Malaysia Proposes Major Food Regulation Changes Feedback Deadline July 19

On June 20, 2025, Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH) released draft amendments to several food safety regulations, inviting public feedback until July 19, 2025. These revisions cover probiotics, sweeteners, cocoa products, isotonic drinks, and food irradiation packaging.

Key updates to the Food Regulations 1985 include:

• Probiotics: Two strains—L. plantarum TCl378 and L. plantarum 299v—are added under Appendix Twelve-A.
• Sweeteners: New standards proposed for anhydrous glucose syrup, lactose, and dairy-based sweeteners, alongside revised standards for sugar, molasses, fructose, and icing sugar.
• Cocoa Products: Standards for cocoa nibs, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, and chocolate are updated, while requirements for white chocolate and milk chocolate are removed. New standards are introduced for cocoa mass, compound chocolate, and pre-mixed cocoa powder or chocolate powder.
• Isotonic Drinks: Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, or chlorides are explicitly defined.

In the Food Irradiation Regulations 2011, four new food packaging materials are approved for irradiation, including cardboard, wax-coated materials, polyethylene film, and PET film, with a maximum dose of 10 kGy.

Additionally, the Food (Food Analysis) Regulations 2016 outlines updates to testing fees.

The MOH invites stakeholders to review these amendments, which aim to enhance food safety standards and manufacturing regulations for both domestic and international markets.