Global Food Regulation Highlights | June 2026

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 June 2026 below.

China

China Drafts 2026 National Food Safety Standard Legislative Plan, Involving Food Additives, and FCM

On June 15, 2026, China's National Health Commission (NHC) released the official version of the 2025 National Food Safety Standard Legislative Plan. A total of 45 food standards are listed in the plan, including 24 standards to be formulated and 21standards to be revised. These standards span a wide range of areas, including food products, additives, testing methods, food contact materials, and more.

More highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• China MARA Releases Regulations on Fermented Feed Management

• China's New Chemical Rules to Impact Food & Feed Ingredients

• China MARA Greatly Updates the Catalogue of Feed Raw Materials

• 2026 China Customs Rejection Data: 706 Batches of Imported Food in May

Highlights in other areas of China:

• Hong Kong Proposes Updates to Sweetener Requirements for Foods

• [Updated] Taiwan Food Ingredients Updates in 2026

South Korea

South Korea Introduces Comprehensive Revisions to Health Functional Food Code

On June 11, 2026, South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued MFDS Notice No. 2026-43, announcing a partial amendment to the Health Functional Food Code. The revisions introduce new approved nutrient sources, revise safety, functionality, and manufacturing standards for several functional raw materials, and establish stricter quality control measures to prevent consumer deception.

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea to Amend Standards for Recycled PET Used in Food Containers

• South Korea Releases the Manual on Import Tolerances Application for Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Imported Foods

• South Korea Proposes Labeling Requirements for General Foods in Capsule and Tablet Forms

• South Korea Drafts Food Code Updates on Cell-Cultured Processed Foods and Other Safety Standards

• South Korea Drafts New Provisions to Prohibit the Use of Pharmaceutical Names in Food Labeling and Marketing

Japan

Japan Partially Revises Q&A on the Positive List System for FCM

On June 5, 2026, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan issued a notification, regarding the partial revision of the "Q&A on the Positive List System for Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging." In this revision, detailed judgment criteria for the interiors of freezers and refrigerators were added to Q12, which addresses the applicable scope of the positive list. Additionally, Q40 regarding recycled materials was deleted and transferred to a separate "Q&A on Recycling Guidelines." The pre-revision 2025 administrative notice has been abolished as of today.

Southeast Asia

Philippines FDA Upgrades Food Registration with New eServices

On June 5, 2026, the Philippines FDA issued FDA Circular No. 2026-0002 on the use of the new eServices System for registering processed food products. The circular replaces the existing ePortal and applies to all processed and pre-packaged food products for the Philippine market, with an exemption for locally manufactured milk and dairy products under the National Dairy Authority. It sets out procedures for initial registration and related applications, changes the access method to the company email address with OTP verification, removes the requirement to submit physical product samples for Food and Dietary Supplements, and specifies updated COA, stability, safety, and claim substantiation requirements. Pending applications filed through the old ePortal will continue to be processed there, while renewals and amendments for old ePortal registrations must be re-filed as new initial applications in the eServices System.

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Indonesia Releases New Draft Amendment on the Importation of Food and Health Supplements

• Indonesia Overhauls Nutrition Labeling Regulation with Mandatory Nutri-Level Labeling

• Indonesia Proposes Amendments to Processed Food Registration Regulation

• Indonesia Clarifies Food Scope of Mandatory Halal Certification

• Indonesia BPOM Drafts Updated Recall Rules for Health Supplements

• Malaysia Proposes Amendments to Food Regulations 1985

• Malaysia Gazettes Food (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2026

• Malaysia NPRA Updates Limits of Use and Safety Information for Caffeine in Pharmaceutical Products

• Malaysia NPRA Mandates Warning Statements for Products Containing Vitamin B6

• Malaysia Amends Food Hygiene Regulations Regarding Low Acid Canned Food

• WTO Notification: Malaysia Proposes Amendments to Food Regulations for Sugars, Sweetening Substances, and Creamers

• Thailand Updates Healthier Choice Logo Nutritional Criteria

• Thailand Issues Comprehensive New Alcohol Control Regulations, involving the Restricted Sales Places and Sales Hours

• Thailand Consults on Draft Regulation for Veterinary Drug Residues in Food

• Thailand Proposes Strict Marketing Ban on High in Fat, Sugar, and Sodium Foods Targeting Children

• Thailand Proposes Revisions to Food Additive Regulation

• Thailand Opens Public Consultation on Updated Food Flavoring and Flavoring Agent Regulation

• Vietnam Drafts 15 TCVN Standards for Food Testing and Quality Control

• Vietnam Updates Health Supplement Administrative Procedures

• Vietnam's Consolidated Document No. 67/VBHN-BNNMT on Regulations on Quarantine of Terrestrial Animals and Animal Products

• Vietnam's Consolidated Document No. 41/VBHN-BCT Consolidating the Circular on Management of E-commerce Websites

• Vietnam MOH Drafts Risk-Based Food Safety Lists

• Vietnam Issues New List of Imported Food and Beverages (with HS Codes) Subject to Safety Inspection of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

• Vietnam's Circular No. 31/2026/TT-BCT: Regulations on Traceability of Products and Goods Under the Management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

South Asia

India Finalizes Regulations and Official Logo for Vegan Foods

On June 3, 2026, India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) published the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Amendment Regulations, 2026. The amendment requires vegan food packages to display the official vegan logo after approval and sets detailed specifications for the logo's design, including precise millimeter measurements for its elements and standardized CMYK color values. The amendments will come into effect on July 1, 2027.

