[Updated]Taiwan Announces Usage Restrictions for Food Ingredients: UV-Treated Agaricus Bisporus Powder

Editor's Note: This article summarizes the usage restrictions and labeling requirements for food ingredients in Taiwan

On April 24, 2025, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) released the draft regulation Usage Restrictions and Labeling Requirements for UV-Treated Agaricus Bisporus Powder as a Food Ingredient (hereafter referred to as "the ingredient"). The draft is open for public consultation for 60 days from the date of announcement.

According to the draft, the key requirements for the ingredient are outlined as follows:

Manufacturing Standard

The ingredient is produced by washing Agaricus Bisporus mushrooms, blending them with water to create a homogenized slurry, and then subjecting the slurry to ultraviolet (UV) treatment, followed by filtration, drying, and grinding.

Specifications and Usage Restrictions

The ingredient must meet the following specification requirements

Item	Content level
Vitamin D2	1,000-1,300 µg/g
Moisture	＜10%
Ash	＜13.5%
Arsenic	＜0.3 ppm
Lead	＜0.5 ppm
Cadmium	＜0.5 ppm
Mercury	＜0.1 ppm

The ingredient is permitted for use only in products other than infant foods and is intended for nutritional supplementation purposes.
The daily intake, based on the total vitamin D content in the product, must comply with the limits set for Calciferol (Vitamin D2) under the Specification, Scope, Application and Limitation of Food Additives, as follows:

Foods in capsule or tablet form labeled with daily dosage: not more than 800 I.U.(20 μg) of total vitamin D in daily intake;
Other general foods: not more than 15μg of total vitamin D for foods labeled with daily dosage or for every 300 g of food without daily dosage labeling.

Labeling Requirements

Products containing the ingredient must display:

An ingredient declaration stating:

“The Agaricus Bisporus powder in this product has been UV-treated to generate vitamin D2.”

A warning statement stating:

“This product is not suitable for infants.”

Note: "infants" in this regulation refer to individuals aged below 12 months.

Updated on February 13, 2025

On February 13, 2025, Taiwan announced usage restrictions and labeling requirements for food ingredient γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA). The usage restrictions came into effect immediately, but the labeling requirements are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. Nevertheless, locally produced products manufactured before the effective date or products imported prior to this date may continue to be sold until their expiration date.

	Food ingredient	Usage restriction	Labeling requirement
1	γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)	The specified ingredient is derived from Lactobacillus hilgardii or Lactobacillus brevis fermentation with food-grade raw materials or approved food additives as the medium, followed by purification processes. The γ-Aminobutyric Acid content in the final food ingredient must be no less than 20%. The daily intake limit is 100 mg, based on the amount of γ-Aminobutyric Acid	Food products containing the specified ingredient should be labeled with warnings like: "When consuming this product, avoid simultaneous consumption of alcohol or medications for lowering blood pressure, sedation, or epilepsy. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and infants and young children should consult a doctor before use."

Updated On July 11, 2024

On July 11, 2024, Taiwan announced usage restrictions on 33 food ingredients. These restrictions came into immediate effect, except for the usage restriction on Phosphatidylserine which is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Below are the specific usage restrictions for these 33 food ingredients:

