APAC salt reformulation rises in response to grading schemes, salt taxes
With salt taxes looming and nutri-grade schemes making their mark, more APAC food firms must reformulate to meet health and regulatory demands
Today, focus has shifted from sugar to also include salt in various markets. Thailand, for example, has already announced that it will be introducing a tiered salt taxation system that is expected sometime this year which will be closely modelled after its sugar tax system.
“Thai consumers consume around 3,600mg of sodium a day, which is far more than the WHO guidelines of no more than 2,000mg daily,” Thai Excise Department Director-General Kulaya Tantitemit said at a local press conference.
China updates organic certification standards for food sector
China has revised its organic food certification rules, strengthening requirements for products to obtain the Organic Product Certification Mark
The Chinese government recently announced an updated version of the local Organic Product Certification Implementation Rules, which will be enforced starting January 1 2026.
The new regulations have included stricter standards and procedures that organic certification agencies will be utilising for all certificate issuances as well as post-certification supervision and management next year.
‘A national shame’: FSSAI embroiled in fight over ORS label misuse
India’s latest labelling ban has been stayed by a New Delhi court, raising concerns over continued sales of high-sugar oral rehydration products
JNTL, producer of ORS products under the ORSL brand, filed a petition on October 17 against the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) recent ban on ‘ORS’ (oral rehydration salts) label usage.
The New Delhi court has since restrained enforcement of the ban against JNTL’s stock of ORS products, giving the firm a week to make representations on the case.
ORSL remains available on e-commerce sites such as Amazon and PharmEasy as of late October.
Another EUDR backflip: How did we get here?
In a dramatic pivot, the EU’s anti-deforestation law looks like it will be pushed back for some, and reworked for all. Here’s a timeline to help with the whiplash
Let’s break down where we started, how we got here, and crucially for industry, where we’re going.
Seafood sector pivots to Asia amid rising demand and US tariff woes
Asia’s seafood appetite offers growth as exporters diversify from US tariff-hit markets, experts say at Singapore Seafood expo
Globally, 20% of consumers are eating more fish and seafood, driven by variety and novelty, according to Innova Market Insights’ 2025 seafood trends report.
New product development has centred on tuna, salmon, shrimp and sardines, often minimally prepared through marination, pre-frying or breading.
