New changes in international food ingredients regulations

With the increasing frequency of China's trade exports, exporters face a corresponding increase in the importing countries to notify the failure of the situation. For exporters, it is important to understand the relevant regulations of the importing countries. 2021, many countries in the food sector issued a number of regulations and standards, which involve many new food ingredients. This article has been sorted out.

EU approved new food ingredients In 2021, the EU approved new food ingredients mainly include Lacto-N-neotetraose, 3'-salivary lactose sodium salt, 6'-salivary lactose sodium salt, 2'-fucose based lactose, partially defatted rapeseed meal, dried yellow mealworm larvae, coriander seed oil, frozen, dried and powdered form of East Asian flying locust, dried fruit of cottonwood, vitamin D2 mushroom powder. Fructose calcium borate, rootless pimples, etc.

Australia and New Zealand approved new food ingredients In 2021, Australia and New Zealand approved 2'-O-fucose based lactose (2'-FL), lacto-N-neotetrasaccharide (LNnT), rapeseed protein, etc. as new food ingredients.

Approved and banned food ingredients in Thailand Thailand issued the "Prohibited Foods for Production, Import and Sale" on February 25, 2021. The regulation repeals the Ministry of Public Health Circular No. 378, "Animals and Plants and Animal and Plant Parts Prohibited for Use in Food," with an annex specifying the list of animals and plants prohibited for production, import, and sale as food products.

In the repealed Notice No. 378, the annexes listed a total of 73 categories of plants and animals that are not allowed to be used in food and specified the parts that are not allowed to be used; in the newly issued Notice No. 424, the annexes listed 80 categories of plants and animals that are prohibited to be used and also detailed the parts that are not allowed to be used in each category. By comparison, it is found that most of the list of prohibited animals and plants have not changed significantly, but some of the prohibited parts of animals and plants have changed.

On July 23, 2021, the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand issued the Food Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis Ingredients, which officially came into effect on July 23, 2021. The regulation prohibits the production, import or sale of five categories of food products containing cannabis or cannabis ingredients. The five food categories are: infant formula and infant formula growth foods, infant formula powder and infant formula powdered milk, infant and toddler complementary foods, beverages containing caffeine, and other foods as specified.

On August 27, 2021, Thailand issued a public "food containing cannabidiol extracts", and August 27, 2021, the official effective date. The regulation establishes foods containing cannabidiol extracts as special controlled foods and sets the maximum limit requirements for cannabidiol and tetrahydrodiol in four food categories.

On November 23, 2021, the Thai Food Authority issued the "List of Ingredients Permitted for Use in Beverages (Except Caffeinated Beverages) and Coffee in Sealed Packages", which officially came into effect on November 23, 2021. The schedule of the regulation lists 360 permitted plants; 58 permitted plant and animal extracts; 30 permitted proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and fats; and 24 permitted other substances and synthetic substances. For substances that are not on the list, application to the Thai Food and Drug Administration is required.