Global Food Regulation Highlights | October 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 October of 2023 below:

China 

On October 18, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) announced to seek public comments on 11 national food safety standards, involving dairy products, food contact materials (FCM), food for special medical purposes (FSMP), canned food, and food additives. Any comments can be submitted online prior to December 15, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in China:

• China NHC Approves Five New FCM Substances

• China NHC Approves Four New Novel Foods Including a New Bacterial Strain

• China Consults on Administrative Measures for Labeling Agricultural GMOs

• China Consults on Two Key GB Standards for Food Contact Materials

• China Customs Rejected 294 Batches of Imported Food in September 2023

• China Abolishes the Consular Legalization Procedure for Foreign Public Documents, Affecting Food Importation and Product Registration

• China CFSA Consults on Eight New Food Additives

• China Proposes GB Standards for Two Food Additives, Ascorbyl Palmitate and L-alanine

• China Cracks Down on the Illegal Addition of Phenol (Phenol), Phenolphthalein and Its Ester Derivatives or Similar Substances in Food

• China Issues Guidelines on Special Food for Online Sales

• Taiwan to Revise Regulations for Application of Health Food Registration

• Taiwan Issues Use Restrictions of Novel Food Raw Material Named Morchella Esculenta

South Korea

On September 27, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published a draft of the Standards and Specifications for Food Additives (Food Additive Code) for public opinion. The key contents of the revision include (1) specifying new definition of and sulfites’ residue standards for non-alcoholic beverages derived from fruit wines, (2) establishing the exemption provisions for applying food additive usage standards to imported raw materials, and (3) permitting seven new food additives, including vitamin K2, a nutritional ingredient in health functional foods. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• MFDS Issues a Subordinate Regulation Related to Imported Food Digital Inspection

• MFDS Prolongs the Inspection Period for Imported Berries, Powder Natural Spice, And Snack Foods

• South Korea Expands the Scope of Food that can be Labeled as "Low Sodium" and "Low Sugar"

• South Korea to Revise Regulation on Recognition for Temporary Food Standard and Specification

• South Korea to Introduce a Comprehensive Inspection Standard on Imported Foods

• South Korea Publishes the Average Values of Applicable Products Following the Revised Labeling Standards for Sodium and Sugar Reduction

Japan

On October 4, 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan held a meeting of the Food Sanitation Subcommittee, Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council. During the meeting, the revised positive list for substances allowed in food contact utensils, containers, and packaging was officially announced. Additionally, on October 12, a supplementary list of monomer combinations for base resins was added. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

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

• CAA Approved Two Foods for Special Health Uses Labeling

• Japan Publishes List of Non-compliant Imported Food: 44 Food Items Involved

• Japan Updates Food Additive Analysis Method

• Japan Revises the Maximum Limit of Lead in Some Food Products

• Japan Updates the Positive List of Pesticide and Veterinary Drug Residues

• Japan Proposes to Revise Eight Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Food

Southeast Asia 

On October 20, 2023, Vietnam announced to consult on the revision on Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, including provisions related to extended producer responsibility (EPR). Major changes include the revisions on situations that can be exempted from the recycling and waste treatment responsibility, the permitted ways to conduct self-organization recycling, the receiver of the declaration form, etc. Notably, "Appendix XXII List of Products and Packaging Subject to Mandatory Recycling, and Mandatory Recycling Rates and Recycling Specifications" is also with some changes. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Thailand Updated the Proposal to Revise the Food Additives Standard

• Malaysia Revises Drug Registration Guidance Document, Affecting Health Supplement Registration

• Malaysia Issues Trade Descriptions (Marking of Quantity for Pre-Packaged Goods) Order 2023

• Indonesia Proposes Amendments to the Regulation No. 27 of 2022 on Supervision of Importation of Drugs and Food into Indonesian Territory

• Indonesia Drafts Guidelines for Stability Testing of Health Supplements

• Singapore HSA Updates on Products Found Overseas that Contain Potent Ingredients

• Vietnam Promulgates the List of Permitted/Prohibited Plant Protection Drugs (Pesticides)

