New data from one of Singapore’s largest child-focused studies has indicated that there is ‘much room for improvement’ in the diet quality of children to prevent them suffering from negative health and cognition issues in the long run.
Samyang, CJ Cheiljedang, GS25 and more large South Korean corporations have joined a government initiative to boost SME food exports and distribution channels.
The South Korean government has refined its new expiration dates system with the launch of a new database that is equipped with a search function and specific guidance on ‘use-by’ timeframes for processed foods.
Singapore-based Aqua Gold believes that rising interest in food products that can meet the elements of nutrition, valorisation and clean label have laid out a strong foundation for the success of its new furikake brand O.NILO.
The seafood sector in Asia requires major transformations both in terms of operational technologies and perception shifts, if the industry hopes to see effective and lasting transformation.
Consumers in Thailand have been found to be among the most inclined in the ASEAN region to seek out affordable products but still focus on value, driving a strong demand for ‘stacked benefits’ innovation and spelling major opportunities for local private...
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.
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.
Plant-based industry experts APAc are divided on the future direction of the sector, with some believing that it is likely to be integrated into local culture and others still hoping for a more radical takeover.
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.
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.
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.
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.
World Food Prize winner Dr Shakunthala Thilsted believes that all-inclusive food system transformation will require a greater focus on combining big data and traditional knowledge as well as better recognition of aquatic food potential and consumer diversity.
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.
The South Korean government’s national food export strategy will see experiential marketing and support for food firms to export to second-line cities worldwide become major areas of focus, amid its bid to hit an 80% overseas favourability rating by 2027.
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has launched a new public-private collaborative project focusing on food exports, aiming to boost progress towards the national JPY5tn (US$31.7bn) by 2030 target.
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is implementing stricter food safety requirements when importing animal-based products into the country.
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.
Close to 90% of municipalities in Japan need to improve accessibility to food for elderly consumers amid the country’s shift to an ageing population, according to new government data.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is seeking public comment on draft regulations for the newly-coined ‘defined foods’ category, which will cover novel foods, genetically modified foods and insect-related foods.
Singapore food businesses looking to expand reach to the Middle East must be prepared with next-level persistence and a longer-than-average financial plan to succeed - but the returns can be tenfold, according to industry experts.
Consumer-facing food and beverage brands play a ‘critical role’ in moving the Asia Pacific agrifood system towards digitalisation, organisation and long-term sustainability by influencing consumer purchasing decisions, say experts.
New evidence suggests that brands and government need to scrap altruistic messaging about climate change and focus on health and culture to promote sustainable eating in Asia.
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is facing major pushback from ministers and trade organisations within Europe, alongside continued pressure from palm oil producer nations in Asia, casting doubt on hopes for a smooth implementation.
Vietnam has completed and recently launched its new digital food safety management system which was developed in partnership with South Korea, with a particular focus on food poisoning outbreak monitoring across the country.
The Japanese government is cracking down on counterfeit agri-food product exports protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) scheme with the use of digital monitoring technology.
The cultivated meat sector looks to be in for a long term of funding and growth uncertainty amidst a global ‘funding winter’, even in Singapore which many start-ups in the industry considered ‘the place to be’ from a regulatory and financial.
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will establish a new electronic recall system for pre-packaged processed food products found to be in violation of domestic food safety regulations.
Improved traceability procedures and an updated regulatory labelling system are urgently needed in China to prevent seafood fraud, according to new research
Retailers in APAC need to increase the support given to sustainability-focused food and beverage products in order to match brand initiatives and boost consumer awareness, say experts.
Japanese officials and seafood exporters have joined forces to explore new overseas markets, with the sector still reeling from China’s import ban in the wake of the Fukushima wastewater release last year.
Developing markets in Asia and Africa risk being sidelined in the efforts to create a more sustainable food system, unless inclusion and affordability are placed front and centre to improve nutrition.
South Korea is expanding its AI-based screening system SAFE-i24 to include processed food imports, in a bid to maintain food safety and quality while maximising efficiency particularly during peak seasons.
South Korea is to increase inspections and analysis of shellfish and egg products in order to cut down the risks of food poisoning outbreaks, most notably of norovirus and salmonella.
The South Korean government has plans to significantly boost the level of food safety assurance in the local food system by investing into facility and technological improvements for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) advancement.
More than two thirds (68%) of food and drink businesses are optimistic about future growth, despite costs continuing to be a significant challenge, according to a survey by accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael.
The Chinese government’s new draft regulations governing the labelling of pre-packaged foods and beverages contains stricter guidelines, including mandating manufacturers to include clearer information on compound ingredients as well as more country of...
The government of Vietnam has its eye on increasing food trade across various product categories with China, citing huge population demand for meat as well as ongoing successful fruit and vegetable trade relationships as notable drivers.
China-based Evergreen Food has developed a huge portfolio of convenience-focused ready-to-use seafood products in a bid to expedite exports of local seafood dishes that would usually be too complicated to prepare without expertise.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has highlighted that cultivated meat still needs to meet a ‘more rigorous’ set of requirements to be halal-certified, even though it has been deemed potentially permissible for halal consumption.
Digitalisation in seafood needs to be implemented consistently across the entire supply chain, and not just aquaculture, in order to avoid the risks of lopsided growth and diminished efficiency, according to industry experts.
Food industry experts in Thailand remain optimistic over the potential of plant-based meat in the country despite slower-than-expected uptake, citing hybrid innovation as one of the growth opportunities.
The Indonesian government is revising food packaging regulations in response to consumer and academic concerns over the presence of dangerous chemicals entering the food supply chain.
Brands in South Korea have been compelled to submit product nutritional information, which the government has used to update its national food database for processed goods.
Major Japanese brands Ajinomoto and Meiji have highlighted how efficient inventory management will be key to reduce food waste throughout their supply chains, as part of their commitment to the national Food Loss Reduction Declaration.
We take a closer look at five of the top trends that look set to shape the Asia Pacific food and beverage industry in 2024, from the newly-emerged ‘premium affordability’ to the evolution of plant-based protein, the rise of RTD beverages and more.
From the hotly-debated EU Deforestation Regulation to increasing governmental scrutiny over pre-packaged and processed food nutritional labelling and packaging, FoodNavigator-Asia brings you five of this year’s need-to-know regulatory updates for 2024.