Global Food Regulation Highlights | November 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 November of 2023 below:

China 

On November 7, 2023, China Association of Fragrance Flavour and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI) opened the consultation of amended GB 29938 General Rules for Food Flavorings for public feedback. Major proposed changes include the addition of residue limit requirements for extract solvents in final products, the updates of Annex D content requirements for synthetic flavors used in food, and the revisions of food flavors' Chinese names and English names. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in China:

• China Updates the Catalogue of Substances Traditionally Considered as Both Food and Chinese Medicine

• China Consults on New Amendment to GB Standard for Restricting Overpackaging of Food

• China Customs Rejected 246 Batches of Imported Food in October 2023

• China to Update the GB/T Standard for Plastic Laminated Films and Bags Used for Liquid Food Packaging

• China Unveils Amino Acid Management on Foods for Special Dietary Uses

• China NHC Approves Three New Food Raw Materials, Two New Processing Aids, and Four New FCM Substances

• China Consults GB Standards for Multiple Food Additives Including Selenoprotein, Erythritol, Lactic Acid, and Microcrystalline Cellulose

• Taiwan Revises Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods and Animal products

• Taiwan to Revise Contaminants and Toxins in Food

South Korea

On November 28, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued the latest version of Food Code. According to the official notification, a total of 105 fishery and agricultural products, whose safety have been internationally confirmed, are added to the food materials list. Besides, the maximum limits of 114 pesticides and veterinary drugs are revised. The authority also exempted the sterilization and disinfection procedures for powder-formed Foods for Special Medical Purposes. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Consults on the Enforcement Rule of Health Functional Food Act

• South Korea Additionally Bans One Ingredient in Food

Japan

On November 21, 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan issued Proposal No. 495230249, involving the Guidelines for Self-inspection and Product Design Regarding the Safety of Tablets, Capsules Food Products (Draft) & Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) of Tablets, Capsules Food Products (Draft). Any comments can be submitted before December 21, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

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

• Japan Revises RMLs for Seven Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs

• Japan Proposes to Amend the Liquor Tax Law

Southeast Asia 

In November, Indonesia Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) notified WTO members six drafted documents regarding halal certification. These drafts cover products that are required halal certification, certification processes, fees, and etc. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Vietnam Issues Consolidated Documents for Circulars and Decisions Amended by Circular No. 17/2023/TT-BYT

• Thailand Proposes to Revise the Maximum Level of Contaminants in Food

• Philippines to Adopt the Philippine National Standards (PNS) and Its Recommended Code of Practices (RCP) for Processed Food Products as Technical Regulation

• Malaysia to Reduce Trans Fatty Acids in Food Products

• Indonesia Drafts Guidelines for Assessment of Health Supplement Products Containing Probiotics

• Indonesia Amends the Regulation on Supervision of Importation of Drugs and Food

• Indonesia Updates the List of Medicines and Food whose Importation is Restricted

India 

On November 28, 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order regarding rectifiable labelling information for imported food consignments. As per the order, all labeling deficiencies found on imported food consignments can now be rectified in the custom bonded warehouse, except for specific cases, including:

• Lot No. / Code No. / Batch identification

• Date Marking (which includes the date of manufacture or packaging and the expiry/use by/best before date)

• Country of Origin for Imported Foods. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in India:

• India Announces the Implementation Date of Certain Provisions Related to Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

• India Revises the Option for Selecting the Validity Period During Application for FSSAI License/Registration

• FSSAI Revises Application Fees for Vegan Logo Endorsement Applications, with Immediate Effect

• FSSAI Does Not Allow the Use of Steviol Glycoside (Stevia) In 'Cocoa and Chocolate Products' and 'Imitation Chocolate' At Present

• FSSAI Will Undertakes Periodic Enforcement Actions on the Sale of Fresh Fruits and vegetables

