Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 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 May 2025 below.

China

On May 14, 2025, the National Health Commission (NHC) announced a public consultation on 28 national food safety standards and amendment sheets. These include one microbiological testing standards, two food product standards, twenty-four physical and chemical testing standards, and one standard for toxicological evaluation procedures and methods. Any comments can be submitted before June 14, 2025. (Read more)

More highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• China GACC Rejected 325 Batches of Imported Food in April 2025

• China NHC Approves Three New Food-related Products, Six New Food Additives, and Two New Food Raw Materials

• China State Council Launches Comprehensive Plan to Curb Food Additive Abuse

• China CFSA Consults on Two Food Raw Materials and Ten Food Additives

• China Plans to Amend Food Safety Law in 2025

• China Updates List of Animal-Origin Food and Feed Ingredients Banned from Import Due to Epidemic Outbreak
  

Highlights in other areas of China:

• Taiwan Amends Food Additives Regulation
  

• Taiwan Proposes Amendments to Inspection Regulations for Imported Foods

• Taiwan Updates Test Methods for Heavy Metals in Edible Fat, Oil, Cream, Chocolate and Cocoa Powder

South Korea

On May 29, 2025, the South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) proposed partial revisions to the Regulations on Functional Claims or Advertisements of Foods That Are Not Considered Unfair. The proposed revisions improve labeling requirements for functional claims and ingredient content, remove gut health functionality for fermented dairy products and restrict sweetener use in general foods claiming "Helps Control Blood Sugar". (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Proposes Amendments to Bottled Water Standards and Labeling Requirements

• South Korea Eases Imported Food Regulations Involving Expanded Approval for Raw Material Usage Changes and Fee Waiver for Business Registration Updates

• South Korea to Update the List of Approved Countries (Regions) for Importing Livestock or Animal-Based Products and Import Sanitary Requirements

• South Korea to Allow "Natural" Labeling for Honey, Excluding Feeding Honey and Feeding Comb Honey

• South Korea to Update Enforcement Rules of Health Functional Food Act
  

Japan

On May 16, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) successively released two draft amendments to the Directory Distinguishing Food and Drug Ingredients. These two amendments both focus on the Non-drug List, which outlines substances (raw materials) not considered pharmaceuticals, provided no claims of medicinal efficacy or effects are made. Public comments may be submitted via the e-GOV public comment platform until June 16, 2025. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan MHLW Announces Safety Evaluation Completion for Two Food Additives Derived from Genetically Modified Sources

Southeast Asia

On May 2, 2025, Thailand released MOPH Notification No. 456 B.E. 2568 (2025) Re: Labeling of Certain Processed Foods. The new requirements took effect on May 3, 2025. The new updated labeling rules apply to seven food categories, including brown rice flour, jelly, sauce, bread, gum and candy, ready-to-eat foods, and meat products. Existing labels may remain in use for up to two years from that date. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Thailand Prescribes Foods Prohibited from Production, Import or Sale

• Thailand Amends Standard for Food in a Hermetically Sealed Container

• Thailand to Remove Two Food Additives from the Positive List

• Vietnam Strengthens Management of the Production and Sale of Counterfeit Medicine, Fake Infant Formula, And Counterfeit Health Food

• Vietnam Requests Shopee and Lazada to Manage the Business of Functional Foods in the E-Commerce Sector

• Malaysia Releases FAQ on Chloroform Use in Product Formulation, Following 2024 Directive Prohibiting Chloroform as a Preservative in Health Supplements

• Indonesia to Amend Regulation on Online Distribution of Food and Drug

• Indonesia BPJPH Emphasizes Food Supply Chain Must Comply with Halal Standards

• Indonesia Amends Requirements for Low Acid Processed Food in Hermetic Package

• Indonesia Unveils Criteria for Conditions that Can Inhibit the Growth and/or Inactivation of Clostridium Botulinum Spores for Low-Acid Processed Foods in Hermetic Package
  

India

On May 2, 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to restrict new registrations and renewals for certain high-risk food products, including infant nutrition, milk powders, and packaged drinking/mineral water. Only State or Central Licenses will be allowed going forward. The deadline to submit comments on the proposal is 30 days from the date of issuance. (Read More)

• FSSAI Mandates Closure Reports Submission for Expired Licenses

• FSSAI Proposes Fixed Renewal Cycles and Long-Term Validity for Food Business Licenses

• FSSAI Announces Discontinuation of the Term 100 on Food Product Labels and Related Promotional Materials

European Union (EU)

On May 26, 2025, the European Union (EU) published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/973, which amends and corrects Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 regarding the list of products and substances authorized for use in organic production. This new regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication date. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in the European Union:

• EU Amends Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 on the Recognition of Certain Control Bodies in Accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 as Competent to Carry out Controls and Issue Organic Certificates in Third Countries for Organic Imports

• EU Amends Regulation (EU) 2021/2325 on the Recognition of Certain Third Countries and Control Authorities and Control Bodies for Organic Imports

United States (US)

On May 9, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of three new color additive petitions, representing a significant move toward increasing the availability of natural alternatives to synthetic dyes. The approved additives are galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in the United States:

• FDA Announces Expanded Use of Unannounced Inspections at Foreign Manufacturing Facilities

• FDA Intends to Extend Comment Period for Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling Scheme

• FDA Launches Comprehensive Infant Formula Nutrient Review

Australia and New Zealand 

On May 14, 2025, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Notification Circular-340-25 to announce the approval of several important updates to the Food Standards Code. These updates include the two nutritive substances, two processing aids, one GM food and Australian only Infant Formula Product Standard. Food ministers were notified of the approval. If no review is requested within 60 days, the Food Standards Code will be amended accordingly. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia Amends MRL Standards in Certain Agricultural Products

• Australia Changes the BICON Commodity Case Dairy

• Australia Incorporates Food Safety Requirements into the BICON System

• New Zealand Consults on Simply Safe & Suitable Template Food Control Plan

Brazil 

On May 15, 2025, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) released Normative Instruction IN No. 361/2025, amending Normative Instruction IN No. 28/2018, which outlines the lists of components, limits of use, claims and complementary labeling of food supplements. The amendments, which took immediate effect, primarily revise the annexes of IN No. 28/2018. However, a 24-month grace period has been granted to businesses for compliance and necessary adjustments. (Read More)

Upcoming Webinars in June

ChemLinked invited an experienced regulatory specialist, Janine Curll from Ashbury, to talk about Navigating Health and Nutrition Claims in North America, Europe and Oceania. This session gives you the know-how to stay compliant, build consumer trust and unlock the marketing potential of evidence-backed health claims.

Recommended reading:

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

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2025

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2025

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2025

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | April 2025