Global Food Regulation Highlights | August 2024

To help stakeholders in food sector navigate the constantly evolving regulatory landscape, ChemLinked offers Global Food Regulation Highlights, a concise monthly report that focuses on key regulatory developments worldwide. Find out what's new on food regulation worldwide in July 2024 below.

For thorough and comprehensive monitoring of developments in specific business sector and markets, we highly recommend our customized risk alert and monitoring report service. This service empowers you to effectively stay informed about all the regulatory dynamics that can impact your business. With the added advantage of expert interpretation and analysis, our service offers you a comprehensive understanding of the significance and consequences of these regulatory changes. For more detailed information, we invite you to click on the provided sample of regulatory monitoring report.

China

In August of 2024, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) updated the National Food Catalogues of Traditional Trade & Meet the Requirements of Export to China on its website. The latest update adds a new note regarding frozen fruits: "For frozen fruit products, quarantine access management is no longer implemented." This means that the catalogue no longer applies to the import of frozen fruits, allowing them to enter the Chinese market from any country, provided they meet other requirements, such as food safety and quality standards. Industry insiders have confirmed that the imports of frozen fruits have now opened up.  (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• China Customs Rejected 392 Batches of Imported Food in July 2024

• China Updates the Catalogue of Substances Traditionally Considered as Both Food and Chinese Medicine in 2024

• NHC Approved One New FCM Substance

• CFSA Consulted on Three Food Raw Materials

• CFSA Consulted on Four New Food Additives, Involving 2'FL for Infant Formula

• China Consults on Updated GB/T Standard for Jam

• China Drafts First Amendment Sheet to GB 1886.186-2016 Food Additive Sorbic Acid

• China Opens Channels for New Health Food Function Suggestions and Product Registration Until End of 2024

• China Targets EU Dairy Imports in New Anti-Dumping Investigation, Following Pork Case

Regulation highlights in other areas of China:

• Taiwan to Introduce Usage Restrictions and Labeling Requirements for the Food Ingredient γ-Aminobutyric Acid

• Taiwan to Introduce Maximum Levels of Cadmium in Chocolate Products

• Taiwan to Revise Pesticide Residues in Foods, Involving Both Crops and Animal Products

• Taiwan Proposes Amendments to Dog and Cat Foods Exempt from Import Quarantine

South Korea

As revealed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on August 8, 2024, the draft of Enforcement Rule of Food Labeling Act was issued for public feedback until September 19, 2024. The authority mainly proposes to expand nutrition label to all processed foods, mandate the high-caffeine label for solid foods containing guarana, and intensify the labeling requirements for sugar alcohols and frozen foods. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Updates Prohibited Ingredient List: Adding Three Ingredients

• South Korea Consults on the Regulation on Exceptions of Prohibited Labels and Advertisements of Food Function Claims

• South Korea Updates the Guideline of Reporting the Manufacturing Records of Health Functional Food

• South Korea Consults on Food Code

• South Korea to Expand the Scope of Livestock Products Imported from New Zealand

• South Korea to Update the OEM Sanitation Inspection Methods

Japan

On August 30, 2024, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) officially approved the Draft of Manufacturing or Processing Standards for Food with Function Claims Containing Natural Extracts in the Form of Tablets, Capsules, etc. and announced to be implemented from September 1, 2024. This Standard provides a comprehensive framework covering all stages of the manufacturing and distribution process, with a focus on ensuring quality, traceability and compliance. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan Revises Limits of 2, 4-D in Certain Feeds

• Japan Finalizes the Health Supplement Rules after Kobayashi Incident

Southeast Asia

As per an official notice issued on August 15, 2024, the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) is soliciting public feedback on amendments to Vietnam’s Food Safety Law 2010. In terms of the key amendment, the Draft requires all foods, food additives, and food contact materials (utensils, packaging materials and containers for food uses) to get their product declaration registered with the authority before circulating in the market. Public opinions can be submitted to the authority before September 16, 2024. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Singapore Revises Veterinary Import Conditions for Poultry and Poultry Products

• Indonesia Unveils New Regulation on Drug and Food Supervision Distributed Online

