The Philippines Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has approved a new round of sugar imports into the country, on the back of requests from local food manufacturers such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Liquor adulteration prosecution under NSA in India, China's national health guidelines, Thai GMO regulations and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.
Thailand has drafted a new set of regulations for comments, targeting food and food products containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which covers the entire spectrum across plant, microorganism and animal-based foods.
The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has passed several amendments to penalties for offenders involved in liquor adulteration, including prosecution under National Security Act (NSA) and Gangster Act.
Punjab has topped the list of adulterated and/or misbranded food items in India despite active efforts by the local food safety department to eradicate this, according to official government numbers.
China’s national health strategy guidelines, dubbed the ‘Healthy China Movement’, has announced ambitious goals of cutting dietary oil, salt and sugar nationwide by 2030, in tandem with the overarching ‘Healthy China 2030’ initiative.
Fruit companies in Thailand are feeling the heat after China introduced new requirements for durian imports from the country to come with a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, claiming that this would both negatively affect export volumes...
The Health Star Ratings (HSR) scoring system has come under fire yet again as the completion of its five-year-review draws close, with both consumer groups and academics calling for major changes in its proceedings.
Most New Zealand consumers have “got the message” about switching to some of the many no- or low-sugar drinks now available, according to the country’s top food and beverage industry association.
Sugar sweetened beverages are one of very few “clearly unhealthy products” that are readily promoted to children and “significantly contribute” to poorer health outcomes as people age, according to a leading health consultant.
Simply “slapping on” a sugar tax to sugar sweetened beverage tax to tackle obesity, diabetes and improving long-term health outcomes when Asia’s ageing population reaches its senior years is misguided, according to the CEO of the Australian Beverages...
An Australian-led RCT has found that restricting calorie intake moderately, by people only marginally overweight, can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A new study from the University of Otago has highlighted the overall effectiveness of sugar taxation in several countries where it has been implemented, but stressed that both taxation design and policy consistency need to be taken into account to increase...
Coca-Cola, Nestle and Fonterra, which all participated in the surveys and interviews conducted for the report by IGD and Food Industry Asia, reaffirmed to FoodNavigator-Asia their commitment towards healthier reformulation, especially around sugar reduction.
A new food labelling regulations draft published by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) suggesting colour coded labelling for products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) has drawn fervent protest from the nation’s food and beverage...
South Korea has upgraded the enforcement regulations for its Imported Food Act, with an import sanitation appraisal now mandatory for multiple types of food products.
Malaysian trade officials have insisted they are standing firm on a decision to grant sugar import licenses to eight Sarawak food and beverage manufacturers, allowing them to bypass local sugar refiners, despite vehement protests from the latter.
The Philippines lifted its ban on the importation of several fish species from the nuclear-hit region of Fukushima, despite the fact the country didn’t import such products in the first place.
Malaysia has implemented its sugar tax targeting sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the country, which has led major beverage companies to reformulate products in an attempt to curb its impact – but is this enough to meet the government’s goal of combatting...
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is looking to amend the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act to expand its jurisdiction over the country’s food product exports, in addition to relaxing licenses and gaining control over animal feed.
A packaged drinking water plant operated by India’s Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has finally reached the final stages of its launch after it was first conceptualized some 12 years ago and continuously embroiled in controversy ever since.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been ordered to head up a committee examining the necessity of establishing further regulations governing the use of plastic packaging for food products in the country.
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has named five ‘fake vinegar’ brands following continued pressure by government officials and the public – but consumers are now demanding to know why the other 275+ have been kept confidential.
The Pakistani government will be doubling the country’s sugar tax to 17% as well as implementing a raft of other levies, as revealed in the country’s recent Federal Budget 2019-20 announcement.
The Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Adminstration Department has warned the Indian public about the continued dangers of adulterated edible oil despite a recent labelling change made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Popular China-made candy White Rabbit has recently been under fire in Brunei after a study conducted by the country’s Islamic authority revealed it to contain pig protein, and Malaysia now looks likely to follow in its South East Asian neighbour’s footsteps.
Taiwan has passed an amendment to the country’s food safety laws that will allow for a penalty of up to NT$1mn (US$31,800) or up to three years imprisonment to be imposed on those spreading fake food safety news in the country.
Singapore has confirmed the ban of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) - a form of trans fats - as an ingredient in all foods, with the new rules expected to come into force from June 2021.
Oman's new taxes, Malaysia and Brunei's White Rabbit candy non-halal debate, Taiwan's tightened regulations for egg imports and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.
Oman is joining other GCC states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar in implementing a selective tax on energy drinks, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco.
The Oman government’s flagship dairy project, Mazoon Dairy, is expected to begin production by next month as part of the stat’s drive to strengthen its food security.
Philippines Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol has urged the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to release the brand names of vinegar products containing synthetic acetic acid, recently found to...
Extensive investment in innovation to develop more sustainable products, as well as ambitious CO2 reduction targets directly linked to the company's bottom line, are two of the key strategies DSM is adopting as part of its sustainability efforts....
Recently re-elected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the government will not be taking up the Australian Tax Office (ATO) suggestion to extend the application of Goods and Service Tax (GST) to a broader range of food items.
Thailand’s efforts to drive food innovation are reaping rewards with the country’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) now pledging to promote these novel products to new export markets.
The Taiwan Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has announced a new food safety certification requirement for the import of eggs and a raft of egg products and ingredients from August this year.
The Taipei City Government Department of Health has issued a warning against the use of the blue butterfly pea plant for direct consumption as a food or beverage, although its use as a natural food colouring agent has been permitted.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered for the postponement of yet another food-related regulation implementation, this time surrounding the labelling of wheat flour.
Policy development’s involving raw milk in New Zealand, coconut oil in India and rice in the Philippines are featured in our latest round-up of regional policy changes.
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is considering the removal of suggested retail prices (SRPs) for rice in the wake of the rice tariffication law being signed earlier this year.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned 14 brands of coconut oil in the southern state of Kerala, citing the detection of adulteration.
Indian regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has urged the government to again extend its 11-year-old ban on Chinese milk products until labs at Indian ports have been upgraded for melamine testing.
The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) has launched an online survey seeking public consultation on the efficacy of current regulations surrounding raw milk.
Local authorities may soon address possible 'gaps' in Singapore’s legislation regarding and healthy food products, with regulator Singapore Food Agency (SFA) commissioning a study to assess its rules regime.
Honey companies and Maori collectives have met with Kiwi government representatives at a hui (Maori assembly), seeking faster government action and a better solution to issues wrought by recently implemented mānuka honey regulations.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has ordered for ‘indiscriminate action’ and surveillance by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) to be carried out in the province throughout the Ramadan festival period.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has postponed the enforcement of organic food certification and regulations for small organic firms, making this the agency’s fourth postponement of regulations related to food products since January...
Malaysia has signed an agreement with China to resume the much-debated East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which will include increased palm oil exports to the latter, said Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.