Global Food Regulation Highlights | October 2024

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 October 2024 below.

For thorough and comprehensive monitoring of developments in specific business sector and markets, we highly recommend our customized risk alert and monitoring report service. This service empowers you to effectively stay informed about all the regulatory dynamics that can impact your business. With the added advantage of expert interpretation and analysis, our service offers you a comprehensive understanding of the significance and consequences of these regulatory changes. For more detailed information, we invite you to click on the provided sample of regulatory monitoring report.

China

On October 22, 2024, China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) unveiled the Working Procedures for Priority Review and Approval of Foods for Special Medical Purposes Registration (hereinafter the “Working Procedures”), detailing the eligible scope and the application steps of priority review. the Working Procedure has been in effect since the date of promulgation. (Read More)

• China Conducts Provisional Anti-dumping Measures on Brandy Imported from EU

• China Consults on 19 National Food Safety Standards, Involving Food Flavorings, Sterilized Milk and Contaminants in Foods

• China Releases Guidelines for Infant Formula Filing with Provincial AMRs Regarding Ingredients, Additives, Recipe and Labels

• China Consults on New Dosage Forms and Auxiliary Materials for Health Food Filing

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

• China Customs Rejected 471 Batches of Imported Food in September 2024

• CFSA Consulted on Six New Food Additives

• CFSA Consults on Two Food Raw Materials

• CFSA Consulted on Three New FCM Substances

• China and Finland Collaborate on Organic Product Certification

Regulation highlights in other areas of China:

• Taiwan to Expand Feed or Feed Additives Shall Be Inspected When Imported into Taiwan

• Taiwan to Revise the Method of Test for Heavy Metals in Edible Fat, Oil, Cream, Chocolate and Cocoa Powder, Aligning with the Previously Proposed Cadmium Limits for Chocolate and Cocoa Powder

• Taiwan Proposes to Exempt High-Temperature-Sterilized Canned Meat Products from Quarantine Inspection

• Hong Kong to Revise Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations

• Hong Kong Proposes Amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation

South Korea

On October 17, 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced the revised Regulation on Exceptions of Prohibited Labels and Advertisements of Food Function Claims (hereafter referred to as Regulation), specifying requirements for general food with functional claims supported by scientific data.

In South Korea, permitted functional claims for general food are categorized into three types: 

1. functional claims associated with 29 noticed functional ingredients; 

2. functional claims associated with individually recognized functional ingredients; 

3. functional claims supported by scientific data. 

This Regulation introduces specific requirements for foods eligible for functional claims supported by scientific data. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Amends the Food Additive Code

• South Korea Revises Standard of Sodium and Sugar Reduction Label

• South Korea Revises Children's Favorite Foods Standards, Expanding the Maximum Limit of Saturated Fat for Processed Milk Products Containing over 95% Raw Milk to 5 Grams per Serving

• South Korea to Establish Customized Health Functional Food Sales as a New Business Category

Japan

On October 28, 2024, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released a draft for Specification and Standards for Food, Food Additives, Etc., According to the draft, CAA decided to establish new ingredient standards for the "Rubber" and "Amino acid-sugar reaction", and to revise the specification for "Cyclodextrin". Any comments can be submitted via e-GOV before November 26, 2024.. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• MAFF Updates the Standards for Edible Vegetable Oils and Fats

• MAFF Updates the Standards Shortening

• MAFF Updates the Standards for Margarines

• MAFF Updates the Standards for  Edible Refined and Processed Oils and Fats

• MAFF Updates the Standards for Refined Lard

• Japan Proposes to Revise the Usage Specifications of One Feed

Southeast Asia

On October 18, 2024, with the release of Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 on the Implementation of the Field of Halal Product Assurance, Indonesia BPJPH announced the official enforcement of the first phase of mandatory halal certification. This requirement applies to all food and beverage products that enter, circulate, or are traded within Indonesian territory. However, for imported products, the enforcement of mandatory halal certification has been postponed until 2026. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Indonesia Expands Prior Notice Requirement for All Agricultural Imports from October 6 2024
  

