Top 10 Global Food Regulation Highlights in 2023

The year of 2023 witnessed significant advancements and shifts in global food regulations, with governments and regulatory bodies taking bold steps to ensure food safety, sustainability, and consumer protection. In this article, ChemLinked compiled the top 10 global food regulation highlights of 2023, shedding light on the key trends, policies, and regulations that shaped the landscape of food safety and quality on a global scale.

1. China Unveils 85 New GB Standards, Involving Food Contact Materials, Strains and Food Additives

On September 25, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) and State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly enacted 85 new national food safety standards along with 3 amendment sheets. Of the new standards, 3 pertain to food products, 5 to food manufacturing and operations, 6 to food contact materials and articles, 55 to testing methods and 16 to specification of food additives and nutrition fortification substances. These standards will come into force in 2024. (Read More)

Several key standards are included:

Please click here for the list of the standards and corresponding implementation date. You can also find the full text of all those standards in ChemLinked Food Regulatory Database.

ChemLinked Interpretation

Except for three amendment sheets, all 85 new food standards will officially take effect in 2024. Besides, these standards encompass various aspects of the food industry, including food products, food additives, food contact materials and food manufacturing, it is crucial for stakeholders to prepare for compliance with these new standards.

2. China Publishes Several Major Regulatory Updates for Health Food

Throughout 2023, China has been actively introduced some essential new regulatory changes in the heath food sector:

On June 14, 2023, China released Health Food Raw Materials Directory - Nutrient Supplement (2023) and Health Function Catalogue Allowed for Health Food Claims - Nutrient Supplement (2023), expanding the permitted raw materials and function claims for nutrient supplements. Meanwhile, China approved two new functional ingredients into the raw material catalogue, namely, soy protein and whey protein. These new regulations have been enforced on October 1, 2023. (Read More)

On August 31, 2023, China released five new regulations concerning health food with immediate effect, including Function Catalogue Allowed for Health Food Claims Non-Nutrient Supplement (2023), Evaluation and Testing Method for Health Food Functions (2023) and other three guidance documents. The release of these regulation signifies the resumption of the health food registration mechanism's normal operations. (Read More)

On December 31, 2023, China announced to append three new functional ingredients, namely, ginseng, American ginseng, and Lingzhi (also known as reishi) into the “Health Food Raw Material Directory”. The announcement will come into effect on May 1, 2024. (Read More)

Apart from the above, China also released new regulations regarding the application of new functions and the labeling of health food logo. For more details, please join the upcoming webinar A Look Back at 2023: Food Regulatory Updates in China.

3. EU Improves the Regulation on Food Contaminant Levels, Replacing (EC) No 1881/2006

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is the previous legislation setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in food. In view of the numerous revisions that have been made and upcoming amendments to be made, EU introduced a new legislation Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on May 5, 2023, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. The new Regulation will come into effect on May 25, 2023. (Read more)

ChemLinked Interpretation

Compared to the previous regulation, the new regulation includes several major revisions. First, requirements have been separately stipulated for “food subject to sorting or other physical treatments before placing on the market for the final consumer or being used as a food ingredient”. Second, the maximum levels of cadmium do not apply to cereals that are used in beer production, provided that the cereal residue will not be put on the market as food. Third, the maximum levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coffee and infant formula have been updated. Fourth, the maximum level of melamine in liquid infant formula is set at 0.15 mg/kg. Finally, the regulation includes a series of transitional measures.

4. UK Introduces a New Mechanism for Food Imports

To establish UK’s own border control measures after the Brexit, the UK government introduces “The Border Target Operating Model”, a new approach to importing goods into Great Britain, that will be progressively introduced from the end of January 2024. (Read more)

ChemLinked Interpretation

One of the main elements is the introduction of a new Safety and Security model. All imported goods will be subject to Safety and Security declarations, which can help to prevent the import of illegal goods. Another key element is the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods model. Animals, animal-origin products, plants and plant products will be categorized based on risk assessment of high, medium, or low risk. Controls and percentages of checks will be conducted proportionately based on risk levels at the border.

5. Philippines to Revise Regulations on Food Additives and Processing Aids

On January 19, 2023, Philippines FDA unveiled the draft of Revised Guidelines on Food Additives and Processing Aids, Repealing Administrative Order 88-A s. 1984. The draft was formulated as a replacement of the existing Philippines regulations on food additives and processing aids, and shall apply to all manufacturers, distributors (importer, exporter, and wholesaler), and traders of food products. (Read More)

ChemLinked Interpretation

The current regulations governing food additives and processing aids in the Philippines are outdated and in need of urgent updates to align with current and emerging trends in food manufacturing. The draft aims to establish new guidelines that reflect international standards and regulations on the use of food additives in the Philippines.

6. Indonesia Updates the List of Prohibited Raw Materials in Processed Food and Prohibited Ingredients as Food Additives

On August 15, 2023, Indonesia food and drug administration (BPOM) published No. 22 of 2023 on Raw Materials Prohibited in Processed Food and Ingredients Prohibited from Use as Food Additives, as a replacement of BPOM Regulation No. 7 of 2018 on Prohibited Raw Materials in Processed Foods. For locally-produced and imported processed food products, they shall not contain any listed substances. The new list took immediate effect upon its promulgation. (Read More)

ChemLinked Interpretation

The new list encompasses a wide range of prohibited substances in processed food and as food additives. It is imperative for all food manufacturers to thoroughly review their manufacturing processes in order to ensure compliance with the updated list and avoid the use of any prohibited substances.

