Taiwan Revises Food Safety & Hygiene and Health Food Administration Laws

Taiwan announced the revision of Food Safety Hygiene Administration Law and Health Food Administration Law. Updated contents include new stipulations on labeling claims and advertising and new rules for health food.

On the 24th of January Taiwan announced the revision of Food Safety & Hygiene Administration Law. Primary changes in the new laws involve food additives and food detergents as well as food utensils, containers and packaging. Further changes will refine label claim requirements particularly the requirement that labels should not bear any false, exaggerated or misleading information. Food also shouldn’t be labeled or advertised as having any medical efficacy.

Central competent authorities may restrict or end the promotion or advertisement of special nutrition food and food causing chronic illnesses or not suitable for children and special categories of consumers and define the criteria for the determination of medical efficacy.

On the same day, Taiwan also announced the 13th revision of Health Food Administration Law. The following information should be indicated on container or package in Chinese language and universal symbols:

Item	Remarks
- Product Name
- Ingredients list.	When in presence of a mixture of more than 2 substances, they should be indicated from the most present to the less present.
- Net weight, volume or quantity.
- Food additives list.	When in presence of a mixture of more than 2 substances, all the additives names should be indicated separately.
- Effective date, storage methods and conditions.
- Manufacturer name and address.	Importer should also indicate manufacturer and address of the producer in the country of origin.
- Approval efficacy.
- License number, “Health Food” words and standard pattern.
- Dietary intake	Should also include other alimentation issues and possible health damages derived from consumption as well as other necessary warnings.
- Nutritional Composition and Content.
- Any other matter specified by central competent Authorities announcements.	The marking method and contents of the tenth paragraph shall be formulated by the central competent authority.