Global Food Regulation Highlights | July 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 July of 2023 below:

China 

On July 10, 2023, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) unveiled the updated Administrative Measures for Registration of Infant and Young Children Milk Powder Formula Recipes, replacing the 2016 version. Major revisions include the definition of situations not approved for registration, labels, on-site inspection requirements, and measures to optimize business environment. The new version will come into force on October 1, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in China:

• China Seeks Comments on National Food Safety Standards Legislation Plan for 2024

• China Consults on Four Supporting Documents for Using the Latest Approved Raw Materials of Health Food

• China Responds to Aspartame Sweetener Being Declared as Possibly Carcinogenic

• GACC Issues Facilitation Measures for 2023 China International Import Expo

• China Consults on MRLs for 57 Varieties of Pesticides in Foods

• SAMR Unveils Measures for the Supervision and Administration of the Quality and Safety of Edible Agricultural Products Marketed

• China Approves Two New Feed Additives and Expands Feed Raw Material Catalogue

• Taiwan FDA Amends Standards for Veterinary Drug Residue Limits in Foods

• Taiwan FDA Proposes Use Restrictions for Eight Food Raw Materials

South Korea 

On July 3, 2023, MFDS published a notification to further crack down on food raw materials and ingredients that cannot be imported to South Korea via CBEC. The blacklist includes 139 medicinal ingredients and herbal medicines, such as melatonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and myrrh, and 134 kinds of raw materials and ingredients that cannot be used in food. Until now, 282 raw materials and ingredients are designated as food raw materials and ingredients that cannot be imported to South Korea via overseas online platforms. For the complete list of 273 prohibited raw materials and ingredients, please click the link. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• HACCP Certificates Can Be Issued Online in South Korea after June 2023

• South Korea to Revise Food Code: Food Materials and Maximum Residual Limits

• South Korea Consults on Health Functional Food Code

• [Updated] South Korea Revises Food Additive Code

• [Updated] South Korea Revises the Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act

• [Updated] South Korea Revises Health Functional Food Code

• South Korea Issues the Guideline on Test for Establishing Use-By Date of Foods, Livestock Products, and Health Functional Foods

• South Korea Publishes the Practical Guide for Pesticide Residue Testing Methods

• South Korea Releases the Guideline on Recalling the Risk Foods Recalling

Japan 

On July 26, 2023, Japan MHLW issued an amendment to Specifications and Standards for Food Additives. According to the amendment, Japan added Calcium Phytate as a new designated additive, and revised the scope of application for another designated food additive named Cupric Sulfate. The changes came into effect immediately. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• CAA Approves Two Food for Special Dietary Uses

• Japan Revises RMLs for Seven Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs

• Japan Proposes to Revise Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Food

• MHLW Approves One Food Additive Passing the Safety Review for Recombinant DNA Technology

• Japan Plans to Amend the Standard for Mineral Water

• MHLW Releases Draft Amendments to the Guidelines for Notification of Foods with Function Claims

Southeast Asia

On July 25, 2023, Malaysia National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) released the third edition, fifth revision of Drug Registration Guidance Document (DRGD), which came into effect on July 31. The new version brings new changes on health supplement registration. Compared to the previous version, the new version updates the requirements regards e-labeling, prohibited active ingredients, labeling requirements, inspection, licensing, etc. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Indonesia Issues New Regulation Regarding Supervision on Health Supplements Circulation

• Thailand Unveils the Standard for Cocoa Bean Products

• Maylasia to Revise Food Regulation 1985, Regarding 15 Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides and Standards of Packaged Drinking Water

• Vietnam Proposes Amendments to the National Technical Regulations on Animal Feed - Stipulating the Maximum Permissible Content of Mycotoxins, Heavy Metals and Microorganisms in Compound Feed for Livestock and Poultry (WTO Notification) 

India

On July 3, 2023, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released a notice for requesting public comments on 5 methods recently approved by the Scientific Panel on Methods of Sampling & Analysis. Any feedback shall be submitted within 30 days from July 3, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in India:

