Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 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 March of 2023 below: 

China 

On March 8, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) proposed the consultation draft of national food safety standard legislation plan for 2023. A total of 39 food standards are listed in the proposed plan, including 17 standards to be formulated and 22 standards to be revised. These standards cover food additives, food testing methods, microbial testing methods, foods for special dietary use, contaminant limits and food-related products. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in China:

• NHC Newly Approves 16 New Food Additives

• NHC Newly Proposes Three Food Ingredients

• NHC Newly Proposes Two FCM Additives and One Resin

• China Issues an Enforcement Guidance on the Use of Absolute Terms in Advertising

• China Introduces New Regulations for Internet Advertising, Involving Health Food and Food for Special Medical Purposes

• China Customs Rejected 156 Batches of Imported Food in February 2023

• China Updates Measures on Metrological Supervision and Administration of Quantitatively Packed Commodities

• Taiwan to Revise Standards for Specification, Scope, Application and Limitation of Food Additives

• Macao Solicits Public Opinions on Standards of Use of Food Additives in Food

South Korea 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) proposed amendments to the Regulation on Inspection of Imported Food on March 2, 2023, for public opinions. Stakeholders can send suggestions to MFDS before May 1, 2023. The exposure draft introduces the fast customs clearance procedure of imported raw materials for manufacturing food products. Additionally, the import inspection procedure for large quantities of agricultural products imported by bulk ships is to be simplified. Moreover, the residual pesticide inspection items are proposed to be expended. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Optimizes the Regulation of General Food with Functional Claims

• South Korea Modifies the Enforcement Rule of Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act

• South Korea Consults on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, HACCP of Food and Livestock

• South Korea Introduces the Ginsenoside Standard for Black Ginseng

• South Korea Modifies the Regulations on Inspection of Imported Health Functional Food

Japan 

On March 6, 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan released a revised draft of the Positive List of Substances Allowed for Food Contact Utensils, Containers and Packaging. According to the draft, MHLW newly published the 20230306 New Draft of Table 2, which contains the additives for food contact materials included as of March 6, 2023. Besides, MHLW issued 20230306 New Draft of Table 1, containing base materials compiled by March 6, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan Solicits Opinions on the Evaluation of Six Food Safety-related Substances

• Japan Adds Walnuts as a Mandatory Labeling Item for Food Allergies

• Japan Proposes to Revise Labeling Requirements for Food for Special Dietary Uses

• Japan Revises the Residue Limits of Nine Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Food

Southeast Asia 

On March 13, 2023, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced the introduction of a new set of pre-import control measures for infant cereal products as a voluntary scheme with effect from 27 March 2023. SFA also provides the template supplier verification checklist and supplier registration form. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Vietnam Drafts the List of Objects for Plant Quarantine

• Philippines Proposes Product Standard for Fresh Chilled and Fresh Frozen Crabs and Cephalopods

• Indonesia Updates Regulations Regarding Implementation of Food Safety Risk Management Programs in Processed Food Production Facilities

India 

On March 7, 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requested to carry out a special enforcement drive to check the quality and safety of the nutraceuticals and health supplement products. This is a result of complaints that many health supplements being sold in the markets do not adhere to the requirements of the food standards. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in India:

• India Orders to Ensure Timely Clearance of Imported Consignments of Food Grains Including Pulses and Crude Oil

EU 

On March 22, 2023, EU proposed a directive on green claims. According to the proposal, when companies choose to make a green claim (excluding Ecolabel and organic food logo) about their products, they will have to meet the minimum norms on how they substantiate these claims. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU Authorizes the Food Additive "Glucosylated Steviol Glycosides" (E 960d) as a Sweetener in the Food Categories; the Use of Carbomer in Food Supplements

• EU Amends the Maximum Levels of Arsenic in Certain Foods

• EU Includes 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde in the Union List of Flavourings

• EU Allows the Use of Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride as a Source of Niacin in Food for Special Medical Purposes and Total Diet Replacement for Weight Control

• EU Amends the Protein Requirements for Infant and Follow-on Formula Manufactured from Protein Hydrolysates

