Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 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 February 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

On February 19, 224, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration promulgated the revised Regulations on Nutrition Claim for Prepackaged Food Products. Notably, the updated Regulations introduces more nutrients and content requirements for claims such as "high" and "rich in". Provisions in the Regulations took effect immediately upon promulgation, except for Paragraphs 1 and 4 of point 4, Point 5 and point 6, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• CFSA Consults on One New FCM Resin Applied in Paintings and Coatings

• China Consults on Filing Requirements for Health Food Added with Ginseng, American Ginseng, and Lingzhi

• China Consults on 12 GB/T Standards for the Determination of Ingredients in Health Food

• China Consults on the Group Standard for Electrolyte Drink

• SAMR Consults on the List of No Punishments for First Violation of Food Safety Law and No Punishments for Minor Violations

• China Updates the Catalogue of Animals and Their Products Prohibited from Importing from Animal Epidemic Countries/Regions

• GACC Revokes Registration Qualification of an Overseas Enterprise Behind a Popular Beverage

Regulation highlights in other areas of China:

• Macau Unveils the Food Additives Usage Standard in Food

• Taiwan to Establish Usage Restrictions for 33 Food Raw Materials

• Taiwan Revises Test Methods of Food Additive Specifications, Involving Fast Green Fcf (Food Green No. 3), Erythrosine (Food Red No.7) and Calcium Citrate

• Taiwan Implements the Evaluation Method for the Health Benefit of Iron-Regulating in Health Food

• Urgent Sealing and Recall of Imported Chili Powder and Associated Products Containing Carcinogenic Sudan III

South Korea

On February 19, 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced its "2024 Major Policy Implementation Plan". MFDS intends to expand the application scope of the 24-hour electronic screening for imported food (SAFE-24) to all imported food items in 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Consults on the Labeling Standard for Indicating Quantity Changes

• South Korea Consults on the Standards and Specifications of the Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging
  

• South Korea Modifies the Food Sanitation Act, Establishing Legal Basis for Administrative Penalties Regarding Food Recognitions

• South Korea Specifies the Standard of Recognizing Food's Temporary Standard and Specification for Cell-cultured Food Ingredient

• South Korea Amends the Food Traceability Management Standard, Extend Food Information Report Period from 2 to 5 Days

• MFDS Prolongs the Inspection Period for Imported Natural Spice

Japan

On February 6, 2024, Japan Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) unveiled Amendment No. 752 for the Food Labeling Standard with immediate effect. According to the amendment, due to the revision of Japan's Specifications and Standards for Food Additives, the labeling names of additives and allergens have been updated accordingly. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan Introduces Updated Standards for Food Additives

• Japan Updates the Specifications and Standards for Food Additives (10th Edition)

• Japan Publicly Solicits Opinions on the Evaluation of Five Food Safety-related Substances, Covering Food Additive, Pesticide and GMO

Southeast Asia 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in Vietnam announced the official operation of Vietnam’s National EPR Web Portal in January 2024. On February 20, 2024, the authority publicized a video tutorial to help enterprises complete the EPR obligations. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Indonesia BPJPH Urges Business Actors to Immediately Obtain Halal Certification

• Philippines to Enhance the Management and Conduct of Product Recalls for Prepackaged Processed Food

• Philippines to Update the Rules Requirements and Procedures in the Application for License to Operate of Covered Health Product Establishments

• Thailand Proposes to Revise the MOPH Notifications for Drinking Water, Beverage and Ice

• Vietnam Promulgates Lists of HS Codes for Imported Products Subject to Specialized Inspection in the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector

• Vietnam Issues Draft Circular Promulgating the List of Objects Subject to Phytosanitary; List of Objects Subject to Phytosanitary Analysis Before Being Imported into Vietnam

• Vietnam Publishes the List of Qualified Organizations for EPR Recycling of Products and Packaging

• Malaysia Issues a Directive Regarding Amendments to the Process of Approving the Application for Clinical Trial Import License (CTIL) and Permission to Manufacture Unregistered Products For Clinical Trial Purposes (CTX) Involving First-in-Human (FIH) Clinical Trials
  

European Union (EU) 

On February 9, 2024, the European Union (EU) proposed a ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and certain other bisphenols in food contact materials. This proposal is important for enterprises involved in FCMs, as BPA is widely used in plastic and resin within these industries. Moreover, the prohibition of BPA represents a significant departure from conventional chemical practices. Feedback can be submitted prior to March 8, 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU to Amend Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers, Regarding Behenic Acid from Mustard Seeds to be Used in the Manufacturing of Certain Emulsifier

• EU Amends Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides in or on Food: G/SPS/N/EU/715 (Draft), Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/451, and Draft Regulation - Ares(2024)1390795

• EU Amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, Affecting the Temporary Official Controls and Measures for Certain Imported Goods

• EU Amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 Laying down the List of Third Countries Regarding Permitted Animals, Germinal Products and Products of Animal Origin

• EU Amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 Concerning the Establishment of Frequency Rates for Identity Checks and Physical Checks on Consignments of Plants, Plant Products and Other Objects Entering the Union
  

United States (US)

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), grease-proofing substances containing Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are no longer sold for food contact use in the U.S. market since February 28, 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

• FDA Releases Guidance on Voluntary Premarket Engagement for Foods Derived from Plants Produced Using Genome Editing

• US Specifies the Triclopyr's Tolerance for Residues in Sugarcane and Cane as 0.04 Parts per Million

Canada 

On February 28, 2024, Canada announced to modify the List of Permitted Food Enzymes with immediate effect. This modification authorizs the use of maltotetraohydrolase from Bacillus licheniformis GICC03548 in bread, flour, whole wheat flour and unstandardized bakery products. The requested maximum level of use for this food enzyme is Good Manufacturing Practice. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada Proposes MRLs for Cloquintocet-mexyl in Agricultural Food Products

• Canada Proposes MRLs for Pyroxsulam in Agricultural Food Products
  

Australia and New Zealand 

On February 19, 2024, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) of Australia issued an import food notice in order to highlight the implementation of allergen labeling requirements. From February 25, 2024, food must meet the new requirements outlined in Standard 1.2.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Food items that were packaged and labeled prior to February 25, 2024, which do not declare allergens in the new required format, can still be sold for another two years (until 25 February 2026). (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia and New Zealand Release Consultation on Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991

• Australia Introduces a New Standard Import Permit for Fish Oil

• FSANZ Invites Submissions on Increase the Maximum Energy Level for Machines Generating X-rays Used to Irradiate Food

• FSANZ Publishes Amendment No. 226 to Amend the Food Standards Code, Involving Food Derived from Corn Line DP51291, and Maximum Residue Limits
  

• FSANZ Calls for Comments on 2′-FL from GM Corynebacterium Glutamicum in Infant Formula Products
  

• FSANZ Approves 4 Applications, Including Food Derived from Disease-resistant Banana Line QCAV-4, Food Derived from Herbicide-tolerant and Insect-protected Corn Line DP915635, Beta-Fructofuranosidase from GM Trichoderma Reesei as a Processing Aid,  and Cellulase from GM Aspergillus Niger as a Processing Aid

Recommended reading:

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2024

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