EU 

On November 22, 2023, European Parliament adopts its position on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which was originally proposed in December 2022. To prevent adverse health effects, members of the European Parliament ask for a ban on the use of so called “forever chemicals” (PFASs) and Bisphenol A in food contact packaging. Once the Council has adopted its position, European Parliament will start talks with national governments on the final form of the law. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU Renews Glyphosate for the Next 10 Years

• EU to Amend the Classification of Sodium Salicylate Regarding Its Maximum Residue Limit in Foodstuffs of Animal Origin

• EU to Update the List of Recognized Non-EU Countries and Control Bodies for the Import of Organic Products

• EU to Amend Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 Regarding the Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides in or on certain product (G/SPS/N/EU/696; G/SPS/N/EU/697; G/SPS/N/EU/698)

• EU Unveils Application of the Prohibition of Using Certain Antimicrobial Medicinal Products in Animals or Animal-origin Products

• Rules Regarding the Calculation, Verification and Reporting of Data on Recycled Plastic Content in Single-use Plastic Beverage Bottles

UK 

On November 8, 2023, UK notified WTO about the proposed MRLs for pencycuron in food, amending the Great Britain (GB) MRL Statutory Register. The proposed date of adoption is March 6, 2024 and the effective date is September 6, 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in UK:

• UK Publishes Collection Page for Import Risk Categories for Animals, Animal Products, Plants and Plant Products

• UK Issues Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023, Involving PFHxS

US 

On November 2, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a proposed rule to revoke the regulation that authorized the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. Any comments can be submitted online by January 17, 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

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

Canada

On November 4, 2023, Health Canada announced proposed amendments to the Nutrition labelling: Table of permitted nutrient content statements and claims, which is incorporated by reference into the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). The below table outlines the requirements for making nutrient content statements and claims that are allowed on food products in Canada. The proposed revisions primarily focus on conditions for statements and claims related to protein content, as well as the "no added fat" claim. Stakeholders can submit comments or inquiries on this proposal by contacting bpiia-bpaii@hc-sc.gc.ca before February 2, 2024. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada to Enable the Use of Chitosan from White Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) as a Preservative in Various Foods

• Canada Modifies the List of Permitted Colouring Agents to Update the Permitted Uses of Amaranth in Foods

• Canada Consults on Regulatory Modernization of Foods for Special Dietary Use and Infant Foods

• Canada Proposes Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Food Additives and Compositional Standards, Microbiological Criteria and Methods of Analysis for Food

• Canada Proposes a New Livestock Feed Ingredient – 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)

Australia and New Zealand

On November 17, 2023, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) announced the approval of P1062 Defining added sugars for claims, including changes to the conditions for making voluntary nutrition content claims about added sugars in food. According to the changes, it is not permitted to make 'no added sugar(s)' claims when a food is an 'added sugar' or contain an "added sugar" as an added ingredient. The approved changes are to commence on gazettal with a four-year transition period granted by FSANZ. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia and New Zealand Amend Food Standards Code, Involving Infant Formula Products

• Australia Changes the Regulation of Sports Supplements

• Australia Updates Import Requirements on Dairy and Aquatic Products

• New Zealand Releases New Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds

• FSANZ Consults on D-allulose as a Novel Food

• FSANZ Consults on Extending the Uses of Rosemary Extract as a Food Additive to Other Food Classes

• FSANZ Seeks Feedback on Permitting Steviol Glycosides to be Used as a Food Additive (Intense Sweetener) in Food for Special Medical Purposes

• FSANZ Approves Two New Processing Aids - Pullulanase from GM Bacillus Subtilus and Fructanase from GM Trichoderma Reesei

• FSANZ Approves Steviol Glycosides Produced by Bioconversion Using New Enzymes Produced by GM Escherichia Coli

• MPI Releases Proposed Changes to the Import Health Standard for Importing Grain and Seeds for Consumption, Feed, or Processing

• MPI Publishes Import Health Standard for Shelf-Stable Petfoods Containing Animal Products

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 | October 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | September 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | August 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | July 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | June 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | April 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2023