	Food ingredients	Usage restriction	Effectivedate
1	Pearl and pearl calcium	Daily intake limit is 1800 mg calculated based on the total calcium content in the product.	July 11, 2024
2	Shell and shell calcium	Shell and shell calcium ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from the shells of edible shellfish such as oysters and clams. Daily intake limit is 1800 mg calculated based on the total calcium content in the product.	July 11, 2024
3	Coral calcium	Daily intake limit is 1800 mg calculated based on the total calcium content in the product.	July 11, 2024
4	Egg shell	Daily intake limit is 1800 mg calculated based on the total calcium content in the product.	July 11, 2024
5	Lithothamnium corallioides	Daily intake limit is 1800 mg calculated based on the total calcium content in the product.	July 11, 2024
6	Heme iron	Heme iron ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from the blood of poultry and livestock. Daily intake limit is 22.5 mg calculated based on the total iron content in the product.	July 11, 2024
7	Aphanizomenon flos-aquae	Aphanizomenon flos-aquae ingredient can only be used in adult foods. Daily intake limit is 3 g on a dry weight basis.	July 11, 2024
8	Calendula officinalis, tagetes erecta, tagetes tenuifolia, tagetes minuta, tagetes patula	The ingredient, wrapped in materials such as filter bags, is intended for brewing tea or dietary seasoning, or for consumption after extraction. Daily intake limit is 30 mg calculated based on the total content of lutein in the product.	July 11, 2024
9	Garcinia cambogia	The ingredient, wrapped in materials such as filter bags, is intended for brewing tea or dietary seasoning, or for consumption after extraction. Daily intake limit is 1500 mg calculated based on the total content of hydroxy citric acid.	July 11, 2024
10	Grape seed or peel extract	Grape seed or peel extract ingredient specified in this regulation is extracted from the seed or peel of vitis vinifera Daily intake limit is 150 mg calculated based on the content of proanthocyanidin	July 11, 2024
11	Onion extract	Onion extract ingredient specified in this regulation is extracted from bulbs of onions. Daily intake limit is 1000 mg calculated based on the content of quercetin.	July 11, 2024
12	Natto gum	Natto gum ingredient specified in this regulation is derived through bacillus subtilis fermentation with food-grade ingredients and permitted food additives as culture medium components, containing polyglutamic acid. Daily intake limit is 1.8 g calculated based on the content of polyglutamic acid.	July 11, 2024
13	Glycine tomentella root	The ingredient, after drying, is intended for use in tea bags. Daily intake limit is 9 g.	July 11, 2024
14	Soybean extract	Soybean extract ingredient specified in this regulation, is extracted from the seed of glycine max. Daily intake limit is 50 mg calculated based on the content of isoflavones.	July 11, 2024
15	Phytic acid	Phytic acid ingredient specified in this regulation is extracted from rice or corn. Daily intake limit is 180 mg.	July 11, 2024
16	Cocoa seed extract	Cocoa seed extract ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from the seeds of theobroma cacao through ethanol extraction. Daily intake limit is 25 mg calculated based on the content of theobromine.	July 11, 2024
17	γ-Oryzanol	γ-Oryzanol ingredient specified in this regulation is extracted from rice bran or rice germ. Daily intake limit is 300 mg.	July 11, 2024
18	Sugarcane polyphenolic extract	Sugarcane polyphenolic extract ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from the by-product molasses of Saccharum officinarum sugar production, through decolorization, desugaring, and concentration steps. The polyphenol content must not exceed 16%. Daily intake limit is 400 mg calculated based on the content of polyphenol.	July 11, 2024
19	α-Glycosyl hesperidin	α-Glycosyl hesperidin ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from hesperidin, which is obtained from the peels, juice, or seeds of citrus fruits through an alkaline aqueous solution treatment, and is then processed using cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase to produce a light yellow to yellow-brown powder. This ingredient must meet the following specifications: α-Glycosyl hesperidin content: 30% or higher. Solution (0.5 g dissolved in 100 ml of water): Clear. Heavy metals (measured as lead): 20 μg/g or less. Lead: 10 μg/g or less. Arsenic (measured as As2O3): 2.0 μg/g or less. Daily intake limit is 450 mg calculated based on the content of α-Glycosyl hesperidin.	July 11, 2024
20	Lactosucrose	Lactosucrose ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from lactose and sucrose through enzymatic reaction and purification steps, with a lactosucrose content of no less than 55%. Daily intake limit is 6 g calculated based on the content of lactosucrose.	July 11, 2024