More regulation highlights in South Asia:

• Bangladesh Proposes a Draft Revision of Standards for Non-Carbonated Beverages

• Bangladesh BSTI Drafts Revised Standard for Artificial Flavoured Drinks

• Bangladesh Issues Revised Regulations on Mandatory Certification Marks for Sauce, Tomato Paste, Vinegar, Ketchup, and Soft Candy

• India Updates the List of Recognized Laboratories for Food Testing

• FSSAI Withdraws Method for Determining Fruit Content in Juices

• FSSAI Amends Regulations on Record-Keeping and Stock Rotation for Food Businesses

European Union (EU)

EU Amends Novel Food Regulations to Authorize Rhamnogalacturonan-I Enriched Carrot Extract and Inulin-Propionate Ester, and Amend the Use Condition and Specification of Jatropha curcas L. (edible variety) kernels

On June 10 and 12, 2026, the EU amended its Union List of Novel Foods to authorize the market placement of rhamnogalacturonan-I enriched carrot extract and inulin-propionate ester. Both novel foods were granted a five-year data protection period exclusively for their initial applicants. On June 24, the EU amended the conditions of use and the specifications of the novel food Jatropha curcas L. (edible variety) kernels.

More regulation highlights in European Union (EU):

• EU Amends Regulation on Protein-Related Requirements for Infant and Follow-On Formula

• The European Union Amends Maximum Residue Levels for Certain Pesticides in Food and Feed Products, Including 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, Chlormequat, Metribuzin, Metribuzin-desamino-diketo (Metribuzin-DADK), Terbuthylazine and Triclopyr

• European Union Corrects Regulation on Maximum Residue Levels for Fenpyrazamine in Certain Products

• European Union Proposes to Lower Maximum Residue Levels for Eight Pesticides in Meat and Cereals

United States (US)

New York State Lowers Action Level for Lead in Spices by 40%

On June 5, 2026, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced a new action level for lead in certain consumer spices. The acceptable lead threshold was lowered by 40% to 0.6 ppm, covering curry, dill seed, dried basil leaves, dried non-bell pepper, nutmeg, sesame seed, and turmeric. The new limit will take effect on January 1, 2028.

More regulation highlights in United States (US):

• The FDA Filed a Petition Proposing to Amend Food Additive Regulations to Provide for the Safe Use of Ionizing Radiation for the Reduction of Pathogens in Raw Enriched Wheat Flour

• The FDA Releases Updated 2026 Human Foods Program Guidance Agenda with Topics on Caffeine Labeling, Healthy Claim and Food Product Category Updates

• Texas Prohibits the Sale and Distribution of Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedrine Group Alkaloids

Canada

Canada Seeks Comments on New Food Microbiological Standards

On June 11, 2026, Health Canada released a proposal to update microbiological criteria for foods under a two-phase revision process. Phase 1 covers chocolate and cocoa products, dairy product powders, infant cereal, powdered infant formula, nuts, seeds and their products, spices and dried aromatic herbs, prepackaged ice, and prepackaged water. The proposal would revise the Table of Microbiological Criteria for Food and the Table of Microbiological Reference Methods for Food, add a new draft guidance document titled Microbiological Guidelines for Food, and introduce updated or new requirements for Salmonella, Cronobacter, Escherichia coli, Coliforms, Aerobic Colony Count, and Enterobacteriaceae. Health Canada also proposes adding ISO 22964 as a reference method for Cronobacter spp. Comments are invited until August 25, 2026, and the revised tables would take effect three months after the final Notice of Modification is published.

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada Updates Food Labeling and Advertising Regulations

• Canada Finalizes Maximum Residue Limits for the Pesticide Fluoxapiprolin

South America

Brazil ANVISA Updates Food Additive and Processing Aid Lists

On June 12, 2026, ANVISA published Normative Instruction No. 452 of June 10, 2026, amending Brazil's positive lists of authorized food additives and processing aids. The rule updates functions, maximum limits, and conditions of use for several substances in bakery products, food supplements, canned vegetables, dietary and weight control foods, and other food ingredients. It also adds new authorized substances and revises processing aid provisions, including lecithin as a lubricant, release agent, and molding aid. The regulation entered into force on the date of publication.

More regulation highlights in South America:

• Brazil Updates Food Supplement Rules on Probiotics, Labeling and Claims

• Brazil Amends Rules for Infant Formula Ingredients and Probiotics

Middle East

GCC Drafts English Version of GSO 2235 Requirements of Nutritional Labeling

On June 8, 2026, the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) released an initial English draft of GSO 2233:2025, Requirements of Nutritional Labeling, for public consultation until September 6, 2026. The draft sets updated nutrition labeling requirements for prepackaged foods across GCC member states. It applies to most prepackaged foods and exempts fresh uncooked products, immediate-consumption foods, single-ingredient foods, very small packages, and foods for special dietary uses. The standard requires mandatory declaration of nutrients such as energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total sugars, and added sugars, and adds rules for %DV, NRVs, label formatting, rounding, and tolerance limits.

More regulation highlights in Middle East:

• GCC Proposes New Standard on Food Product Recall Requirements