China tariff adjustments 2025: Dairy big winner but sugary products take major hit
China’s recently-announced adjustment to its import tariffs will see many dairy products benefit – but various sugary solutions are expected to take a major hit.
Policy
Five must-know regulations set to impact the APAC food and beverage sector in 2025
From the delay of the much-disputed EU Deforestation Regulation to Singapore’s Nutri-Grade being expanded to sodium and fat content, FoodNavigator-Asia brings you five of the most need-to-know regulatory updates that will have a major impact on the food...
Sugar-sweetened beverage tax has limited impact on reducing non-communicable diseases: Review
Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) have limited real-world impact in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs), according to researchers at Indonesia’s IPB University.
Regulatory review: Our 2024 Top 10 most-read APAC F&B regulation and policy stories
We reveal the top 10 most viewed regulation and policy stories from the food and beverage industry in 2024, featuring the EU Deforestation Regulation, Malaysia milk regulations, South Korea recycled PET approval and more.
Indonesia updates genetically modified food regulations to clarify sale requirements
The Indonesian government has updated regulations governing the production and sale of genetically modified (GM) foods.
Indonesia WTO submission warns food firms against high sugar, salt or fat content
The Indonesian government’s latest notification to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has included a stern warning to both domestic and foreign food firms against introducing products with high sugar, salt or fat content.
India’s nutra regulations: Inter-ministerial committee report receives mixed industry response
An inter-ministerial committee from India has put forth a list of recommendations on how nutraceuticals could be regulated, which has received mixed industry response, especially around disease risk reduction claims.
Addressing Singapore’s ‘silver tsunami’: Nutri-Grade labelling expansion to include sodium and sat fat likely ‘to be effective’
Singapore’s move to extend the Nutri-Grade labelling and advertising prohibitions to key contributors of sodium and saturated fat will likely be ‘effective’, according to industry experts.
Safe food, safe kids: South Korea eyes legislation-led improvements in rural Children’s Diet Safety Index
South Korea is looking to improve the Children’s Diet Safety Index in its rural areas, after seeing poorer results compared to urban cities and the national average.
Risk minimisation: South Korean ministries urge national information-sharing collaboration to combat illegal food trade
South Korean ministries have signed a formal data-sharing agreement with local organisations in order to formulate more timely responses to illegal food and beverage trade at its borders, in response to a reported rise in such cases.
New Zealand to get ‘new bill’ to regulate natural products, while industry body voices ‘grave concerns’ over exports policy
The New Zealand government will introduce a new bill specifically to regulate natural products in the country, but no decisions have been taken on the scope or approach to be adopted, officials have announced.
Policy Picks: EUDR confusion and postponement, WHO infant nutrition guidelines, Indonesia Nutri-Level labelling and more feature in our round-up
EUDR confusion and postponement, WHO infant nutrition guidelines, Indonesia Nutri-Level labelling and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.
No one-size-fits-all solution: Irresponsible of WHO to expect adherence to its guidelines over local laws – Australia’s Infant Nutrition Council
Local laws governing infant nutrition cannot be subservient to WHO guidelines that were not approved by member states, says Australia’s Infant Nutrition Council (INC) as it questions the global bodies role over policy.
Sweet move? China may allow chocolates, candies, jellies, beverages for health foods filing
China may allow health foods in the form of chocolates, candies, jellies, and beverages to go through the official health foods filing process.
Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF)
Confusion still rife: Malaysian palm oil sector extends call for EUDR criteria clarity amidst proposed postponement
Malaysia’s palm oil industry representative body has argued that many aspects of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) still lack clarity, and that more transparency regarding its criteria is needed before it should be implemented.
WHO infant nutrition guidelines spark controversy over complementary feeding and formula policies in Australia
World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines have ignited debate in Australia over when to introduce complementary food into an infant’s diet, and the policies governing of infant formula manufacturers.
‘Positive progress’: Japan rejoices over Taiwan’s relaxing of restrictions on food exports affected by Fukushima nuclear disaster
The Japanese government has warmly welcomed Taiwan’s long-awaited decision to relax import restrictions on food exports affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, dubbing this as ‘positive progress’ towards full trade recovery.
