The fourth Fiscal 2023 Food Labeling Discussion Meeting

The fourth Fiscal 2023 Food Labeling Discussion Meeting was held on the 7th of March, 2024. The document Draft Summary of Fiscal 2023 Food Labeling Discussion Meeting provides a summary of the discussions held in the first three meetings. Here are the main points of the document.

Summary of the discussions and the general direction that food labeling should aim for in the future

1. Consistency of food labeling systems with other countries

The document concluded that it would be crucial to engage in comprehensive discussions from various viewpoints to ensure clear information for consumers and feasibility for businesses as well as to consider the differences in food labeling between Japan and other countries. It also mentioned that going forward, efforts would aim to align Japan’s food labeling systems with international standards as much as possible, while taking into account Japan’s unique situation. As for additives, the variations in their regulations between Japan and other countries primarily stem from differences in a wide range of their specifications and standards, extending beyond mere labeling systems. Therefore, a comprehensive review including an approach to the Codex Committee and other bodies is considered necessary in light of the transfer of some food sanitation administration from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA).

2. About labeling rules for individual items

The rules that were previously established for individual items in the JAS Law have been transferred to the Food Labeling Standards without sufficient discussions during the food labeling integration process. Reviewing these rules towards a more cross-sectional approach is considered needed. Some committee members pointed out that it would be necessary not only to compare the rules for each individual item, but also to consider the background and history of the rules, as well as to review the rules periodically, and to proceed with discussions after listening to the opinions of industry groups. In the future review, the discussions will continue based on the following points
– To distinguish the roles between the JAS, the Fair Competition Codes, and the Food Labeling Standards based on their respective characteristics
-To enhance clarity for customers
-To minimize burdens on businesses

3. Utilization of digital tools for food labeling

The use of digital tools to replace some of the labeling information printed on containers and packaging should be considered in terms of global trend, technological advancement, and readability of food labels. Taking the following factors into account, it is necessary to carefully examine which information should be indicated on packaging and which information can be provided alternatively through digital tools.
-Limited labeling area and readability
-Actual usage of labeled information
The Codex Committee’s discussions on the use of digital tools should also be considered in this process. However, there are concerns about the high-cost burden for businesses and the technical challenges of managing and providing product information. Therefore, discussions will continue while taking these issues into account.

Enforcement date for the revision

Future plans are mentioned in the Time Schedule (Draft) for Future Proceedings of the Food Labeling Discussion Meeting. Although no specific date for the enforcement has been given so far, it is expected to reduce the burden on businesses by setting sufficient transitional periods for each revision and align the end dates of these periods as much as possible. This will make revisions to food labeling regulations more predictable and reduce the need for repeated revisions.

The third Discussion on Initiatives of Easy-to-understand Nutrition Facts

On March 12, 2024, the Third Discussion on initiatives of Easy-to-understand Nutrition Facts was held in Japan. The meeting discussed the basic direction of the Japanese Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling (FOPNL) system, and the interim report was compiled.

• The Japanese version of the FOPNL will be positioned as voluntary labeling and certain rules for it will be established.
• The amount of nutrients to be labeled must be equivalent to the mandatory labeling (calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and salt equivalent).
• The nutrient contents must be indicated as a percentage to Nutrient Reference Values for the target nutrients.
  (In light of the revision of the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2025 Edition), the nutrient labeling criteria will be reviewed by FY2024.)
• The food unit must be based on the amount of one serving of the food and the amount per one serving must be labeled.

Upcoming schedules

The Food Labeling Discussion Group on individual product rules and digital tools will be held in a subcommittee format from next fiscal year. In addition, a separate forum meeting (Initiatives of Easy-to-understand Nutrition Facts) will be established to discuss the FOPNL system because this issue involves specialized nutritional contents. Businesses are encouraged to review the announcement to stay up to date on future developments.

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