Global Food Regulation Highlights | December 2025

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 December 2025 below.

China

China Implements Formula Registration for Liquid Infant Formula Products

On December 1, 2025, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released two pivotal documents that officially bring liquid infant formula products under the nation's stringent formula registration management system. The move, enacted through the Decision on Amending the Administrative Measures for the Registration of Formulas of Infant Formula Milk Powder Products and its supporting Announcement on the Items and Requirements for Application Dossiers, aligns the regulatory oversight for liquid formula with that of powdered products. Both regulations are effective immediately as of December 1, 2025.

More highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• China Seeks Public Comment on Draft Rules for Commodity Barcodes

• China SAMR Expands Filing Options for Coenzyme Q10 and Melatonin Health Foods

• China Releases the Detailed Rules for Food Additive Production License Inspection (2025 Edition)

• China Implements New Risk-Based Supervision for Imported Feed and Additives

• [Updated] China Food Additives Updates in 2025: CFSA Consults on Four New Food Additives

• [Updated] China Food Additives Updates in 2025: CFSA Consults on Four New Food Additives

• China Adds Four Prohibited Ingredients to Non-Edible Substance List in Food Products

• [Updated] 2025 China Customs Rejection Data: 444 Batches of Imported Food in November

Highlights in other areas of China:

• Taiwan Proposes to Regulate PFAS in Food, Including PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS

• Taiwan Issues Draft Standard for Ingredient in Infant and Children's Foods

• TFDA Revises Food Additive Testing Methods Appendix B, Effective Immediately

South Korea

South Korea Proposes Updates to Food Code Covering FSMP, Microbiological Standards, Pesticides Residues, and Permitted Ingredients

On December 23, 2025, MFDS issued two administrative notices (No. 2025-522 and No. 2025-523), which proposed amendments to the Food Code. The draft introduces a new FSMP food type with detailed nutrient composition requirements, strengthens manufacturing and microbiological controls, extensively revises pesticide and veterinary drug residue limits, and expands the lists of permitted food ingredients.

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea to Revise Mandatory Traceability Registration Criteria for Designated Imported Foods

• South Korea to Expand Functionality for Health Functional Ingredient Chitooligosaccharide

• South Korea Simplifies Submission Requirements for Health Functional Food Ingredient Recognition

• South Korea Promulgates 6th Food Safety Management Basic Plan (2026–2030)

• South Korea Expands GMO Labeling Scope and Clarifies Non-GMO Standards

• South Korea Designates New Ingredients Prohibited in Directly Purchased Overseas Foods

• South Korea Announces New and Re-designation of Imported Foods Subject to Inspection Orders

• South Korea Releases Submission Guideline for Recognition of Temporary Standards and Specifications for Food Additives

• South Korea Releases Guideline for Sodium and Sugar Reduction Labeling Standards

• South Korea Permits "Natural" Claims on Honey Products

• South Korea Proposes Stricter Sugar Alcohol Limits of Less Than 10% for Certified Children's Favorite Foods

Japan

Japan Proposes to Revise the Food Labeling Standards, Including Mandatory Allergen Labeling for Cashew Nut

On December 26, 2025, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released a draft amendment to the Food Labeling Standards. The proposed revisions focus on labeling requirements for processed foods, including adjustments to product-specific labeling rules and allergen labeling provisions. Any comments can be submitted via e-GOV before January 30, 2026.

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• [Updated] Japan's Revised MRLs for Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in 2025

• Japan Issues Clarification on Correspondence Between Individual Specification Names and Designated Food Additive Names

Southeast Asia

Thailand Modernizes Food Additive Regulations with New MOPH Notification (No. 468)

On December 12, 2025, Thailand Food and Drug Administration unveiled the MOPH Notification No. 468 Regarding Prescribing the Principle, Conditions, Methods and Proportion of Food Additives (No. 4), which has been effective starting from December 12, 2025. A two-year grace period was granted for products already on the market that comply with the previous regulation (No. 444), allowing them to be sold until the transition period ends.

The new regulation introduces comprehensive changes, including the addition of new additives, revision of usage levels for existing ones, and the withdrawal of certain authorizations. These modifications are largely driven by recent safety assessments from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and updated standards from the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Indonesia Government to Provide 1.35 Million Free Halal Certificates in 2026

• Indonesia Consults on Draft Regulation for Processed Food GMP Permit

• Malaysia Consults on New Labelling Rules for Non-Retail Containers and Pesticide Residue Revisions

• Malaysia Consults on New Labelling Rules for Food in Non-Retail Containers

• Malaysia Bans Mucuna pruriens in Natural Products and Health Supplements

• Malaysia Proposes Major Overhaul of Cocoa and Chocolate Product Regulations

• Thailand Updates Regulations for Bottled Water, Ice, and Beverages

• Thailand Proposes New Food Labeling Rules, Expanding Allergen List and Introducing Digital Label Option

