Centella Asiatica Extract Newly Notified for Functional Claims in Japan

On March 6, 2025, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released notification information for 15 Food with Function Claims (FFC) products (J930-944). Among these, we found asiatic acid and asiaticoside were first notified as functional ingredients.

Notified Product J940:

Product name	Centella asiatica capsules
Food category:	Processed food (supplement form)
Functional ingredient name	Asiatic acid and asiaticoside
Functionality to be displayed	This product contains asiatic acid and asiaticoside. Asiatic acid and asiaticoside have been reported to help maintain the muscle strength of the lower limbs, which is necessary for elderly people to live healthy daily lives.

According to the notification information, asiatic acid and asiaticoside, triterpenes derived from Centella Asiatica, are known for their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. While these compounds may affect CYP enzyme metabolism and interact with certain drugs, there is no conclusive human evidence of serious risks. Within the recommended intake, their safety is considered acceptable, provided that appropriate cautionary labeling is included.

FFC Notification

FFC refers to food that has been labeled with functionality based on scientific evidence. Enterprises need to be responsible for the function claims. The safety and functionality information is required to notify the Consumer Affairs Agency before sale.

Notably, beginning on April 1, 2025, the CAA may extend the review period for notification documents to 120 days, twice the current duration, under certain conditions. This applies when a functional ingredient used in a FFC product is entirely new or when a novel combination of functional ingredients is introduced. In such cases, enterprises must submit their notification at least 120 days before the intended launch date to allow sufficient time for regulatory review.