This article provides a comprehensive overview of key regulatory developments in the food sector in October 2025, 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 Issues New National Safety Standards for FSMPs
On October 9, 2025, China's National Health Commission(NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation(SAMR) jointly released two national food safety standards: GB 29922-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Foods for Special Medical Purposes and GB 31662-2025 Nutritionally Complete Foods for Tumors. Both will take effect on September 2, 2026. These standards are expected to drive innovation and strengthen regulatory oversight in the FSMP sector. Notably, GB 31662-2025 is China's first national food safety standard for disease-specific total nutrition formula products.
Official link:
https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/sj/art/2025/art_a298f426b6324aefae34adb6589ea1c6.html
🔘 China Issues New GACC Regulation on Registration of Overseas Food Manufacturers
On October 14, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of China(GACC) officially issued the Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (Decree No. 280), which will take effect on June 1, 2026. Upon its implementation, Decree No. 248, released on April 12, 2021, will be repealed. See previous news.
🔘 China Approves Six New Supplementary Food Testing Methods
On October 21, 2025, China SAMR approved and issued six supplementary testing methods for foods, including methods for determining candesartan cilexetil, lercanidipine, and azilsartan.
Official link:
https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/spcjs/art/2025/art_0fa91ac2c946482894bb854d4f506c24.html
🔘 China's Non-compliant Food Imports in September 2025
On October 23, 2025, China Customs released its list of non-compliant imported food products for September 2025. A total of 443 batches from 45 countries and regions were denied entry, representing a month-on-month decrease of approximately 28% (down 174 batches from 617 in August) and a year-on-year decrease of about 6% (down 28 batches from 471 in September 2024). See previous news.
🔘 China Considers Negative List for Imported and Cross-Border E-Commerce Foods
On October 26, 2025, an enforcement inspection report, released during the 18th session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, highlighted regulatory gaps that could directly affect foreign companies' market access and long-term compliance stability. While China has made notable progress in food safety governance over the past decade, including regulatory frameworks, standards, and enforcement capabilities, the report underscores that imported foods remain a key compliance challenge as authorities shift from "convenience-focused management" to more detailed, risk-based oversight. See previous news.
🔘 Taiwan Proposes New Evaluation Method for Gut-Health Functional Foods
On October 1, 2025, Taiwan authorities released a draft of the Assessment Methods for Improvement of Gastrointestinal Function in Health Foods, aiming to update assessment and testing standards for products claiming benefits to gastrointestinal health.
Official link:
https://www.fda.gov.tw/tc/newsContent.aspx?cid=5072&id=31226
🔘 Taiwan Proposes Revision to Health Food Hygiene Standards
On October 22, 2025, Taiwan authorities released a draft revision of the Hygiene Standards for Healthy Foods. The proposal predates the January 1, 2001 enactment of the Administrative Procedure Act, and the legislative procedures outlined in that law have not yet been implemented.
Official link:
https://www.fda.gov.tw/tc/newsContent.aspx?cid=5072&id=31271
🔘 European Parliament Votes to Restrict Meat- and Dairy-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
On October 8, 2025, the European Parliament voted in favour of an amendment banning terms such as "steak," "sausage," and "burger" on plant-based product labels. Building on EU Regulation 1308/2013—which already reserves names like "milk," "butter," "cheese," and "poultry" for animal-based foods—the amendment would also restrict additional meat-related terms including "fried cutlet," "yolk," and "white." If adopted, products currently marketed as "vegan burger" or "plant-based sausage" would need alternative descriptions. The move echoes the 2016 TofuTown ruling, in which the EU Court of Justice prohibited dairy-related terms such as "soy milk" or "oat yogurt" for purely plant-based products.
Official link:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-10-2025-0161_EN.html
🔘 EU Updates Quillaia Extract (E999) Specifications with Transitional Arrangements
On October 17, 2025, the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/2084, revising the specifications for Quillaia extract (E 999) in food additives. Changes include lower limits for heavy metals, new microbiological criteria, a defined minimum saponin content, and updated compositional definitions. Implementation is delayed, with transitional provisions for products already on the market to allow operators, including SMEs, to adapt.
Official link:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202502084
🔘 EFSA Confirms Safety of New Forms and Higher Use Levels of Edible Jatropha (Chuta) Kernels
In October 2025, EFSA evaluated changes to the use conditions and specifications of edible Jatropha curcas L. (Chuta) kernels as a novel food, including two new forms (kernel flour and paste) and an increase in maximum use levels from 5 g/100 g to 30 g/100 g. The fat content range was also adjusted from 54–61% to 54–64%. Conservative exposure assessments for phorbol esters showed a minimum margin of exposure of 190, and with no genotoxicity concerns identified, EFSA concluded that the new forms are safe under the proposed conditions of use.