• Thailand Updates the Regulation Regarding Natural Mineral Water

• Thailand Will Strengthen the Safety Supervision of  Imported Vegetables and Fruits

• Thailand Revises the Regulation Regarding the Expenses for Food Product Licensing

• Vietnam Takes Immediate Steps to Regulate Unregistered Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms Like Temu, Shein, and 1688 

• Malaysia Issues a Draft Malaysian Standard Regarding the Requirements for Food Safety According to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System

• Malaysia Approves First Natural Product with Modern Claim

India

On October 22, 2024, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) First Amendment Regulations, 2024. This amendment, effective immediately, primarily relaxes some restrictions on the sale of food products, particularly edible oils, dairy products, and packaged water. By relaxing restrictions, FSSAI aims to promote market accessibility and consumer choice. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in India:

• India Consults on Ayurveda Aahara

• India Consults on Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations, Involving Dairy products, Fats and Oils

• India Consults on Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations

• India Consults on Food Import Regulations, Involving Method of Analysis and Lab Report

• India Consults on Licensing and Registration of Food Business Regulations

• India Released Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and Residues) First Amendment Regulations, 2024

• India Amends Food Products and Food Additives Standards, Involving Dairy Products

European Union (EU)

EU amends "Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on Food Additives" via two regulations in October 2024. The amendment involves the following food additives: powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)), glucono-delta-lactone (E 575), sorbic acid (E 200), potassium sorbate (E 202) and propyl gallate (E 310). (Read More)

More regulation highlights in European Union:

• EU Issues Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 Laying down the List of Third Countries or Regions Thereof Authorised for the Entry into the Union of Certain Animals and Aminal Products for Human Consumption as Regards the Application of the Prohibition on the Use of Certain Antimicrobial Medicinal Products

• EU Consults on the List of Recognised Control Authorities and Control Bodies Regarding Organic Imports (Fourth Amendment)

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

• [Updated] EU Amends Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, the Union List of Novel Foods

United States (US)

On October 29, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  addressed objections regarding the removal of most authorized food contact uses of phthalates, concluding no changes are warranted. The agency will update safety assessments for remaining authorized uses and includes phthalates in its review list of select chemicals. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

• FDA Issues Final Guidance on Using Relative Supersaturation for Cat Food Urinary Tract Health Claims

Canada

On October 23, 2024, Health Canada announced to seek comments on its proposal for compositional requirements for infant foods and foods currently regulated as foods for special dietary use (FSDU). The proposal is anticipated to be published in the Canada Gazette in spring 2026. This proposal establishes updated compositional requirements for FSDU products, covering infant formula, medical foods for ages one or more, and medical foods represented as a total diet replacement for weight reduction. Public comments can be sent to bns-bsn@hc-sc.gc.ca by December 23. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada Proposes MRLs for Two Pesticides in Agricultural Products, Including  Clethodim and  Flupyradifurone
  

• Canada Proposes Exemption Order for Exceptional Importation of Certain Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose (FSDU)

• Canada Drafts Good Manufacturing Practices Guide for Natural Health Products

• Canada Modifies to the Table of Reference Amounts for Food

• Health Canada Authorizes Two Enzymes from New Sources

Australia and New Zealand

On October 29, 2024, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)  released Amendment No. 233 to the Food Standards Code. These updates include the revision to added sugar claims and approval of a novel food and a processing aid. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• Australia Consults on New Food Safety Requirement for Imported Food, Involving Dates, Melons, Enoki Mushrooms, Pufferfish and Kava

• FSANZ Released Amendment No. 232 to Amend the Food Standards Code, Involving Food Produced Using Gene Technology

• New Zealand Proposes to Improve the System for Importing Food and Fibre Plants for Planting

• FSANZ Seeks Feedback on Food Derived from Insect-protected Corn Line MZIR260 

• Australia Amends Schedule 20 of the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code

Recommended reading:

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | April 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | June 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | July 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | August 2024

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | September 2024

• Hot topic: Global Food Regulation Highlights, 2020-2024