Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2023

To help food business stakeholders to navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape in the global food industry, ChemLinked presented Global Food Regulation Highlights, a monthly report which delivers major and general regulation dynamics all around the world. Find out what's new on food regulation worldwide in February of 2023 below:

China 

On February 13, 2023, the Department of Food Safety Standards, Risk Surveillance and Assessment under China National Health Commission (NHC) released the exposure drafts of 38 national food safety standards, which include 12 newly established standards, 21 newly revised standards, and 5 amendment sheets. These drafts mainly cover standards for contaminant limits, food products, nutritional fortification substance, foods for special dietary use, food additives and food-related products. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in China:

• China CFSA Proposes Five New Food Additives, Including 2'FL for Infant Formula

• China Consults on Procedures for Evaluating the Safety of Bacterial Cultures for Food Use

• China NHC to Amend GB 9685-2016 Standard for the Use of Additives in Food Contact Materials and Articles

• China to Revise GB 25596 General Rules of Infant Formula for Special Medical Purposes

• China to Revise the GB Standards for Complementary Baby Food

• China Customs Rejected 162 Batches of Imported Food in January 2023, Including Milk Powder & Probiotics

• Taiwan Amends the Residue Limits of 19 pesticides in Foods

• Taiwan Bans the Use of Eucalyptus Globulus as Food Raw Materials

• Macao Amends the Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food

• Macao Proposes to Formulate Standards of Use of Food Additives in Food

South Korea 

On February 14, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published the latest version of Food Additive Code, modifying the allowable usage limit of Methyl Cellulose, the standard of enzyme, and synthetic flavoring substance list. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Introduces Differential Registration Scheme for Foreign Food Facility

• South Korea Updates Health Functional Food Code, Enhancing Material Safety Standard

• South Korea Revises Food Code, Modifying the Preservation and Distribution Standards and the Definitions of Food Types

• South Korea Updates the Method and Standard of On-site Inspection of Foreign Food Facilities and Foreign Establishments

• South Korea Modifies the Imported Foods Subject to Inspection Order

• South Korea Updates the Health Functional Food Labeling Standard

• South Korea Amends the Regulation on Declaration and Inspections of Imported Livestock Products

• South Korea to Approve GM Microorganisms Used as Food Material

Japan 

On February 14, 2023, Japan MHLW released an amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc., revising the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for seven pesticides. They are acynonapyr, trifloxystrobin, fenarimol, fenpyrazamine, fluxametamide, flonicamid, and penthiopyrad. A one-year transition period for the MRLs of the above seven pesticides in some foods was given. During the transition period, the previous standards are still applicable. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan Publicly Solicits Opinions on the Evaluation of Five Substances

• Japan to Amend the MRLs for Seven Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Food

• Japan Updates the List of Countries Whose Sanitary Certificates are Acceptable

Southeast Asia 

On February 7, 2023, Indonesia BPOM ratified Types of Microorganisms that Can be Used in Processed Foods, which includes 16 kinds of probiotic microorganisms, such as Bacillus coagulans, Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, etc. It specifies that the listed microorganisms can be used in all processed foods excluding processed food for special nutritional purposes (PKGK). Besides, it sets the minimum total number of microorganisms as 1 x 10⁶ CFU/g or CFU/ml. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Singapore Updates the List of New Farms and Establishments Approved to Export to Singapore

• Singapore Proposes Microbiological Standards for Non-ready-to-eat Food

• Singapore to Extend Nutri-Grade Labelling Requirements and Advertising Prohibitions to Freshly Prepared Beverages

India 

On February 27, 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued the revised guidelines for submission of applications for endorsement of vegan logo. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in India:

• India Announces to Scrutinise All Licences Granted for Non-carbonated Water-based Beverage Under the Relevant Standards

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Application for Vegan Logo Endorsement

EU 

European Chemicals Agency unveiled a restriction proposal on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) on February 7, 2023. PFASs are persistent substances, also named "forever chemicals", which will lead to irreversible environmental exposure and accumulation. The restriction proposal on PFAS is the broadest restriction proposal in EU's history, covering roughly 10,000 PFASs and food contact material (FCM) sector. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in EU:

