Regulatory review: Halal certification, vitamin K2 use in FSMP, health star ratings and more

Halal advancements: Indonesia on the brink of ‘golden opportunity’, but quality and infrastructure focus needed​​

Indonesia will formally enforce the regulation mandating all products traded in the market, including foods and beverages, to be halal-certified in October 2024.

Increasingly, products that are on the Positive List and do not require halal certification are going for the certification, due to strong economic growth seen in the halal sector.

Dr H. Mamat Salamet Burhanudin from the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) explained that halal-certification was also a way for assuring safety and quality.  

'Greater absorption': Australia, New Zealand regulator considering vitamin K2 use in FSMP​

The FSANZ is considering allowing the use of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7 in FSMP. 

It has opened a public consultation which ends on October 11 on the matter.

Vitamin K is currently permitted for use in FSMP as vitamin K1, specifically in the form of phylloquinone.

Mandatory health star ratings? ANZ ministers concerned with slow uptake, nutrition info panel update also planned​

The FSANZ is considering making the HSR mandatory after sluggish uptake from brands, while also reviewing updates to the nutrition information panel (NIP) information on packaged foods.

The regulator has set the goal of 60 per cent uptake of HSR by November 14 this year and 70 per cent by the same time next year. However, as of the start of 2023, only 30 per cent of New Zealand products and 32 per cent of Australian products were using the label.

The initiative is aimed at helping consumers make informed and healthier choices when buying packaged foods.

NMN in China: Safety first, with health foods registration underway for some companies​​

The recent ban on nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) into China via cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) was due to safety considerations, says a local industry association, which added that several China companies have put forth their products for health foods registration.

The widely popular ingredient, which has come to be synonymous with anti-ageing and longevity in China, is not yet approved for use in pharmaceuticals, health foods, as food additives or novel food raw material in the country.

Supplements containing NMN can enter China via CBEC or via direct mail, but even the CBEC channel has come under scrutiny recently.

Australia’s TGA plans to add liver injury warning to weight management ingredient​ ​

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is proposing to add liver injury warnings to complementary medicines containing the popular weight management ingredient Garcinia cambogia – also known as Garcinia gummi-gutta.

It is proposing to add the warning: “In rare cases, Garcinia gummi-gutta may harm the liver. Stop use and see a doctor if you have yellowing skin/eyes or unusual: fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, dark urine, or itching.”​

If implemented, companies will need to start doing so from March 1 next year, with a one-year transition grace period.