• Indonesia Notifies WTO Regarding the Maximum Contaminant Levels in Primary Foods

• Indonesia Signs MoU with Singapore and Uruguay on Halal Product Assurance

• Philippines to Adopt Codex Guidelines for Follow-Up Formula (CXS 156-1987) as Technical Regulation

• Philippines Consults on General Standard for Labeling of Primary and Postharvest Foods

• Thailand Will Strengthen the Supervision of Food Products

• Vietnam Officially Informs the WCO’s Amendments to the Compendium of Classification Opinions

• Vietnam Consults on List of Milk and Functional Foods for Children Under 6 Years Subject to Price Declaration

• Malaysia Consults on the Proposed Enactment of the Veterinary Public Health Bill 202X

• Malaysia Issues Notification of Level 5 Inspection Action - Hold, Test and Release (TUL) for the Importation of All Salted Fruits, Halwa Fruit Peels and Fruit Oranges

India

On August 27, 2024, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released Draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2024, involving new additives in certain dairy products. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in India:

• FSSAI Launches Project to Address Microplastic Contamination in Indian Food

• FSSAI Clarifies Misleading A1 & A2 Claims of Milk & Milk Products and Withdraws the Clarification

• FSSAI Reoperationalizes Draft Food Safety and Standards Nutraceuticals Regulations Regulations, 2022

• FSSAI Reoperationalizes Draft Labelling and Display Amendment Regulations 2022

• India Extends Transition Period of Integrated Veterinary Health Certificate for Milk and Milk Products

• India Adivises Labs to Follow Guidelines While Uploading Test Reports of Import Samples to Avoid Mistakes

European Union (EU)

On August 1, 2024, EU deletes entries SF-001 to SF-010 from the Union list of authorized smoke flavoring primary products. Transitional provisions for different situations are given in the Regulation. (Read more) 

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU Refuses to Authorise the Health Claim "Isomaltulose Contributes to Normal Energy-yielding Metabolism" Made on Foods

• EU to Amend Directive 2002/46/EC as regards Calcidiol Monohydrate Used in the Manufacture of Food Supplements

• EU to Amend Regulations Regarding Geographical Indications (Draft 1, 2, 3 and 4)

• EU Amends Import Conditions of Certain Products of Animal Origin for Public Health Reasons

United States (US)

On August 5, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule to solicit public opinion on the usage of spirulina extract in foods generally in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice. Suggestions should be sent to FDA before October 4, 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

• USDA Announces the Renewal of 47 Substances Listed on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances

• U.S. FSIS Issues the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products

• U.S. FDA to Hold Public Meeting on the Development of an Enhanced Systematic Process for FDA’s Post-Market Assessment of Chemicals in Food

• U.S. FDA Publishes a Notice to Solicit Public Comments for the Pre-Market Animal Food Ingredient Review Programs

Canada

On August 30, 2024, Health Canada unveiled M-FAA-24-08 with immediate effect, modifying the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses to remove brominated vegetable oil. Health Canada allows impacted products to be reformulated and relabeled no later than August 30, 2025. All requirements related to the current permitted use of BVO as a food additive will continue to apply until the end of the transition period. (Read More) 

Australia and New Zealand

On August 19, 2024, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Notification Circular-301-24 to announce the approval of several important updates to the Food Standards Code. These updates include the revision to added sugar claims and approval of a novel food and a processing aid. Food ministers were notified of the approval. If no review is requested within 60 days, the Food Standards Code will be amended accordingly. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia Amends Schedule 20 of the Code, Involving Pesticide Residue Limits

• Australia and New Zealand Amend Food Standards Code, Involving Irradiation and Infant Formula Products

• FSANZ Consults on 2-methyloxolane as A Processing Aid

• FSANZ Consults on Glucoamylase from GM Aspergillus Niger as A Processing Aid

• Australia Changes the BICON case for Food Samples

• Australia Issues Consolidated Import Conditions for Pine Nuts for Human Consumption

Recommended reading:

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | April 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | June 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | July 2024

• Hot topic: Global Food Regulation Highlights, 2020-2024