• Amending Maximum Residue Levels for Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam in or on Certain Products

• EU Releases an Initiative that Composite Products from Cereals can Be Exempted from Checks at EU Borders

• WTO Notification: a) Proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste; b) Extending the List of Shelf-stable Composite Products Exempted from Official Controls at Border Control Posts

• WTO Notification on Pesticide Residues: a) G/SPS/N/EU/615; b) G/SPS/N/EU/616; c) G/SPS/N/EU/617; d) G/SPS/N/EU/618

• EFSA: a) Report for 2021 Regarding the Monitoring of Veterinary Medicinal Product Residues and Other Substances in Live Animals and Animal Products; b) Pesticide Active Substances that Do not Require a Review of the Existing Maximum Residue Levels; c) Re-evaluation of Locust Bean Gum (E 410) as a Food Additive in Foods for Infants and Follow-up of Its Re-evaluation in Foods for All Population Groups

UK 

As revealed by two WTO notifications, UK is amending the Great Britain (GB) MRL Statutory Register (not applicable to Ireland) by proposing the maximum residue levels for thiram and mefentrifluconazole in certain foods.

More regulation highlights in UK:

• The Food Supplements and Food for Specific Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2023

• The Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

• Summary of Responses to Call for Evidence on Environmental Plastic for Use as Food Contact Materials

• Consultation on Applications for Eight Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for Food and Feed Uses and for the Change of Authorisation Holder for Fifty-one Authorised GMOs: Summary of Stakeholder Responses

America 

On February 22, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements: Guidance for Industry for public comment. According to the Guidance, FDA recommended using voluntary nutrient statements to label PBMA products labeled with the term "milk" in their names. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

• U.S. Revises the Residue Limits for Three Substances in a Variety of Food Products

• FDA Proposes the Draft of Procedures for the Safe Processing and Importing of Fish and Fishery Products

• U.S. Plans to Revise the Regulation for Cured or Cooked Meat from Regions Where Foot-and-mouth Disease Exist

• FDA Proposes to Repeal the Use of FD&C Red No. 3 Color Additive in Foods and Drugs

• U.S. Moves to Change Color Additive Regulations

Canada 

In February of 2023, Health Canada approved the use of two food enzymes from new sources, namely, lactase from Bacillus subtilis DH617, and subtilisin from Bacillus licheniformis PP6107. Besides, the use of erythritol as a sweetener and the use of acetic acid as a food additive have been extended. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada Proposes MRLs for 11 Pesticides in Agricultural Products, Including Pyriproxyfen, Fluazinam, Pendimethalin, S‑Metolachlor, Benoxacor, Oxathiapiprolin, Teflubenzuron, Carfentrazone-ethyl, Benzovindiflupyr, Abamectin, Cyantraniliprole

Australia and New Zealand 

As revealed by Notification Circular 230-23 issued on February 8, 2023, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) opened three new food additives for public feedback. Any comments can be sent back before March 22, 2033.

The substances under consultation are:

• alpha-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) as a processing aid for grain processing and potable alcohol production

• endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8), sourced from a genetically modified (GM) strain of Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei), as a processing aid for brewing, fats and oils processing, grain processing and potable alcohol production

• carboxypeptidase enzyme (EC 3.4.16.6), sourced from genetically modified (GM) Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae), as a new processing aid for the manufacture and/or processing of proteins, yeast and flavourings, the manufacture of bakery products as well as brewing

In addition, on February 16, FSANZ announced the approval of Application A1252, allowing the use of a protein engineered variant of the enzyme glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) sourced from a GM strain of Aspergillus niger. It serves as a processing aid in the manufacture of bakery products; brewing; and starch processing for the production of starch hydrolysates.

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia and New Zealand Approve the Use of Bovine Lactoferrin in Infant Formula Products

• FSANZ Receives the Application of Permitting Cultured Quail as A Novel Food

To ensure the timely responding to the regulation changes and updates, also to avoid the negative impact on food market access and business operation, it is highly recommended to contact us for customized risk alert & monitoring report service, which allows you to track the regulation dynamics for the certain food categories and certain markets. You may click the sample of regulatory monitoring report for more details.