Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2025

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 March 2025 below.

China

On March 27, 2025, China unveils 50 new GB standards and 9 amendment sheets, involving:

• GB 7718-2025 General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (Read more)

• GB 28050-2025 General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (Read more)

• GB 19302-2025 Fermented Milk & GB 19646-2025 Cream, Butter and Anhydrous Milk Fat (Read more)

• GB 25596-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Rules of Infant Formula Foods for Special Medical Purposes (Read more)

• GB 10769-2025 & GB 10770-2026 National Food Safety Standard Cereal-based & Canned Complementary Foods for Infants and Young Children (Read more)

• GB 9685-2016 Standard for Uses of Additives in Food Contact Materials and Articles (No.1 Amendment Sheet) (Read more)

On the same day, State Administration for Market Supervision (SAMR) released the Administrative Measures for Supervision of Food Labeling, complementing GB 7718-2025 to strengthen labeling oversight. (Read more)

More highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• CFSA Consulted on Three New Food-related Products; Four Food Raw Materials; Eight New Food Additives

• China Tightens Management of Raw and Auxiliary Materials for Infant Formula Milk Powder

• SAMR Releases Guidelines for Risk Prevention and Control of Bacillus cereus and Cronobacter for Infant Formula Production Enterprises

• China MARA Consults on the Catalogue of Feed Materials and Measures on Fermented Feed

• China Customs Rejection Data: 267 Batches of Imported Food in February

Highlights in other areas of China:

• Taiwan Consults on Principles for Safety Assessment of Novel Food Ingredients

• Taiwan Revises Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods

South Korea

On March 18, 2025, the South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced amendments to the Food Additive Code. The amendments took immediate effect, except for those related to Steviol Glycosides, Sulfur Dioxide, and Sulfur, which will be enforced starting January 1, 2026. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea to Amend the Enforcement Rules and Decree of the Imported Food Act, Refining Requirements for Importer Registration, Import Declarations, Etc.

• South Korea Updates Standards and Specifications for Nine Health Functional Food Ingredients

• South Korea Revises Enforcement Rules of the Health Functional Food Act, Specifying Regulatory Requirements for Customized Health Functional Food Sales Businesses

• South Korea Implements Automated Review System for Foreign Food Facility Registration Documents, Enhancing Accuracy and Efficiency

• South Korea Seeks Public Opinion on 91 Food and Drug Regulations Due for Review in 2025

Japan

On March 18, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released the Design Standards for PET Beverage Bottles (Draft), aiming to enhance environmental sustainability. Key requirements include specific design criteria for the bottle body, label, and cap, strict weight limits based on bottle type and capacity, and a mandate for at least 15% eco-friendly materials, such as JIS-certified recycled plastics or bio-based alternatives. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Centella Asiatica Extract Newly Notified for Functional Claims in Japan

• Japan Implements Survey on Existing Food Additives, Potential Delisting Considered

• Japan Revises Guidelines for Food Additive Approval

• Japan Revises the Food Labeling Standards

• Japan's Proposes to Revise MRLs for Three Pesticides

Southeast Asia

On March 31, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health issued a draft amendment to Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP: Detailing the Implementation of a Number of Articles of the Law on Food Safety. This follows the previous draft released on February 19, 2025, marking further progress in the regulatory update process. The most significant revision in the draft focuses on product declaration requirements, primarily adjusting the applicant scope, product scope and required dossiers. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Thailand Consults on Revised Nutrition Labeling Guidelines for GDA Formats

• Thailand Advances Regulatory Update for Probiotic Use in Food Products

• Thailand to Mandate Standard for Food-Contact Stainless Steel Containers and Utensils

• Indonesia Unveils BPOM Regulation on Guidelines for Stability Testing of Health Supplements

• Indonesia Releases Requirements for Quantitative Analysis Certificate of Maximum Limit of Food Additives Used in the Electronic Registration Process for Processed Foods

• Indonesia Proposes Regulation on Supervision of Processed Food Through Public Participation

• Philippines FDA Proposes Guidelines on the Recall of Authorized Health Products

India

On March 13, 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced increased surveillance on dairy analogues across all States and Union Territories (UTs) for the month of March 2025. This proactive measure aims to curb food adulteration and mislabeling, which tend to rise during the festive season due to heightened demand. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in India:

• FSSAI Consults on New Certificate Form of the Exporting Country on Vegan Food

• India CDSCO Bans Chloramphenicol and Nitrofurans in Food-Producing Animals
  

European Union (EU)

On March 28, 2025, the EU issued Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/581 amending Annexes II and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 as regards maximum residue levels for cycloxydim, dichlorprop-P, flupyradifurone, methyl nonyl ketone, plant oils/citronella oil, potassium sorbate and potassium phosphonate in or on certain products. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in the European Union:

• G/TBT/N/EU/1112—Draft Commission Regulation Refusing to Authorize a Health Claim Made on Foods, Regarding Citicoline (CDP- Choline) Inner Salt

• G/TBT/N/EU/1114—Draft Commission Regulation Refusing to Authorize a Health Claim Made on Foods, Regarding Joselito® Ham

• G/TBT/N/EU/1115—Draft Commission Regulation Amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Annex II to Directive 2002/46/EC Regards Monosodium Salt of L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid as a Source of Folic Acid Added to Foods and as a Source of Folate Used in the Manufacture of Food Supplement

• G/TBT/N/EU/1118—Draft Commission Implementing Regulation Authorizing a Health Claim Made on Foods, Regarding Green Kiwifruit (Actinidia Deliciosa “Hayward”)

• G/SPS/N/EU/843—Draft Commission Regulation Amending Annexes II and V to Regulation EC No 396 2005 as Regards Maximum Residue Levels for Benfluralin Benthiavalicarb and Penflufen in or on Certain Product

United States (US)

Canada

On March 7, 2025, Health Canada issued P-SIS-25-01, proposing to modify the List of Permitted Supplemental Ingredients. This proposed modification aims to change the use of caffeine as a supplemental ingredient. Stakeholders can send their comments to [email protected] by May 21, 2025.  (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Towards a pathway for health products containing cannabidiol

• Canada Proposes MRLs for Metaldehyde in Foods

• Canada Issues Exemption Order in Respect of Labelling Requirements for Certain Natural Health Products

• Canada Publishes Supplementary Rules Respecting the Sale of NHPs Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine

Australia and New Zealand

On March 4, 2025, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released a second call for submissions regarding its proposal to review permissions for caffeine in sports foods and the general food supply. FSANZ has proposed a 24-month transition period, during which food products may comply with either the current Code or the amended version once finalized. Any feedback can be submitted prior to April 15, 2025. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• TGA Updates Listed Medicine Ingredients in March 2025, Involving Health Supplements

• FSANZ Consults on Food Derived from Insect-protected Soybean Line COR23134 and  Insect-protected Corn Line MZIR260

• Australia Publishes Final Report for Biosecurity Risks Associated with Importing Dairy Products for Human Consumption

• Australian Border Force Releases Notice on Strengthening and Modernising the Customs Licensing Regime

• Australia Consults on Egg Food Safety and Primary Production Requirements

• FSANZ Consults on Chitosan and (1,3)-beta-glucans from White Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) as a Food Additive

Recommended reading:

• Hot topic: Global Food Regulation Highlights, 2020-2025

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2025

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2025