Nutri-Level labelling: Indonesia plans new food labelling laws to mandate front-of-pack grading scheme
The Indonesian government has proposed new regulations that would mandate the use of its upcoming Nutri-Level front-of-pack traffic light labelling system for food products considered high in sugar, salt and fat.
Bigger and bolder: India food firms to bump up font sizes on product labels to ensure clarity
Food manufacturers in India have been mandated to increase the boldness and font size of product nutritional information such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat on product labels.
Microplastic contamination: India assessing exposure among consumers, plans new regulations
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to tackle the growing concern of microplastic contamination in food via a new project with leading researchers.
Protection push: China opens anti-subsidy investigation into EU-imported dairy products after industry demands
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has agreed to local dairy industry demands for an anti-subsidy investigation to be conducted on certain dairy products imported from the European Union (EU).
Reconstitution rejections: India food safety authority bans ‘misleading’ fruit juice claims
India’s food safety authority has announced regulations banning local beverage companies from labelling reconstituted fruit juices as ‘100% fruit juice’ to avoid public confusion.
Made in Vietnam: Stricter origin labelling regulations for food products to be finalised in 2025
The Vietnamese government has started to draft a proposal for stricter country-of-origin labelling for food products, to prevent fraud and boost international trade.
New alcohol labelling requirements for Australia and New Zealand move a step closer, industry generally supportive
Moves to introduce new alcoholic labelling standards in Australia and New Zealand, including listing carbohydrate, sugar, and energy values on pack, have moved a step closer.
'Go beyond safety': Policies needed to create healthier food environments in South Asia – latest study
Policy gaps including front-of-pack labelling, food taxation, marketing of 'unhealthy' products, and improvements in school nutrition standards are urgently needed in South Asia, according to a new study.
Mandatory health star ratings? ANZ ministers concerned with slow uptake, nutrition info panel update also planned
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is considering making the Health Star Rating (HSR) mandatory after sluggish uptake from brands, while also reviewing updates to the nutrition information panel (NIP) information on packaged foods.
New definition for GM foods in ANZ: Officials propose only those containing novel DNA be considered genetically modified
Foods that do not contain novel DNA will not be considered genetically modified, even though they may have been processed via new breeding techniques, according to new proposals from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
Clear and legible: Thailand announces new pre-packaged food labelling regulations mandating clarity and manufacturer responsibility
The Thai government has announced the enforcement of new labelling regulations for pre-packaged food products that emphasise increased information clarity for consumers as well as mandating the inclusion of manufacturer information.
No ‘shrinkflation’ surprises: South Korea mandates food firms to indicate portion reductions and sweetener usage on product labels
The South Korean government has announced new regulations mandating food and beverage firms to indicate portion size changes and any sweetener usage on their product labels.
No ‘new’ bugs: Singapore Food Agency emphasises food safety and labelling transparency in new Insect Regulatory Framework
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has emphasised that its recent announcement to allow insect imports for human consumption is underscored by food safety and transparent labelling regulatory requirements to ensure smooth integration of this nascent sector.
Vietnam’s PM instructs health ministry review rules for functional foods advertising
Vietnam’s prime minister has instructed the country’s Ministry of Health to review rules governing functional food advertising.
Huge tax hikes: Vietnam proposes phased 100% alcohol tax rise, 10% for sugar-sweetened drinks
The Vietnamese government has drafted new regulations proposing a phased increase on excise taxes for alcoholic beverages to 100% by 2030 as well as 10% for sugar-sweetened beverages, in attempts to curb overconsumption as well as boosting national income.
Kobayashi knock-on effect: Japanese functional foods businesses legally bound to four new rules from Sep
Manufacturers of Foods with Function Claims (FFC) are legally bound to four newly added requirements from September 1 – the latest move in regulating Japan’s functional foods industry since Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s red yeast rice scandal broke out.
