The global landscape of food labelling has been evolving alongside advances in digital technology, and Japan is no exception: Related discussions are underway at the Consumer Affairs Agency’sSubcommittee Meeting to Study the Use of Digital Tools for Food Labelling (see our past article summarizing Japan’s approach to the digitalization of food labelling).

Building on the current situation in Japan, this article aims to outline trends in the digitalization of food labelling overseas.

China

In China, food safety standards administered by the State Administration for Market Regulation have integrated electronic information provision, such as the use of QR codes, right from their establishments.

According to the provisions of the GB 7718-2025 standard and the Q&A concerning Labelling Standards (Section 13), digital disclosure is positioned as an addition to the mandatory labelling items on the physical label. In cases where labelling space is limited, certain information normally provided on the physical label, such as cooking instructions and nutrition information, may be provided digitally.

Some official notices go even further by allowing simplified physical labelling for certain details, such as business address information. This indicates that digital labelling is gradually being organized and incorporated within the framework of the food labelling system.

South Korea

In South Korea, a partial amendment to the Standards for Food Labelling was published last year. The amendment is intended to improve the readability of food labels by allowing more information to be provided electronically through QR codes and other barcodes.

The product-specific labelling provisions of the amended standards (Notification No. 2025-60) often allow information to be provided via QR codes or other barcodes. However, information related to food safety, such as allergen labelling, is still required to be displayed on the package. In addition, certain nutrition information (such as energy, sodium, sugars, and trans fatty acids) as well as the names of the top three ingredients by formulation ratio must also be shown on the package.

These initiatives indicate that South Korea is moving toward a full-scale digitalization of food labelling. Digital labelling is used as a complementary tool to free up space on physical packages ensuring that key information remains clear and easy to read.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, food labelling is currently administered under the framework of the Food Act 2014.

The government held a public consultation on a pilot initiative to address labelling gaps in certain imported foods through digital labelling. This proposal targeted imported products that are labelled in English and complies with international Codex Alimentarius standards, but do not fully meet New Zealand’s domestic labelling requirements.

The initiative is not intended to replace physical labelling, but rather to evaluate its effectiveness as a supplementary tool.

Looking forward

These developments in various countries are in line with Guidelines on the Use of Technology to Provide Food Information in Food Labelling discussed at CCFL47 (Codex Committee on Food Labelling). Codex has indicated that countries may make use of technology in accordance with their own regulatory frameworks provided that the accuracy of information, accessibility for consumers, and the prevention of misleading practices are ensured.

Given these regional differences, it will be important to track future trends in digital labelling as each country develops its own approach.

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