Taiwan Proposes Amendments to the Labeling of Prepackaged Fresh Milk, Sterilized Milk, Flavored Milk, Milk Drink, and Milk Powder

On June 5, 2024, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced a draft amendment to the Regulations Governing the Product Names and Labeling of Prepackaged Fresh Milk, Sterilized Milk, Flavored Milk, Milk Drink, and Milk Powder. The proposed amendments are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, except for the new requirements for fresh milk with an extended shelf-life, which are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025. The draft is open for public opinion for 60 days from the date of announcement.

Key proposed amendments are as follows:

Introduction of new labeling requirements for fresh milk with an extended shelf-life

Fresh milk products, including fortified fresh milk, that have a shelf life of 30 days or more because they have undergone appropriate heat sterilization and are aseptically packed in a high-cleanliness environment, should be labeled as "Extended Shelf-Life Fresh Milk," "Long-Life Fresh Milk," "ESL Fresh Milk," or other equivalent terms.

Introduction of new labeling requirements for products with adjusted ingredients

1. For fresh milk, fortified fresh milk, sterilized milk, fortified sterilized milk, milk powder, and fortified milk powder products with adjusted milk fat, "Milk Fat Adjusted" or equivalent terms must be clearly displayed in the product name or in an easily visible section of the outer package. Besides, if the adjusted milk fat content meets relevant standards, the product can be labeled with "Whole", "Low-Fat", "Skim" or equivalent terms. For example:

	Fresh milk (CNS 3056)
Whole	3.0%≤milk fat content<3.8%
Low-Fat	0.5%≤milk fat content<1.5%
Skim	milk fat content<0.5%

2. For fresh milk, fortified fresh milk, sterilized milk, fortified sterilized milk, milk powder, and fortified milk powder products with adjusted lactose, "Lactose Adjusted" or equivalent terms must be clearly displayed in the product name or in an easily visible section of the outer package. If the adjusted lactose content meets relevant standards, the product can be labeled with "Low Lactose", "Lactose-Free", or equivalent terms.

	Solid product per 100g	Liquid product per 100ml
Low Lactose	Lactose must not exceed 2 g	Lactose must not exceed 2 g
Lactose-Free	Lactose must not exceed 0.5 g	Lactose must not exceed 0.5 g

3. For fortified fresh milk, fortified sterilized milk, and fortified milk powder products, the term "Fortified" must be clearly displayed in the product name or in an easily visible section of the outer package.

Introduction of new labeling requirements for font size of liquid milk product labels

When labeling the product name and adjusted ingredients, the font size of liquid milk product labels should be adjusted based on the product volume.

Product volume (ml)	Font height and width (cm)
300 and below	Both should exceed 0.4
301 to 600	Both should exceed 0.8
601 and above	Both should exceed 1.2

Inclusion of infant formula

Infant formula, follow-up infant formula, and infant formula for special medical purpose fall within the scope of this regulation.

Enforcement

Products not in line with the regulation or found to be inaccurate, exaggerated, or likely to cause misunderstanding, will be subject to appropriate measures as per relevant regulations.