Advertising accuracy: South Korea drills down on stricter food product labelling laws to avoid ‘deceptive’ claims
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has announced new, stricter regulations governing food product labelling, specifically prohibiting links to various types of herbal medicines and other health or nutritional claims.
Dairy descriptors: Taiwan drafts new regulations to ensure milk product clarity for consumers
Taiwanese authorities have drafted a new set of regulations for milk product labelling in the country, in the hope of reducing consumer confusion regarding the various items available on supermarket shelves.
Imports expedition: Philippines launches new digital ‘pre-border’ verification system for food products
The Philippines government has launched a new digital ‘pre-border’ verification and payment system for food and other product imports to improve efficiency, with the scheme to be headed by a multi-ministry committee.
‘Use it - or be made to’: ANZ ministers gives food firms 17 months to hit Health Star Ratings targets
Food firms in Australia and New Zealand have been told that that if current 70% Health Star Rating uptake targets are not hit by November next year, it is likely to lead to mandatory implementation.
Job Creation Law challenges: Indonesia delays halal mandate for small food firms by two years in view of slow progress
The Indonesian government has announced a two-year postponement of its mandate for all food and beverage enterprises to be halal certified, originally set for this year, in view of governance changes and the slow progress being made.
Policy Picks: Thailand alt-protein policies, South Korea new cultivated meat rules, EUDR analysis blasted by experts and more in our round-up
Thailand alt-protein policies, South Korea new cultivated meat rules, EUDR analysis blasted by experts and more in this edition of Policy Picks.
‘Clear direction’ needed: Thailand drafts new alt-protein policies that ban certain animal-related terms for plant-based products
The Thai government has published draft regulations on governance over the alternative proteins industry starting with the plant-based sector, and has suggested banning certain animal-related terms but allowing others.
Food marketing to kids: Member states urged to implement new ASEAN standards to ‘protect’ children
The ASEAN Secretariat’s newly-launched food marketing standards to ‘protect’ children have put mandatory marketing policies and the establishment of a classification system at the core of its strategy, calling on the 10 member states to put these into...
Final order: Philippines formalises new regulations requiring food firms to declare ‘sample’ foods entering the market
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formalised new regulations requiring food firms to obtain a new specific ‘Samples Only’ import permit for all products meant for research use after a year of deliberations.
South Korean cultivated meat: Food safety and public health to be top priority in upcoming new regulations
The South Korean food authorities have highlighted that public health and potential food safety concerns will be its top priorities when developing the upcoming regulations to govern cultivated meat in the country.
Stopping single-use: Abu Dhabi to ban specific Styrofoam products from June 1
Abu Dhabi is implementing a ban on various “avoidable” single-use Styrofoam consumer products, which will take effect from June 1, 2024.
Supplier security: Japan issues new food distribution guidelines to protect manufacturers from retailer practices
The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has introduced new distribution guidelines in an effort to protect food manufacturers from retailer practices and prevent food product wastage.
Responsibility underlined: Food brands responsible for safety of end-product packaging – Japan government
The Japanese government has clarified that the final responsibility to ensure the safety and quality of food packaging lies with food manufacturer producing the end-product that will reach consumers.
Sustainability snag: Experts blast new EU-funded analysis touting ‘shortcomings’ in Malaysian palm oil certification scheme
Palm oil industry experts have criticised a new EU-backed analysis that identified ‘shortcomings’ in Malaysia’s national sustainability certification scheme that prevent it from being fully accepted under the new EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR).
Sugar tax support in Australia: Messaging needs to go beyond ‘concerns over practices in the food industry’ – Study
Targeted messaging based on personal characteristics and demographics might have more success in garnering support for controversial sugar taxes than focusing on the impact to the food industry, claim researchers in Australia. Several countries in...
News
Government to take ‘light tough’ approach to border controls
The UK Government plans to take a ‘light touch’ approach to post-Brexit checks on food in a bid to avoid red tape and bureaucracy, according to the exports minister.
Global implications: Japanese style diet could help achieve sustainable development goals worldwide
Adopting a Japanese style diet could help achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) worldwide, according to new research.