• Thailand Proposes First-Ever Quality Standards for Goat Milk Products

• Thailand Amends Nutrition Labeling Rules to Offer Greater Flexibility

• Latest Progress on the Amendment to the Use of Food Additives in Thailand

• Philippines Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidelines for Food Nutrition and Health Claims

• Philippines Releases Draft Circular on Sales Promotion Permit Application Procedures

• FDA Philippines Implements New Online User Account Registration System

• Vietnam to Amend National Technical Regulation for Alcoholic Beverages

• Vietnam Consults on New National Technical Regulation for Fluid Milk Products

• Vietnam Re-consults on Food Safety Law with Risk-Based Approach

India

FSSAI Releases New Testing Scheme for Packaged Water

On December 19, 2025 , the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released a notification regarding the "Scheme of Testing for Packaged Drinking Water & Mineral Water". This scheme was developed following the omission of mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification in October 2024 to ensure the continued safety and compliance of packaged drinking water and mineral water in the Indian market. All Food Business Operators (FBOs) are required to strictly implement these testing protocols effective from January 1, 2026.

More regulation highlights in India:

• India Updates the List of FSSAI Recognized Food Testing Laboratories

European Union (EU)

EU Updates Protein Requirements for Infant Formula Made from Protein Hydrolysates

On December 12, 2025, the European Commission published Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2017 in the Official Journal, amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 on infant and follow-on formula manufactured from protein hydrolysates. The amendment introduces a new category, "Protein-related requirements group E," following a positive EFSA safety assessment requested by Fonterra. The regulation, effective January 1, 2026, expands the list of permitted protein sources, giving manufacturers more flexibility and enabling use of this hydrolysate in products placed on the EU market.

More regulation highlights in European Union (EU):

• European Union Proposes New Maximum Residue Levels for Six Pesticides in Various Foodstuffs

• EU Amends Regulation to Exempt Betabaculovirus, Elemental Iron, and Rape Seed Oil from Maximum Residue Levels

• EU Authorises Pea and Potato Proteins for Organic Production

• WTO Notification: EU to Increase Maximum DHA Level in Food Supplements Containing Schizochytrium sp. Oil

• WTO Notification: EU Proposes Amending Organic Regulation to Extend Third-Country Equivalence and Revise Labelling and Production Rules

United States (US)

FDA Officially Reinstates NDI Status of NMN

The U.S. FDA has reinstated the New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) status for Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), resolving three years of regulatory uncertainty. In a letter dated December 2, 2025, the FDA informed SyncoZymes that its NDI notifications NDIN 1240, NDIN 1247) for β-NMN are officially reinstated, as NMN is not excluded from the definition of a dietary supplement under the FD&C Act. The decision restores a clear regulatory pathway for the manufacture and marketing of NMN-based ingredients and dietary supplements in the United States.

More regulation highlights in United States (US):

• EPA Sets Additional Pesticide Residue Tolerances and Exemptions on Specific Commodities

• FDA Updates Investigation into Infant Botulism Linked to ByHeart Infant Formula

• FDA Announces Enforcement Discretion Regarding DSHEA Disclaimer Placement on Dietary Supplements

Canada

Canada Announces Exemption Order to Secure Supply of Infant Formula and Other Special Foods

On December 17, 2025, Health Canada published the Exemption Order in Respect of Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose (SOR/2025-248) to establish a formal regulatory framework for managing shortages of critical nutritional products. This new order allows for the exceptional importation and sale of certain foods for a special dietary purpose (FSDP)—such as infant formulas, human milk fortifiers, and formulated liquid diets—to prevent supply disruptions for vulnerable populations. The order came into force upon its publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Health Canada to Authorize Rosemary Extract as a Food Preservative

• Health Canada Announces Two Modifications to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes

• Health Canada Updates Use Requirements for Caffeine and Caffeine Citrate

• Canada Repeals Supplementary Rules for Sale of Natural Health Products with Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine

Australia and New Zealand

New Zealand Proposes Amendments to High-Risk Food Import Requirements, Including Dairy

In December 2025, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released a draft proposal to update its import requirements for several categories of high-risk foods. The proposed changes, detailed in a new draft of the Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale, aim to enhance food safety by providing clearer, more detailed, and risk-based rules for importers. MPI opened the public consultation on December 15, 2025, inviting feedback from industry stakeholders until February 15, 2026.

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• FSANZ Approves New Thermolysin Enzyme Sourced from Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus Rokko as a Processing Aid

• FSANZ Amends Maximum Residue Limits for Agricultural Chemicals in Food

• FSANZ Consults on the Use of Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) Sourced from A Genetically Modified Strain of Bacillus Licheniformis As A Processing Aid

• Australia Implements New Food Safety Requirements for Cell-Cultured Food Imports

• FSANZ Approves Aminopeptidase Y Sourced from Trichoderma Reesei as A Processing Aid in Protein and Yeast Processing and Flavour Production