This article focuses on summarizing the regulatory developments related to food within China and internationally in February 2025, with an emphasis on updates in regulations concerning new food ingredients, food additives, feed additives, and special foods.
On February 10, 2025, China's National Health Commission (NHC) issued Announcement No. 1 of 2025, approving five new food ingredients, eight new food additives varieties with two expanded usage scope.
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Category |
Name in EN |
Status |
Remark |
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New Food Ingredients |
Steviapoly phenols |
Approved |
/ |
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Lemon myrtle leaf |
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Maqui berry anthocyanins |
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Wheat polar lipids |
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Calcium β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate (CaHMB) |
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New Food Additive Varieties |
Butylated hydroxytoluene |
food additive |
|
|
Phosphodiesterase I |
food enzyme preparations |
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Lipase |
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Hydroxycitronellal |
food spice |
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2’-fucosyllactose，2’-FL |
nutritional fortification substance |
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Fructooligosaccharide |
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|
curdlan gum |
Expanded Usage Scope |
food additive |
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|
Steviol glycosides (enzyme-converted) |
On February 7, 2025, China SAMR released draft proposals for two recommended national standards: Determination of soybean isoflavone in health-care food - High-performance liquid chromatography and Determination of immunoglobulin in health foods. Comments are welcomed until April 8, 2025.
On February 28, 2025, the China Nutrition and Health Food Association (CNHFA) released the Group Standard for Real-World Studies on Health Foods (T/CNHFA 141-2025), effective immediately. Drawing from real-world evidence frameworks in the pharmaceutical sector, this standard provides scientific methodologies and technical guidance for evaluating the functionality and safety of health foods after market entry. It fills a critical gap in the industry and marks a new era of evidence-based nutrition.
In February 2025, market regulators in Xinjiang, Henan, Tianjin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hubei, and Zhejiang provinces issued local plans for renewing the registration of health foods currently produced and sold without an expiration date or product technical requirements—commonly referred to as "dual-no" products. These initiatives clarify the responsibilities of both applicants and local regulatory authorities, ensuring a smooth and well-organized renewal process. The renewal effort aims to elevate industry standards and promote the high-quality development of the health food sector. More information on"Dual-No" Health Food.
On February 13, 2025, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) released a second draft amendment to the Items of Health Care Effects According to the Health Food Control Act, proposing the inclusion of knee joint health as a recognized functional claim. Alongside this, the TFDA published a draft Evaluation Method for Knee Joint Health Claims in Health Foods for public consultation.
On February 7, 2025, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Guidance for the Registration of Amino Acid Metabolism Disorder Formula Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP). The Guidance aim to streamline registration requirements, support innovation in product development, improve application efficiency, and enhance the accessibility of FSMP for rare diseases.
The new GB 2760-2024 National Food Safety Standard Standard for Uses of Food Additives officially came into effect on February 8, 2025, replacing the previous 2014 edition, which has been repealed after 10 years.
Key changes in the new standard include:
1. Deletion of certain additives: Houttuynia red, Cassia yellow, Sour date color, and others are removed and are no longer permitted for use in food products.
2. New restrictions on Sodium Dehydroacetate and its sodium salts.
On February 19, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) released the list of non-compliant imported food from January 2025. This month, a total of 357 batches of food products were returned or destroyed in China.
The United States accounted for the highest share of non-compliant imports (23.2%), followed by Malaysia (10.1%), the Philippines (6.2%), and Thailand (5.3%). The most frequently rejected food categories included alcohol & beverages, meat products, miscellaneous foods, aquatic products, and grain products. The primary reasons for import rejections were:
- Unqualified labeling
- Non-compliance with national food standards
- Discrepancy between cargo and certificates
-Lack of market access permits
- Issues regarding overseas manufacturer registration
On February 25, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an adjustment to the final rule on Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term“Healthy”. Originally set to take effect on February 25, 2025, the implementation has now been postponed to April 28, 2025.
In February 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published seven new scientific opinions related to novel foods, covering: food enzyme non‐reducing end α‐l‐arabinofuranosidase from the non‐genetically modified Aspergillus tubingensis strain ARF, food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain RF10625, food enzyme 6‐Phytase from the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain AR‐766, food enzyme bacillolysin from the genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NPR, food enzyme cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase from the non‐genetically modified Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus strain AE‐KCGT, food enzyme acylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Penicillium sp. strain AE‐LGS.
Official Site: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search?s=&f%5B0%5D=topic%3A359&f%5B1%5D=topic%3A427
In February 2025, the EFSA issued eight renewal assessments for feed additive authorizations. These include D-calcium pantothenate and D-panthenol, choline chloride, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CECT 4528, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 16627. Additionally, EFSA published three scientific opinions on the safety and efficacy of feed additives.
Official Site: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A358
On February 21, 2025, Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) issued Instruction No. 344 (IN N0344), outlining optimized procedures for food risk assessment and approval. The directive aims to streamline applications and approvals by recognizing certification documents issued by foreign equivalent regulatory agencies (AREE). The new process applies to nine categories, including:
1. Food additives, except for flavoring agents derived from local plant species.
2. Processing aids, excluding enzymes used for this purpose.
3. Enzymes used as processing aids.
4. New substances in food-contact materials.
5. New technologies applied to food-contact materials.
6. Safety and efficacy of functional or health claims for novel foods and ingredients (excluding probiotics and enzymes).
7. Safety and efficacy of functional or health claims for enzymes as ingredients.
8. Safety and efficacy of functional or health claims for probiotics.
9. Risk assessment of veterinary products.
On February 18, 2025, Health Canada updated its List of Permitted Food Enzymes, authorizing the use of a new lipase derived from Komagataella phaffii LALL-L12. The enzyme is approved for use in bread, white flour, whole wheat flour, and non-standardized baked products.
On February 3, 2025, Indonesia's Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) issued Regulation No. 70 of 2025 on food categories and changes in raw materials derived from plants or animals. The new regulation took effect immediately, replacing BPOM Regulation No. 13 of 2023 on Food Categories, with a 30-month transition period.
BPOM emphasized that food categories serve as a fundamental standard for determining safety, quality, nutrition, and labeling requirements for processed foods. Therefore, food categories and plant- or animal-derived raw materials must align with advancements in food science, technology, and innovation.
On February 6, 2025, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued the Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025, set to take effect on January 30, 2026.
This set of amendments makes changes to the Food Regulations with respect to labelling requirements for prepacked foods to incorporate relevant labelling provisions in the following Codex Standards:
Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985)
Codex General Guidelines on Claims (CXG 1-1979)
Codex Standard for Foods for Special Dietary Use for Persons Intolerant to Gluten (CXS 118-1979)
*This article is compiled by ZMUni Compliance Center, based on the latest regulatory updates from food-related regulatory authorities/agencies in various countries/regions.
