On Jul 8th, Taiwan FDA opened the draft revision of Items of Health Care Effects According to Health Food Control Act for public comments.[1] The former health function list published on Dec 26th, 2014 will be abolished accordingly.[2] Any comments on the draft revision or abolition shall be returned within 60 days since Jul 8th.
Comparison between current health functions and the new ones (with changes highlighted):
| 14 New Health Functions | 13 Current Health Functions |
Protect the liver | Protect the liver |
Anti-fatigue | Anti-fatigue |
Regulate blood lipids | Regulate blood lipids |
Regulate blood sugar | Regulate blood sugar |
Immunoregulation | Immunoregulation |
Bone care | Bone care |
Dental care | Dental care |
Anti-aging | Anti-aging |
Accelerate the availability of iron | Accelerate absorption of iron |
Regulate gastrointestinal function improvement | Gastrointestinal function improvement |
Adjuvant regulation on blood pressure | Adjuvant regulation on blood pressure |
Prevention of body fat accumulation | Prevention of body fat accumulation |
Adjuvant regulation on allergic constitution | Adjuvant regulation on allergic constitution |
Joint care |
Health Food Function Claims in Taiwan
Health food approval system in Taiwan is a double-track system including case by case review and standard review. [3]
1. Case by case review: 14 health care effects
For health food obtaining approval through case by case review, the above listed 14 functions can be claimed. To be specific, the approved function claims for certain products are specified in their approval licenses.
2. Standard review: red yeast rice & fish oil
Standard review applies only for red yeast rice and fish oil. Function claims for such products are set by Taiwan FDA with specific expressions.
Red yeast rice: This product may help lower total cholesterol in blood; its function is learned by science, not testified through experiments.[3]
Fish oil: This product may help lower triglyceride in blood; its function is learned by science, not testified through experiments.[3]
*For more information regarding Taiwan health food regulation, please visit ChemLinked webinar Dietary Supplement Regulations in China Special Administrative Zones: Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.
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