Food policy picks: Our top 5 regulation stories from 2017

By Gary Scattergood

- Last updated on GMT

Indian put GM foods on 'hiatus'. ©iStock
Indian put GM foods on 'hiatus'. ©iStock

Related tags Food Sugar

Edible insects, halal rules, sugar taxes and the ever-controversial issue of GM foods shared the spoils in our top five most-read policy stories of 2017.

While Asia-Pacific is often, and rightly, seen as a region of immense opportunity for food and beverage firms, its fragmented and frequently volatile landscape can make it a regulatory nightmare.

As our top five stories show, the prevailing trend for sugar taxes shows no signs of abating, while when it comes to edible insects it can be a lack of regulation that poses the problems.

Take a look at the full list to see what has been gaining traction this year.

1) Exploring the legal status of edible insects around the world

Entomophagy is a new phenomenon in the West and, as a result, it is rarely regulated. This leads to public institutions like food agencies and customs and health departments often finding themselves helpless in the face of new product developments based on processed insects. 

Read the full story here.​ 

2) India puts GM foods on ‘permanent hiatus’ 

Widespread opposition to ending the moratorium on genetically-modified food pushed the Indian government onto the back foot on the issue of GM foods. 

Read the full story here.​ 

3) Indonesian businesses prepare for the worst as they face up to universal halal law 

Concerns are mounting over a controversial new law to bring across-the-board halal certification to Indonesia, as an unprepared government department and industry figures wonder how they will cope with its implementation. 

Read the full story here. ​ 

4) Thailand to introduce new sugar tax over six years 

Thailand will phase in a sugar tax over six years in a bid to help drinks manufacturers to lower their sugar content and take advantage of a simultaneous lowering of tax on sugar-free beverages. 

Read the full story here.​ 

5) European firms to sue China for infringing their intellectual property 

European countries were to be granted the right to sue China if their food trademarks are counterfeited in the country. 

Read the full story here.

Related news

Show more

Related products

Experiencing Thai Taste with Biospringer

Experiencing Thai Taste with Biospringer

BIOSPRINGER, natural Yeast ingredients | 24-May-2022 | Technical / White Paper

Recently, the Asian tastes experience is blooming as consumers search for interesting regional taste.

Food design by extrusion

Food design by extrusion

Thermo Fisher Scientific | 15-Mar-2022 | Application Note

Food extrusion is an established and highly versatile technique for producing food, feed, nutritional additives and flavors.

Related suppliers

Follow us

Webinars

Food & Beverage Trailblazers

F&B Trailblazers Podcast