

218 Batches of Imported Food from 36 Countries/Regions Were Rejected in October

On Oct 21, 2020, China GAC released the list of non-compliant food products in Sept. 2020. A total of 218 batches of imported food from 36 countries/regions were rejected. Two batches of DHA algae oil capsules from Australia failed for lack of required documentation. One batch of multigrain powder (infant and young children complementary food) from Belgium was rejected for unqualified calcium content.

Preferential Tax Policy on Exhibits of China International Import Expo

On Oct. 12, China GAC and Ministry of Finance released the preferential tax policy on exhibits of CIIE (China International Import Expo). A reasonable amount of imported exhibits sold during the CIIE can be exempted from import tariff, added-value tax and consumption tax during importation. For food-related exhibitors, the sales amount of each exhibitor that enjoy preferential tax policy should not exceed 20,000 USD. Alcoholic drinks do not enjoy preferential tax during CIIE.

South Korea Consults on the Exception Standards for Repackaging of the Packaged Products

On October 8, 2020, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) released the draft of Exception Standards for Repackaging of the Packaged Products. In S. Korea, the repacking of a packaged product is prohibited to prevent resource wasting. However, entities complained the repackaging is inevitable under specific situations, such as packing three products for promoting. Therefore, MOE disclosed the exception standards to ease the enterprises' burden.

The exposure draft defined the terminology and scope of "repackaging", established exception standards for the repackaging of packaged products, including foods with primary packaging.

South Korea to Enforce the Recommended Specification of Acrylamide in 2021

MFDS unveiled the notification of recommended specification of Acrylamide on October 15, 2020. The maximum content in foods for infant and young children, coffee, and snacks is respectively recommended to be less than 0.3mg/kg, 0.8mg/kg, and 1mg/kg. Even though the recommended specification is not a mandatory requirement, the competent authority suggested the domestic and international enterprises comply with the content limitation since the sales and import of the relevant products could be suspended.

South Korea Revises Food Code: Amendments to Home Meal Replacement and CBD

On October 16, 2020, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) promulgated the revised Food Code by Notice No. 2020-98.  The latest version added Home Meal Replacement (HMR) as a new food category. The standards and specifications of HMR products, such as the manufacture standard, storage standard, and hygienic standard, etc. are specified along. Additionally, the maximum contents of CBD used in food are clarified.

Japan Updated the List of Countries Acceptable for Sanitary Certificates

On Oct. 9, 2020, Japan updated the requirements of dairy products’ sanitary Certificates. The sanitary Certificates issued by Liechtenstein are accepted. By now Japan has approved the health certificate from 47 countries.

Japan Consults on the Revision of Food and Food Additive Specification Standard

On Oct 21, 2020, Japan released a consultation draft of "Food and Food Additive Specification Standard", which revised the residue limit of five pesticides. They are Azoxystrobin, Cyflufenamid, Bixafen, Pyrifluquinazon and Pyriproxyfen. Furthermore, it proposed to amend the standard for Azoxystrobin.

India Revises Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives)

In October, India FSSAI released two amendments of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives). The amendments include provisions of additional additives (sorbitan monostearate) and microbiological requirements for spices and an appendix of processing aids. (Source: India FSSAI)

India Revises Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims)

On October 14, India FSSAI released the first amendment of Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims). This amendment added list of function claims for edible vegetable oils. Food Business Operator shall comply with all the provisions of these regulations by 1st July, 2021.

India Revises Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales)

In October, India FSSAI released two amendments of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales). The second amendment removed the clause regarding mandatory certification of Agmark for certain food products. The third amendment related to limit of Total Polar Compounds in unused/fresh vegetable oil/fat.

Thailand Updates Maximum Limits of Food Additives and Microorganism

On October 19, Thailand Ministry of Public Health released Notification No.418 Prescribing the principle, conditions, methods and proportion of food additives (No. 2). It includes a detailed annex showing the food category and corresponding maximum use levels of food additives. Notification No. 416 released on the same day includes food categories and the corresponding maximum levels of microorganism.