导航菜单
This article provides a comprehensive overview of key regulatory developments in the food sector in October 2026, both in China and internationally. It focuses on updates related to new food ingredients, food additives, health foods, and feed, aiming to offer timely and in-depth regulatory alerts for enterprises engaged in food import and export.
🔘 China Released Draft Revisions to the Food Safety Law for Public Consultation
On October 10, 2026, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Draft Revision of the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China for public consultation.
China's current Food Safety Law was first enacted in 2009 and comprehensively revised in 2015. Since its implementation, the law has provided an effective legal framework for regulating food production and business operations, preventing and managing food safety risks, and strengthening regulatory oversight and enforcement. However, with ongoing economic and social developments in recent years, food safety governance has encountered new issues, tasks, and challenges, prompting the need for further revisions.
Source: China SAMR
🔘 GACC Issued Risk Alerts for Three Imported Health Supplements
In October 2026, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) issued risk alerts for three imported health supplement products after contaminants were detected during cross-border e-commerce food safety monitoring. The products included GOOD HEALTH Oyster Plus capsules (nine affected batches), Vangii Quercetin Capsules (batch JH25041201), and ORAMA Quercetin Capsules (batch OQ25727).
GACC advised consumers to stop using the affected products immediately. No imports of these products through general trade channels had been identified.
Source: GACC
🔘 China's Non-compliant Food Imports in September 2026
On October 20, 2026, China's General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) released information on food products denied entry at Chinese ports in September 2026. In September, Chinese customs authorities identified 546 batches of food products that failed to meet safety, hygiene, or other relevant requirements and were therefore denied entry. This represented a 28% month-on-month decrease, down 209 batches from 755 in August 2026, but a 23% year-on-year increase, up 103 batches from 443 during the same period last year. Read more.
🔘 China Amends Filing Rules for Importers and Exporters of Imported Food
On October 23, 2026, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) issued Announcement No. 150 of 2026, releasing the amended Administrative Provisions on Filing of Importers and Exporters of Imported Food. The revised provisions introduce simplified filing procedures and updated requirements for domestic food importers and overseas food exporters and agents. Read more.
🔘 South Korea Proposed Revisions to Health Functional Food Standards and Specifications
On October 23, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) proposed amendments to the Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods.
Key changes include adding three new raw materials for the production of folic acid, magnesium, and iron; expanding permitted manufacturing methods for EPA/DHA-containing oils; broadening the recognized source materials for mucopolysaccharide-protein; and removing the upper limit of 10 billion CFU for daily probiotic intake, while retaining a minimum intake of 100 million CFU.
The proposal also revises the regulatory framework for ingredient specifications, microbial testing requirements, and daily intake labeling for certain functional ingredients. Public comments are open until December 23, 2026.
Source: MFDS
🔘 South Korea Restricted Blood Glucose Reduction Claims on Certain Functional Foods
On October 23, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) amended the Regulation on Functional Claims or Advertisements for Foods Not Deemed False or Misleading.
The amendment restricts the use of blood glucose reduction claims on foods that use sweeteners and qualify for low-sugar standards, aiming to prevent misleading functional claims and protect consumers.
Source: MFDS
🔘 US FDA Finalized Guidance on Identity and Safety Information for New Dietary Ingredient Notifications
On October 19, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance on the identity and safety information required for New Dietary Ingredient Notifications (NDINs). The guidance provides recommendations for manufacturers and distributors on the information and supporting studies to include in NDIN submissions, covering ingredient identity, history of use or other evidence of safety, and the basis for concluding safety. It finalizes three sections of the FDA's 2016 revised draft guidance, while other sections remain under review.
Source:U.S. FDA
🔘 US FDA Advances Closer to Zero Initiative to Reduce Heavy Metals in Baby Food
On October 22, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new measures under its Closer to Zero initiative to reduce children’s exposure to heavy metals in food. These include proposed action levels for cadmium in processed foods intended for babies and young children, as well as draft guidance on controlling chemical hazards in food manufacturing. The FDA is seeking public comments on both proposals, with deadlines of December 22, 2026, and January 21, 2027, respectively.
Source: U.S. FDA
🔘 Canada Proposed Lower Limits for Vitamin B6 and Selenium in Supplemented Foods
On October 22, 2026, Health Canada proposed amendments to the List of Permitted Supplemental Ingredients to reduce the maximum permitted levels of vitamin B6 and selenium in supplemented foods, including caffeinated energy drinks.
For vitamin B6, the proposed maximum would decrease from 38 mg to 10 mg per serving for other supplemented foods, and from 11 mg to 10 mg for caffeinated energy drinks. For selenium, the proposed limits would decrease from 69 μg to 21 μg and from 35 μg to 6 μg per serving, respectively. The proposals also introduce or lower thresholds for mandatory cautionary labeling. Public comments are open until January 20, 2027.
Source: Health Canada
🔘 Canada Proposed Four Changes to Permitted Food Additive Lists
On October 29, 2026, Health Canada published four proposals to amend its Lists of Permitted Food Additives:
3-Phytase: Authorize 3-phytase derived from Aspergillus niger NPH for use in plant-based dairy alternatives as a food enzyme.
Nuclease P1: Authorize nuclease P1 derived from Penicillium citrinum NP 11-15 for use in nucleotide-rich fish hydrolysates and yeast extracts.
Fruit and Vegetable Cellulose Isolate (FVCI): Authorize its use as a stabilizing, thickening, bodying, texturizing agent, or filler in various food categories.
PFAS-related additives: Remove chloropentafluoroethane and octafluorocyclobutane from the list of permitted food additives.
Public comments on all four proposals are open until January 27, 2027.
Source: Health Canada
🔘 Australia and New Zealand Proposed Mandatory Health Star Ratings for Most Packaged Foods
On October 28, 2026, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) opened a second public consultation on proposed amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to make Health Star Rating (HSR) labels mandatory for most packaged foods sold at retail.
The proposal would require the HSR symbol on most packaged foods that require a Nutrition Information Panel (NIP), subject to specified exemptions. It would also standardize the symbol's design and placement and introduce a prescribed calculation algorithm. A three-year transition period and an additional two-year stock-in-trade period are proposed. Public comments are open until December 23, 2026.
Source: FSANZ
🔘 Australia and New Zealand Approved Three New Food Processing Aids
On October 29, 2026, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) published Amendment No. 253 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, approving three applications for the use of new food processing aids:
Chitosan derived from mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).
Triacylglycerol lipase derived from Komagataella phaffii (gene donor: Yarrowia lipolytica).
Dextransucrase derived from Bacillus subtilis (gene donor: Streptococcus salivarius).
The amendments establish the permitted use of these substances as food processing aids under the Food Standards Code.
Source: FSANZ
🔘 EU Authorized Curdlan (E 424) as a New Food Additive
On October 19, 2026, the European Commission published Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/2298, authorizing curdlan (E 424) as a new food additive by amending Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.
Curdlan is authorized for use as a gelling agent, firming agent, stabilizer, and thickener in specified food categories, including noodles, dumplings, processed meat products, fish pastes, sauces, soups, and snacks. The Regulation also establishes its identity and purity specifications.
Source: Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/2298
*This article is compiled by ZMUni Compliance Center, based on the latest regulatory updates from food-related regulatory authorities/agencies in various countries/regions.
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