• EU Authorizes a Health Claim Made on Foods and Referring to the Reduction of Disease Risk

• Newly Authorized Placing on the Market: A) Bovine Milk Osteopontin as a Novel Food; B) Products Containing, Consisting of or Produced from Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape; C) Canarium Indicum L. Dried Nuts; D) Roasted and Popped Kernels from the Seeds of Euryale Ferox Salisb. (Makhana)

• MRL updates: A) Recommended MRL for Toltrazuril in Poultry Eggs; B) Amening the MRL for Pyridaben, Pyridate, Pyriproxyfen and Triclopyr in or on Certain Products; C) EFSA Opinions on MRLs for Oxamyl, Bifenthrin, Metaldehyde, Pendimethalin, Thiacloprid, Cypermethrins, and Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons in Food; D) WTO Notification G/SPS/N/EU/581/Add.1, G/SPS/N/EU/597/Add.1 and G/SPS/N/EU/582/Add.1

• WTO Notification: A) Non-allowed Pharmacologically Active Substances; B) the Use of Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate (E 476) and the Specifications for Glycerol (E 422), Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids (E 475) and Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate (E 476)

• 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 

On March 27, 2023, the Food Standards Agency announced to seek opinions regarding the application of precautionary allergen labeling (PAL). It is proposed to specify which of the 14 major allergens enterprises' PAL refers to, e.g. using "may contain peanuts" instead of the generic description "may contain nuts". (Read More)

More regulation highlights in UK:

• Amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation

• FSA Releases a Guideline for tthe Development of New Biobased Food Contact Materials

• The Food Additives, Food Flavourings and Novel Foods (Authorisations) (England) Regulations 2023

• The Genetically Modified Food and Feed (Authorisations and Modifications of Authorisations) (England) Regulations 2023

• The Alcoholic Beverages (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023

• Consultation on Applications for Miscellaneous Regulated Products: Two Novel Foods, One Flavouring and One Food Additive: Summary of Responses

• WTO Notification: New Temporary Maximum Residue Levels for Chlormequat in Cultivated Fungi Amending  the  GB  MRL  Statutory  Register; New GB MRL for Lambda Cyhalothrin in Avocados

America 

On March 8, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a national strategy, aiming to increase resiliency of the safe, nutritious infant formula market and supply. This strategic action includes, but is not limited to: 

1. Ensure industry understands the requirements for developing and implementing a redundancy risk management plan;

2. Continue to strengthen inspections of infant formula manufacturers;

3. Expedite review of premarket submissions for new infant formula products to alleviate or prevent shortages;

4. Continue to monitor infant formula supplies and develop predictive models;

5. Strengthen and leverage FDA's partnerships with health care providers and professionals, especially infant care professionals, to further expand the agency's consumer education programs. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

• U.S. Adds Sesame as A Major Food Allergen for Labeling of Infant Formula

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

• FDA Releases the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Directory

• U.S. to Implement the Prior Notification Requirements for Imported Food

Canada 

In March of 2023, Canada modified the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to enable the use of transglutaminase from Streptomyces mobaraensis M2020197 and β-amylase from Bacillus flexus AE-BAF. Besides, Canada proposed to amend the regulations on the use of aluminum-containing food additives. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada to Revoke the MRLs for Pyrethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide

• Canada Proposes MRLs for Mefentrifluconazole and Prothioconazole

• Canada Consults on Proposed Guidance for Residual Solvents in Technical Grade Active Ingredients

• Canada Notifies WTO the Established MRL for Pyrifluquinazon

• Nestlé Infant Formula Recalled in the US and Canada for Potential Microbial Contamination

Australia and New Zealand 

On March 9, 2023, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) proposed to permit the use of a new food additive, that is, alpha-glucosidase from Trichoderma reesei containing the alpha-glucosidase gene from Aspergillus niger as a processing aid in brewing. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• FSANZ Receives the Application of Pullulanase from Bacillus Subtilis as a Processing Aid

• FSANZ Acceptes the Application of Food Derived from Herbicide-tolerant and Insect-protected Corn Line DP51291: T

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 | February 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2023