21	Sesamin	Sesamin ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from sesame seeds through oil extraction and ethanol extraction and purification steps, with a sesamin content of no less than 60%. Daily intake limit is 15 mg calculated based on the content of sesamin.	July 11, 2024
22	Piperine	Piperine ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from pepper through ethanol extraction and purification steps to produce powder, with a piperine content of no less than 95%. Daily intake limit is 12 mg calculated based on the content of piperine.	July 11, 2024
23	Epigallocatechin gallate	Epigallocatechin gallate ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from green tea leaves through extraction, separation, and concentration purification steps. The content of epigallocatechin gallate shall be no less than 90% on a dry basis. Daily intake limit is 300 mg calculated based on the content of epigallocatechin gallate .	July 11, 2024
24	Pineal gland powder	Pineal gland powder ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from the pineal glands of cattle, sheep, and pigs, obtained through drying without extraction. The content of melatonin shall not exceed 20 parts per million.	July 11, 2024
25	DHA algal oil	DHA algal oil ingredient specified in this regulation is extracted from Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.), Ulkenia sp., or Crypthecodinium cohnii. This ingredient must meet the following specifications: DHA content: 32% or higher. Acid value: 0.5 mg KOH/g or less. Peroxide value: 5.0 meq/kg of oil or less. Moisture and volatile matter:0.05% or less. Unsaponifiable matter: 4.5% or less. Trans fatty acids: 1% or less.	July 11, 2024
26	DHA algal powder	DHA algal powder ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.) and is obtained through concentrated drying to form brown-yellow powder. This ingredient must meet the following specifications： DHA content: 18% or higher. Heavy metals (measured as lead): 20 parts per million or less. Arsenic: 2 parts per million or less.	July 11, 2024
27	L-Ornithine monohydrochloride	The L-Ornithine monohydrochloride ingredient specified in this regulation is produced through fermentation by corynebacterium glutamicum, or through the reaction of L-Arginine with arginase derived from bacillus subtilis. The content of L-Ornithine monohydrochloride shall be no less than 98%, and the ingredient can only be used in formula food for special medical purposes.	July 11, 2024
28	Tagatose	Tagatose ingredient specified in this regulation is obtained through lactase hydrolysis of lactose, chromatographically separating out galactose, followed by conversion using L-arabinose isomerase. The content of Tagatose shall be no less than 98%, and the ingredient is prohibited for use in infant foods.	July 11, 2024
29	Cellulose	Cellulose ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from plant pulp rich in cellulose, processed through mechanical fragmentation, and purification steps to produce a white, tasteless fibrous ingredient. This ingredient must meet the following specifications: Cellulose content: 92% or higher. Loss on drying (at 105 degrees Celsius for 3 hours): 7.0% or less. pH value (10 g dispersed in 90 ml of water, stirred for one hour): 5.0 to 7.5. Ash content (calcination at 800 degrees Celsius): 0.3% or less. Lead: 2 mg/kg or less.	July 11, 2024
30	Microcrystalline α-Cellulose	Microcrystalline α-Cellulose ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from cellulose through inorganic acid and purification steps, resulting in partially depolymerized products. This ingredient must meet the following specifications: Cellulose content (on dry weight basis): 97% or higher. Polymerization degree: 400 or lower. Particle size: particles smaller than 5 microns should not exceed 10%. Loss on drying (at 105 degrees Celsius for 3 hours): 7.0% or less. pH value (5 g dispersed in 40 ml of water, stirred for 20 minutes before centrifugation): 5.0 to 7.5. Sulfated ash: 0.05% or less. Lead: 2 mg/kg or less.	July 11, 2024
31	Tilia platyphyllos flower	The ingredient, wrapped in materials such as filter bags, is intended for brewing tea or dietary seasoning, or for consumption after extraction. Products with tilia platyphyllos flower as an ingredient should be labeled with "Not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women."	July 11, 2024
32	Gynostemma pentaphyllum	The ingredient, wrapped in materials such as filter bags, is intended for brewing tea or dietary seasoning, or for consumption after extraction. Products with gynostemma pentaphyllum as an ingredient should be labeled with "Avoid long-term or excessive consumption of this product.”	July 11, 2024
33	Phosphatidylserine	Phosphatidylserine ingredient specified in this regulation is derived from soy lecithin, which is further modified through enzymatic reaction with serine. Daily intake limit is 500 mg calculated based on the content of Phosphatidylserine Locally produced products with its production date, or imported products with importation dates prior to the effective date, are permitted for sale until their expiration dates.	July 1, 2025