India 

On October 6, 2023, India published the Insecticides (Prohibition) Order, 2023 to ban four highly hazardous pesticides, which are Dicofol, Dinocap, Methomyl and Monocrotophos. However, Monocrotophos is given a one-year transitional period. The Order comes into effect immediately on the date of publication. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in India:

• FSSAI Clarifies that Addition of Protein Binders is Not Permitted in Milk and Milk Products

• FSSAI Takes Enforcement Action Regarding Products with the Ingredient S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (Same) Under FSSAI License

• FSSAI Encourages Inclusion of QR Codes on Food Labels for Accessibility by Visually Impaired Individuals

• FSSAI Issues Direction Regarding Re-operationalisation of Food Safey And Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Amendment Regulations

• India Clarifies on Declaration of Brand Owner's Address on Food Labels

EU 

In October of 2023, the EU issued authorization and amendment regarding three novel foods, involving 3-Fucosyllactose produced by a derivative strain of Escherichia coli K-12 DH1, partially defatted chia seed (Salvia hispanica) powders and 6′-Sialyllactose sodium salt produced by derivative strain of Escherichia coli W (ATCC 9637).

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU Proposes the Marking of Products in Contact with Drinking Water and the Positive List of Substances, Compositions and Constituents in the Manufacture of Final Materials/Products that Come into Contact with Drinking Water

• EU Allows the Use of Ironmilk Caseinate as a Source of Iron in Total Diet Replacement for Weight Control and Food for Special Medical Purpose

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

• EU Amends the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Directive 2002/46/EC as Regards Iron Milk Casei

• EU Updates Labeling Requirements for Organic Pet Food

• EU Issues Authorization/Rejection of Health Claims (G/TBT/N/EU/1025, G/TBT/N/EU/1026, G/TBT/N/EU/1027)

• EU Amends MRLs for Pesticides in or on Food and Feed of Plant and Animal Origin (G/SPS/N/EU/616/Add.1, G/SPS/N/EU/617/Add.1, G/SPS/N/EU/618/Add.1, G/SPS/N/EU/683, G/SPS/N/EU/686)

• EU Amends Pharmacologically Active Substances and Their Classification Regarding Maximum Residue Limits in Foodstuffs of Animal Origin (Document 32023R2194, Document 32023R2203)

UK

On October 12, 2023, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommended that healthy adults should not consume more than 10mg of Cannabidiol (CBD) per day, roughly equivalent to 4-5 drops of 5% CBD oil. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in UK:

• UK Notified WTO The Official Controls (Import of High Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) Regulations 2024

• UK Proposes GB MRLs for Pencycuron Amending the GB MRL Statutory Register

US 

On October 6, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its updated compliance program for infant formula, which incorporates valuable insights gained from several years of experience. This program provides detailed elaboration of inspections, sampling, laboratory analysis and regulatory strategy. Enterprises importing infant formula products should pay attention to the following updated requirements. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

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

• U.S. Seeks Comment on the Use of New Food Additives in Some Foods

• U.S. to Revise the Registration and Management Requirements of Some Canned Food

• U.S. to Revise the Certification Requirements For Color Additives in Food and Other Products

Canada 

On October 11, 2023, Health Canada unveiled NOM/ADM-0209 with immediate effect, modifying the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to enable the use of Cellulase from Trichoderma reesei RF11412 in Brewers' mash and Distillers' mash, with the requested maximum level as "Good Manufacturing Practice". (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canda Proposes MRLs for Pyriofenone and Carfentrazone-ethyl in Multiple Food Products

Australia and New Zealand 

On October 30, 2023, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Amendment No. 222 to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The revision involves 2 schedules, Schedule 18 Processing aids and Schedule 26 Food produced using gene technology. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• FSANZ Calls for Comments on New Source of HiMO in Infant Formula Products

• FSANZ Calls for Submissions on Transglutaminase from GM Bacillus Licheniformis as a Processing Aid

• FSANZ Calls for Comments on Beta-Fructofuranosidase from GM Trichoderma Reesei as a Processing Aid

• Australia Proposes to Amend Schedule 20 in the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code

• Australia Issues Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (MRL Standard for Residues of Chemical Products) Amendment Instrument (No. 1) 2023

• MPI Issues Animal Products Notice: Production, Supply and Processing

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 | 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