Official link:
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/9706
🔘 EFSA Publishes 20 Scientific Opinions on Feed Additives
In October 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released 20 scientific opinions on feed additives, covering substances such as inositol (3a900), L tryptophan produced with Escherichia coli CCTCC M 2024517, and Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 10415, among others. These opinions provide updated safety and usage assessments for animal nutrition applications.
Official link:
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/publications
🔘 California Becomes First U.S. State to Restrict Ultra-Processed Foods in Schools
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1264, making the state the first in the U.S. to define ultra-processed foods and restrict many of them in school meals. The law, known as the Real Food, Healthy Kids Act, defines ultra-processed foods as products exceeding recommended limits of fats, non-nutritive sweeteners, emulsifiers, other additives, and colorants. It aims to reduce children’s consumption of ultra-processed foods by removing them from school meals and promoting healthier options.
Official link:
🔘 Canada Opens Public Consultation on Draft Guidance for Summary Reports of Marketed Drugs and NHPs
On 24 October 2025, Health Canada launched a 60-day public consultation on a draft guidance document, Guidance on Preparing and Submitting Summary Reports for Marketed Drugs and Natural Health Products, which aims to assist market authorisation holders (for drugs) and licence-holders (for natural health products) in complying with Food and Drugs Act (FDA), the Food and Drugs Regulations (FDR), and the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR) when preparing and submitting summary reports. The update consolidates existing guidance, clarifies interpretations, improves submission processes, and separates the drug and natural health product tracks to reflect their distinct regulatory frameworks.
Official link:
🔘 UAE Launches Strategic Initiative for New Food Regulatory Framework
On October 24, 2025, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) announced the launch of a strategic initiative to develop a pioneering regulatory framework for "novel food". The framework will establish a unified and efficient registration system aligned with international best practices from the UAE, GCC, EU, Singapore and the US, and aims to shorten approval times for novel foods to 6-9 months. It will also introduce a single-point contact mechanism that integrates product registration, halal certification and production/import licences, and develop a national approved-food database alongside comprehensive technical and regulatory guidelines.
Official link:
🔘 India Mandates Removal of "SRO" Term from Food and Beverage Products
On October 15, 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandated that all states and union territories ensure the removal of the term "SRO" from foods and beverages sold nationwide. The authority emphasized that using "SRO" in food products is unauthorized and misleading, as the term is reserved for pharmaceutical formulations regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The directive responds to growing concerns over packaged beverages and electrolyte drinks marketed with “SRO” or similar claims, which may confuse consumers and lead to inappropriate comparisons with rehydration salts.
Official link:
https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2025/10/68ef8cea74223clarification_151025.pdf
🔘 South Korea Issues Guidance on "Reduced" Sodium and Sugar Claims
On October 20, 2025, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued Announcement No. 2025-68 to define the categories of low-sodium and low-sugar foods and specify applicable labeling requirements under Article 5 of the Food Labeling and Advertising Act and Article 6 of its Enforcement Rules. The term "reduced" refers to indicating the presence or level of sodium or sugar in a product—either compared with the average content of similar products on the market or with a company's own products—using terms such as "low," "reduced," or "less," as well as similar descriptors.
Official link:
🔘 FSANZ Publishes Notification on Application to Approve Cultured Duck Biomass as Food Ingredient
On October 16, 2025, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Notification No. 362-25 regarding Application A1341, which proposes the approval of cultured duck biomass as a food ingredient. The application covers its use in meat alternatives, spreads, fats and oils and their derivatives, and duck analogues (e.g., cultured foie gras and cultured duck pâté), at inclusion levels ranging from 5% to 80% of the finished product weight.
Official link:
🔘 FSANZ Invites Public Comment on Application for Novel 2′-FL in Infant Formula
On 21 October 2025, FSANZ issued Notification No. 363-25, inviting stakeholders to provide feedback on Application A1334. The application proposes the voluntary addition of novel 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), produced using genetically modified Corynebacterium urelyticum, in infant formula products.
Official link:
https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-standards-code/circulars/notification-circular-363-25
🔘 FSANZ Seeks Public Feedback on Caffeine Assessment Proposal
On 31 October 2025, FSANZ issued Notification No. 365-25, inviting public comment on Proposal P1056 concerning caffeine assessment. The proposal reviews the permitted levels of caffeine in sports foods and general foods, including restrictions on retail sale of products containing 5% or more caffeine in solid or semi-solid foods, or 1% or more in liquids, and evaluates the associated risks for sensitive population groups.
Official link:
https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-standards-code/circulars/notification-circular-365-25
*This article is compiled by ZMUni Compliance Center, based on the latest regulatory updates from food-related regulatory authorities/agencies in various countries/regions.
