Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 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 May 2026 below.

China

China Consults on the Third Amendment to the Mandatory Standard for Restricting Excessive Packaging of Foods

On May 20, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the Draft for Comments on Amendment No. 3 to the mandatory national standard GB 23350-2021 "Requirements of Restricting Excessive Package - Foods and Cosmetics." This amendment aims to address practical industry challenges by refining the Necessary Spatial Coefficient (k-value) for specific food categories whose packaging material differences were not fully considered in previous versions. The deadline for submitting public feedback is July 19, 2026.

More highlights in Chinese Mainland:

• 2026 China Customs Rejection Data: 463 Batches of Imported Food in April

• [Updated] China Food Additives Updates in 2026

• [Updated] China Novel Food Raw Materials Updates in 2026

• China SAMR Revises Advertising Rules for Health Food and Foods for Special Medical Purposes

South Korea

South Korea Revises Food Code for FSMP, Food Ingredient and Residue Limits

On May 19, 2026, the South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued Notice No. 2026-40, announcing a partial amendment to the Food Code. The update introduces statistical pathogen limits for certain FSMP, expands the approved list of food ingredients, revises maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides and veterinary drugs, and modernizes mandatory testing methods.

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Amends Food Labeling Standard for Decaffeinated Coffee and Liquor-Collaborated Products

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

• South Korea Amends Food Traceability Management Standards to Improve Administrative Efficiency

• South Korea Proposes Amendment to Food Labeling and Advertising Regulations to Prohibit Pharmaceutical Names in Food Products

Japan

Japan Food-Drug Classification Substance Updates in 2026

On May 28, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued Announcement No. 0528-2. The announcement adds new substances to the Drug List and Non-drug List and introduces a new "Scientific Name" column for plant-derived ingredients in the Non-drug List. The amendments took effect immediately upon issuance.

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• [Updated] Japan Pesticide & Veterinary Drug MRLs Updates in 2026

Southeast Asia

Thailand Enforces Updated Regulation for Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers (MOPH Notification No. 469)

On May 18, 2026, the Thai FDA published Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 469 on food in hermetically sealed containers in the Royal Gazette, replacing Notification No. 355. The new regulation revises the product scope by adding pH and water activity criteria, removes several redundant requirements on food additives, manufacturing, packaging, and exemptions, and updates labeling rules for drained weight. It also provides new guidance for licensing and e-submission updates, including manual or automatic reclassification of certain production methods and food categories. The regulation took effect on May 19, 2026.

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Thailand Proposes New Regulation to Restrict Marketing of Unhealthy Foods to Children

• Indonesia Sets Maximum Limit for Collagen in Processed Foods

• Malaysia Amends the Trade Descriptions Order for Halal Certification and Marking

• ASEAN Proposes New Harmonized Pesticide MRLs for 2026

• Thailand Proposes Banning Three Pesticides in Food

• Vietnam Introduces Draft Guidelines on Claims for Foods

• Vietnam Clarifies State Inspection Requirements for Imported Foods and Food Additives

• Vietnam Proposes Unified Food Safety Management Reform: VFA Expected to Become the Central Coordinating Authority

South Asia

India Amends Regulations on Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues in Food

On May 25, 2026, India's Food Safety and Standards Authority released the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026. The amendment revises limits and testing rules for heavy metals, crop contaminants, naturally occurring toxins, and antibiotic residues. It updates the food category "Pulses" to "Pulses and Pulse flours," adds testing guidance for inorganic arsenic in fish oils, refines the scope for aflatoxins in oils and oilseeds for further processing and ready-to-eat oilseeds, and narrows the applicability of the saffrole limit. It also introduces new maximum residue limits for seafood, including trimethoprim at 0.05 mg/kg and oxolinic acid at 0.3 mg/kg. The regulations will take effect on December 1, 2026.

More regulation highlights in South Asia:

• FSSAI Mandates ePAAS Portal for Prior Approval and Risk Assessment Applications

• FSSAI Drafts New Standards for Minor Seed Oils and Edible Seeds

• FSSAI Proposes Amendments to Prevent Adulteration in Packaged Water

• India Proposes Amendments to Food Safety Auditing Regulations Regarding Auditor Qualifications

European Union (EU)

Germany Updates Regulations for the Import and Marketing of Vegan Soybean Drinks with Added Vitamin D and Calcium

Germany's Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety issued a general decree permitting the import and marketing of vegan soybean drinks fortified with vitamin D and calcium from other EU or EEA countries. The products are subject to strict limits and may contain no more than 0.75 μg of vitamin D and 120 mg of calcium per 100 ml.

More regulation highlights in European Union (EU):

• European Union Amends Directive on Processing Aids for Yeast Fermentation in Reduced-Sugar Fruit Juices

• EU Refuses to Authorize Health Claim on Creatine in Foods

United States (US)

U.S. FDA Finalizes Post-market Assessment Program for Food Chemicals and Launches Reassessment of BHT and ADA

On May 12, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized its new proactive food chemical safety post-market assessment program, and launched reassessments of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and azodicarbonamide (ADA). 

More regulation highlights in United States (US):

• New York State to Ban Certain Food Additives and Enhance GRAS Substance Transparency

• FDA Publishes Final Guidance on Protein Quality Studies for Infant Formula

• USDA Implements Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, Restoring Whole and Reduced-fat Milk Options Within Federal Child Nutrition Programs

• EPA Establishes and Revises Tolerances for Pesticide Residues in Food Commodities

Canada

Health Canada Proposes to Authorize Jagua (genipin-glycine) Blue as a Food Colour

On May 14, 2026, Health Canada proposed a modification to the List of Permitted Food Colours to authorize jagua (genipin-glycine) blue as a new food colour. The proposal includes specific permitted uses and maximum levels for a range of foods, such as jams, gelatin desserts, dairy and plant-based beverages and desserts, cereals, snack chips, confectionery, puddings, frosting, and nutritional supplements.

Australia and New Zealand

FSANZ Consults on Mandating the Health Star Rating System

On May 7, 2026, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a public comment request on Proposal P1067 to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The proposal would make the Health Star Rating (HSR) symbol mandatory on certain prepackaged foods sold in Australia and New Zealand. It would require the HSR symbol on most packaged retail foods where a Nutrition Information Panel is needed, including imported foods and products with nutrition or health claims. The proposal also sets rules for voluntary use on some foods and prohibits use on others, standardizes symbol design and placement, and requires the prescribed HSR algorithm to be used for rating calculations.

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia to Verify Cheese Import Declarations for Listeria Control