According to Nikkei News on Jan. 19, 2016, Japan’s Patent Office under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is planning to draft regulations on a new patent system for food functions which should be implemented by April this year.
At present patents related to specific functions are only granted to pharmaceutical products. Foods patents are only granted to product ingredients rather than functions. The patent application system will cover foods for specified health uses (FOSHU) which currently comprises more than 1,100 varieties. Products with specific labelled functions will be prioritized. Patent application will require clearly designated functions such as fat burning, increasing bone density etc. back by extensive scientific evidence and clinical trials as is required under current regulations.
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