7. Vietnam Revises, Supplements and Annuls Several Important Food Safety Provisions

As revealed by an official Circular on September 25, 2023, Vietnam Ministry of Health amends, supplements and annuls a number of legal documents on food safety. The Circular comes into effect on November 9, 2023. Legal documents amended by this official Circular are as below. (Read more)

Circular No. 24/2019/TT-BYT Guiding the Management and Use of Food Additives
Decision 46/2007/QD-BYT Regulation on Maximum Limit of Biological and Chemical Contamination in Food
Circular No. 18/2019/TT-BYT Guiding Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the Production and Trading of Health Supplements
Circular No. 43/2014/TT-BYT Regulating the Management of Functional Foods
Circular No. 48/2015/TT-BYT Stipulating Food Safety Inspection Activities in Food Production and Trading Under the Management of the Ministry of Health

ChemLinked Interpretation

Important revisions have been made on Circular No. 24/2019/TT-BYT, Circular No. 18/2019/TT-BYT, and Circular No. 43/2014/TT-BYT. For example, permitted flavorings used in foods are with expanded scope, including fragrances that are recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (FEMA). Acknowledged certificates equivalent to health supplement’s GMP certificate are revised. Requirements on the content claims and health claims for health supplements are revised.

8. Thailand Updates the Regulations for the Use of Food Additives

On December 7, 2023, Thai Food and Drug Administration promulgated Ministry of Public Health Notification (No. 444) Re: Prescribing the Principle, Conditions, Methods and Proportion of Food Additives (No.3). This new regulation replaced Annex 1 (the use of food additives) and Annex 2 (food category system and note meaning) of MPOH notification No. 418, and entered into force on December 7, 2023. It is noteworthy that enterprises are given a two-year transitional period after the new version takes effect. (Read more)

ChemLinked Interpretation

MOPH Notification Re: Prescribing the Principle, Conditions, Methods and Proportion of Food Additives specifies the permitted food additives as well as their usage requirements in food, which is a very significant reference for the food products compliance in Thailand. The amendment this time aims to have the local requirements aligned with the international practices as well as enhance consumer safety protection efficacy.

9. South Korea Issues the Meat Alternative and FSMP Standards

On August 31, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) revised the Food Code, introducing meat alternatives and new type of Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP).

To guide safe manufacture, MFDS newly specifies the standards of meat alternatives, including the definition, manufacturing requirements, and product specifications. Foods to be claimed and sold as 'meat alternatives" refer to products manufactured using plant-based ingredients, microorganisms, edible insects, cell-cultured materials, or other substitutes instead of animal-derived ingredients. The shape, taste, and texture of meat alternatives should be similar to those of the existing animal-derived foods.

The manufacturing standards for four kinds of meat alternative products are also newly inserted in the regulation, including food products manufactured in a similar form to dried sausages, fermented dairy products, processed fishery products, and jerky products. These requirements related to meat alternatives enter into effect on January 1, 2024.

In addition, the standards and specifications of “nutritional formulas for hypertension patients (고혈압환자용 영양조제식품)”, "meal-type dietary management foods for hypertension patients (고혈압환자용 식단형식품)", as well as "water and electrolytes supplements (수분 및 전해질보충용 조제식품)" are newly added to the Food Code. The authority expects to provide multiple dietary choices for patients by establishing new provisions for FSMP. (Read more)

ChemLinked Interpretation

The sales of meat alternatives (대체식품) have seen an upward trend in South Korea. The emerging hot item has gained the attention of food enterprises at home and abroad. Establishing new standards for meat alternative products indicates that this product is no longer a market concept and should comply with the mandatory standards before being put into the market.

10. Japan to Implement New Policy on Food Contact Materials

On November 30, 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan issued Notification No. 324, officially announcing the Positive List for food utensils, containers, and packaging from June 1, 2025. Additionally, partial modifications have been made, including elimination, consolidation of substance names, and changes in restrictions, as a result of updating the PL management scope for synthetic resins. These modifications will also come into force on June 1, 2025. (Read more)

ChemLinked Interpretation

The released version of the Positive List is the official list that has been reviewed after several rounds of public consultation. It will be implemented starting from June 1, 2025. Notably, utensils, containers, packaging, or similar items that were sold, manufactured, imported, or used before June 1, 2020, and contain the materials and substances specified in Article 1 of the Enforcement Regulation of the Food Sanitation Act can also be considered as included in the revised Positive List.

To help businesses stay informed and navigate the dynamic regulatory landscape, ChemLinked is thrilled to present the "2023 Food Recap" webinar series, which includes four individual webinars. You can acquire all four webinars at a packaged price of $499. Please click here. The agenda of the webinar series is as follows:

Series	Covered market	Date	Single webinar fee	Packaged fee
1	China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan)	January 15, 2024	$159	$499
2	South Korea, Japan	January 16, 2024	$159
3	Southeast Asia, India	January 17, 2024	$159
4	Europe, North America, Oceania	January 18, 2024	$159