Opinions are divided in India over the use of GMO foods to augment the local food system, with some experts renewing calls to approve its usage to help reduce food costs and environmental pollution, but others urging caution as the ‘scientific concerns’...
The Indian food industry is requesting the government to reduce Goods and Service Tax (GST) rates for commonly consumed local food items to reduce costs and cut food wastage – but branded food products are not part of this request, it has clarified.
South Korea has established CBD content limits for hemp foods in the country, as well as established meal kits as an individual new food category under regulatory governance after consumer demand for these soared during COVID-19.
A series of COVID-19 related lockdowns and travel restrictions has weakened the daigou retail channel for several health and nutrition brands in Australia, with brands such as Swisse, Bubs, and Nuchev, reporting sales slumps from the once lucrative channel.
Many Asian and Middle Eastern countries are not taking any actions to reduce trans fatty acid (TFA) in the food supply despite the high mortality rates from TFA consumption.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved a list of nutrient function claims for edible vegetable oils – a move which a leading expert believes will create more growth opportunities for the nutra industry.
Australia’s food industry has cautioned regulators not to impose new rules for Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) for food products, with the nation’s trade body citing cost and compliance concerns from its members.
Australian researchers have called out the local food system for being uncoordinated and overly complex in its governance, urging the government to work out a coherent and strategic approach for food-related policy-making.
The plant-based industry in India is calling on the Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) to reconsider its recent announcement proposing to ban the use of dairy terms such as ‘milk’ and ‘cheese’ for plant-based products, based on data from...
The importance of healthy ageing – and nutritional intervention across all life stages to promote it – has been underlined by new research showing that healthy life expectancy is failing to keep pace with total life expectancy in Australia and New Zealand,...
The Australian food and beverage industry says a new government manufacturing strategy will propel exports, boost jobs and revitalise its stagnant capital investment environment.
China’s well thought out regulatory policies for its hemp and CBD industry have been key to establishing a controlled, and growing, open market for downstream consumer products such as food and cosmetics, according to an expert panel.
Public health researchers have pushed for governments to develop policies and guidelines targeting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as a whole, instead of focusing on individual nutrients such as salt and sugar, based on the findings of a new study report.
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has introduced mandatory warning labels and tightened regulations governing ‘high caffeine’ beverages, including coffee and tea products.
India has introduced a ban on the sales, advertisement and promotion of all foods high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium (HFSS) in school grounds as well as within 50 metres from the premises.
The New Zealand food and beverage industry has vehemently rejected anti-GM (genetically modified) group GE Free NZ’s suggestion that New Zealand should split from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and establish its own food standards authority.
Domestic legislation is finally on the horizon for the Australian organic industry, which would particularly benefit food and beverage companies looking to export by providing more efficient access to foreign markets.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has revealed plans to make fortification mandatory for edible oil and milk over the next few months, in addition to intensifying its focus on local staples such as rice, wheat and salt.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has confirmed that the existing ban implemented on pure and highly concentrated caffeine food products will not be removed even with a new proposal underway to assess caffeine governance in the food supply.
Indonesia has called on the United Kingdom to implement equivalent regulations for rapeseed oil as stipulated in the the Due Diligence policy it is looking to apply to palm oil, in order to achieve proper ‘mutual recognition’ of each other’s regulatory...
The Chinese government has identified science, technology and manpower upgrades as areas of special focus over a ‘critical period’ across the next five years in order for the country to secure its national food supply.
APAC public health experts say they are optimistic that the UK’s recent moves to ban TV ‘junk food’ ads before 9pm will encourage governments in the region to adopt similar measures – but also want more comprehensive restrictions that cover digital media.
Indian trade association Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) has called upon the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to completely waive license renewals for food businesses due to COVID-19, instead of just extending the renewal...
The Indonesian government is urging its local food and beverage industry to embrace digital advancement and shift towards the use of local raw ingredients for manufacturing as part of the national Making Industry 4.0 industrial strategy.
The United Kingdom’s intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would greatly benefit food trade for APAC countries – but many hurdles lie ahead, according to expert analysis.
The Australian juice industry will need to play up the health benefits of consumption and its role in meeting current local dietary guidelines both on-pack and off, if it hopes to recover from the blow of its five health star rating loss.
Researchers in Thailand have called for the government to pursue more aggressive public health policies in addition to imposing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes in the country after an advanced simulation model revealed that this would have little...
Japan has banned the use of the terms ‘artificial’ and ‘synthetic’ to describe food additives on all food and beverage labels after consumer research found they were causing consumers to shun such products.
India has emerged as the top supporter of stronger alcohol policy implementation in a new study, where researchers also criticised labelling changes in Australia and New Zealand and called for stronger, more effective measures to be put in place.
The Australian government has released a range of sodium reformulation targets to be implemented on a voluntary basis by the local F&B industry over the next four years, but public health researchers believe that this should be made mandatory.
Sugar taxation has remained the most effective for of food taxation when it comes to reducing diet-related diseases as compared to taxes on salt, saturated fat and junk food, according to a recent New Zealand study.
The Chinese authorities has opened a public consultation to consider the use of milk minerals and a particular bacteria species as novel food raw materials.
India has moved to implement strict 0% ABV regulations for alcohol-free beer in the country as part of the country’s alcoholic beverages revision, while Thailand is mulling tax raises for the category - spelling tough times ahead for zero-alcohol beers...
The Philippines’ controversial new tax reform bill aims to help smaller local food and beverage pay lower taxes and stop larger firms from exploring existing system loopholes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak…but experts are warning implementation...
Asian countries that have implemented food export restrictions to protect local supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic will harm their commodity prices and damage their trade reputations, according to an expert from the Food and Agricultural Organisation...
India’s newest food tax saga stemming from Southern flatbreads being taxed higher than Northern ones has placed renewed focus on the country’s controversial GST system, provoking claims of ‘cultural racism’ from campaigners.
Australia’s implementation of the revised Health Star Ratings (HSR) system is on track with a focus on sugar and sodium reduction via a new nutrient calculator, as well as plans for 70% of industry uptake, the Australian Department of Health has confirmed.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an extension of free food ration distributions for the nation’s poor till November, but recent government data has also revealed that distributions till date have been ineffective in several major states.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) recently announced that it would be making industry-friendly changes to the text requirements for pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages – but its insistence to mandate coloured labels has left industry...
China recently announced new standards for dairy permeate imports, a first for the country and a prime example of how an industry can leverage resources to overcome regulatory challenges, according to a China trade regulations expert.
China’s COVID-19 focus has taken a clear food-related shift with a decided focus on stepping up food import regulations, despite this putting it at odds with foreign food firms and governments arguing against the probability of food-related virus spread.
Taiwan’s organic equivalence agreements policy means it risks losing over half of its organic imports, particularly those from its biggest trade partner EU, but despite this has shown no signs of shifting its stance.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has announced that it will be retaining just one of three major quality parameters used to test honey pureness authenticity that were previously removed, whilst also putting the onus on syrup importers...
The recently-ratified EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has seen major gains in food trade for both sides, particularly in rice and seafood for Vietnam as well as alcohol and meat for the EU.
Many big food and beverage companies in Malaysia have made commitments to improve product and population nutrition, but researchers have found these to be ‘weak’, ‘non-specific’ and lacking in comprehensiveness.
China should accelerate the development of its local cell-based meat sector to catch up with other countries that have a head start in this area, with a major focus placed on technology, regulations and innovation.