• FSSAI Issues Direction Regarding Extension of Time-Period for the Compliance of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) 2020

• FSSAI Issues Direction Regarding Enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022

• FSSAI Revises Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to Vegan Logo Endorsement Applications

• FSSAI Issues Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods – Fish and Fish Products

• FSSAI Issues Manual of Methods of Analysis- Beverages: Tea, Coffee & Chicory

EU

On July 11, 2023, EU amended the Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on authorized plastic food contact materials and articles (FCMs), their use requirements, and several group restrictions. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU Lifts the Fukushima Restrictions for Food from Japan

• Updated | EU’s Latest Amendment on Food Additive: Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (E 471)

• Amending the Maximum Residue Levels for Nicotine in Tea and Spices

• Proposed Amendment on the List of Products and Substances that May Be Used in Organic Production

• Proposal on Plants Obtained by Certain New Genomic Techniques and Their Food and Feed, and Amending Regulation

• Rejection of Certain Health Claims

• Revisions to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 Regarding the Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides in or on Certain Product (G/SPS/N/EU/651; G/SPS/N/EU/652; G/SPS/N/EU/653; G/SPS/N/EU/654)

• Amending the Food Additive Nitrites and Nitrates (G/SPS/N/EU/666)

UK

On July 28, 2023, UK opened the consultation on the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. Any opinions shall be submitted prior to October 9, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in UK:

• Amendments to Retained (EU) Regulation 2019/1793: Official Controls Applied to Imported High Risk Food and Feed not of Animal Origin

America

On July 26, 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new standards for vegetable oils, which went into effect immediately upon release. The contents including product standard, low-saturated-fat labeling, shelf life and product testing and quality analysis. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

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

• FDA Sets Fee Rates for Certain Domestic and Foreign Facility Reinspections, Importer Reinspections, and Recall Noncompliance in FY2024

• USDA Amends Official Grade-determining Factor for Soybeans

Canada

Starting from July 11, 2023, Health Canada has been seeking comments on a proposal to amend the List of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Veterinary Drugs in Foods, which sets out the level of residue that is allowed to safely remain in the tissue or food product derived from a food-producing animal that has been treated with veterinary drugs. The proposal includes two parts, namely, new MRLs and revisions to existing MRLs. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada Initiates Consultation on Origin Labelling of Imported Foods from a Contested Territory

• Canada Seeks Feedbacks on Strategy for Modernizing Food Compositional Standards

• Canada Proposed to Permit Vitamin D Fortification of Yogurt and Kefir

• Canada Proposes Two New Livestock Feed Ingredients Named Fumonisin esterase and Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil

• Canada Proposes the MRLs for Four Pesticides in Food, Including Bromoxynil, Saflufenacil, Rimsulfuron, and Azoxystrobin

Australia and New Zealand

On July 25, 2023, the Therapeutic Products Bill received royal assent in parliament, officially becoming law. This new act will establish the first comprehensive, risk-proportionate regulations in New Zealand for natural health products (NHPs) such as vitamin and mineral supplements. It represents a major development for the NHP industry. The act will replace the Medicines Act 1981 and Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985. All provisions of the new law are set to take effect by September 1, 2026. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• MPI Issues Draft for Importing Fresh Pineapples for Human Consumption

• New Pregnancy Warning Label Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages in Australia and New Zealand Starting July 31, 2023

• FSANZ Calls for Submission on Permitting Fructanase from GM Trichoderma Reesei as A Processing Aid

• Importers in New Zealand Shall Carry Out Simulated Recalls from July 1, 2023

• FSANZ Amends the Food Standard Code, Mainly Involving Maximum Residue Limits

• FSANZ Calls for Submissions on Proposal P1049 to Clarify Carbohydrate and Sugar Claims on Alcoholic Beverages

• FSANZ Open for Comments for Nutrition and Health Claims in Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods

• MPI Issues Importation and Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand

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.

More Editions of Global Food Regulation Highlights in 2023：

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | June 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | April 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2023