News, Analysis & Insights on Nutrition, Supplements, and Health
There are plans among China botanical extracts suppliers to build operations in South East Asia in a bid to bypass potential tariffs hikes under the new Trump administration.
Japan is seeking to alleviate the impact of global warming on its domestic food supply chain after new data showed how rising temperatures are hitting crops and increasing food loss.
The dietary supplement industry continues to closely monitor the evolution of tariff policies between China and the United States, pending the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.
South Korea’s food and drug regulator has banned almost 20 supplements that claim to support memory and concentration from the US, Japan and New Zealand as they contain ingredients regulated as pharmaceutical drugs in the country, say officials.
Malaysia’s drug and health products regulator said that it has received five applications on natural products making so-called ‘modern claims’ since it introduced the framework in April this year, with one application approved as of October.
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.
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.
China may allow health foods in the form of chocolates, candies, jellies, and beverages to go through the official health foods filing process.
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.
The palm oil and other agrifood sectors may have breathed a collective sigh of relief at the European Commission (EC) announcement that EUDR enforcement will be delayed – but experts are warning that the root problems are yet to be resolved.
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.
We look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across Asia-Pacific's health and nutrition sector, such as growing interest in acquiring halal-certification among food firms, and new regulatory initiatives by Food Standards Australia New Zealand...
Indonesia will be able to capitalise on a ‘golden opportunity’ with its halal food products industry as long as it improves product quality, safety and infrastructure, according to a leading halal certification official.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is considering allowing the use of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7 in Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP).
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.
The recent ban on nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) into China via cross-border e-commerce was due to safety considerations, says a local industry association, which added that several China companies have put forth their products for health foods...
Exclusive data on Japan's functional foods sector has highlighted a growing demand for 'femcare', signalling growth potential in areas such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and vaginal health.
Nine companies from South Korea were caught for promoting goat extract and goat soup as health functional foods in the country’s latest crackdown on problematic food advertising.
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.
We look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across Asia-Pacific, including Vietnam’s new limits on contaminant levels in health supplements, Indonesia’s new halal certification system for overseas products entering the country and more.
Vietnam is introducing new limits on contaminants permitted in health supplements from August 1, 2025, but existing products can still be sold in the market until their expiry dates.
The Indonesian government has launched a new halal certification system dedicated to international companies which is expected to significantly accelerate certified product imports into the country, including for foods and beverages.
The rapid rise of social commerce has brought along a host of problems related to the advertising of dietary supplements and functional foods in Vietnam, according to statistics from the industry association.
There is an ongoing discussion between India’s food and drug regulators, as well as industry, on whether vitamins and minerals above one recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and upper limits should be regulated by the drug regulator instead.
We look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across Asia-Pacific, including Vietnam’s Ministry of Health reviewing functional foods advertising rules, new requirements for Japan’s FFC manufacturers, and ANZ authorities’ push for Health Star...
Vietnam’s prime minister has instructed the country’s Ministry of Health to review rules governing functional food advertising.
China approved nearly 600 infant formulas based on the new GuoBiao (GB) or national standards last year.
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.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is proposing new labelling requirements for health supplements that come in a larger dosage size.
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.
We look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across APAC, including what's next for New Zealand's natural health products regulatory landscape, Japan requiring all Food with Function Claims (FFC) in tablets, capsules forms to comply with GMP...
The South Korean government has set up a regulatory committee to implement an ‘instant sales’ direct-to-consumer food commercialisation industry project, hoping to help small businesses and reduce national food waste.
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) has made it mandatory for companies making Food with Function Claims (FFC) in the supplement format, such as tablets and capsules, to follow the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). They are also required to report...
New Zealand’s associate health minister has attempted to assure industry players that they will have a modern regulatory regime that will boost exports while cutting red tape, but refused to commit to exact timelines for both quick wins or longer-term...
Health functional foods imported into South Korea can now go through automatic document screening which takes up to only five minutes – an initiative that is also expected to help importers lower logistics costs when crossing the customs.
A proposal by Feihe Dairy’s chairman to add a new functional foods category to China’s regulatory system could offer financial and innovation benefits to brands, but there are concerns around its practicality and industry compliance.
Vitamin D intake of 10 mg per day is appropriate for children under four years of age to maintain serum 25OHD concentrations, twice what was previously recommended.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has lifted a ban on the use of pomegranate seeds and raspberry ketones in food products.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is clamping down on e-commerce websites selling “health drinks”, as there are currently no regulations set in place for such products.
The New Zealand natural health products industry is calling for urgent action to protect and boost exports after the country's health minister said the government would repeal the Therapeutic Products Act due to come into force in 2026.
The South Korean regulator has permitted the individual resale of health functional foods via online platforms from May 8 in a one-year long pilot project.
Ayurveda and other related drugs or products are not allowed to claim nutraceutical value, the Indian authorities said.
India’s protein sector is beset with misleading labels and there is also a worrying level toxin and heavy metal contamination, according to a new study, with calls being made for tighter regulatory oversight.
The introduction of a new ‘modern claims’ system in Malaysia has been welcomed by industry players as it could drive more clinical research, expand new product options for consumers, and open local and international market opportunities.
In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across APAC, including South Korea's plans in implementing a customised health functional food system following the success of a four-year pilot program,...
South Korea is on course to implement a “Customised Health Functional Food System” next January, which aims to meet personalised nutrition needs, boost the country’s health functional foods industry, and enhance product safety control.
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.
Hair loss prevention is not yet approved as a benefit claim for health functional foods in South Korea, warns regulator Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), which caught 146 online advertisements making related claims.
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA), which oversees the Foods with Function Claims (FFC) sector, is asking all businesses to declare any health hazards linked to their products in the wake of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s red yeast rice saga.
Taiwan has finalised the labelling requirements when making nutrition claims for prepackaged foods, after completing two public consultations across more than two years of deliberation.