Newsletter
Predict regulatory changes and future trends
We issue monthly e-newsletters, which provide you with the latest updates on food labeling/regulations in Japan.
Ever-changing regulations can be an hassle to keep up with (especially when in Japanese!): we share here the most relevant content and provide a professional analysis of the current situation and future outcomes for businesses engaged in the food sector (including impact on importation and consumers behavior), written by our experienced expert.
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Past issues
- August 2022
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Labeling of place of origin for seafood products (especially shellfish) (Japan)
Food Labeling Standards Q&A was revised on June 15, 2022, and "The guidelines for the legal product names of seafood" was revised. The revision was made in response to changes in the situation surrounding names of seafood, such as the expansion of the import and distribution of new fish species and the change of names due to the development of taxonomic research. Among seafoods, .........more
- August 2022
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At the 67th Consumer Commission Food Labeling Section Meeting held on June 6, 2022, the prospect of the mandatory allergen labeling of "walnuts" was announced. I would also like to take up the .........more
- July 2022
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Eating habits are a form of culture that has the primary effect on the health profile of each country around the world. While some countries are struggling with constantly increasing rates of obesity and cardiovascular diseases due to excessive consumption of sugar and fat, others considered.........more
- June 2022
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"Japanese Agricultural Standard for Miso" established (Japan)
On March 31, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) newly established Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for "Miso". We would like to touch on its contents this time. Perhaps surprisingly, there was no JAS for Miso until this establishment. The reason for this is that there is a variety of Miso in Japan, and it was difficult to standardize the quality of the various types.........more
- June 2022
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On March 28, 2022, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) published the "The FY 2021 Results of a fact-finding survey on new labeling system for country of origin of ingredients for processed foods". New labeling system for countries of origin of ingredients started with the revision of Food Labeling.........more
- May 2022
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Names of marine products in Japan and other countries
The labeling of the name and place of origin of marine products has been taken up as a topic in recent years. In Japan, the labeling of such names is required to be made in accordance with the "The guidelines for the legal product names of seafood". In other countries what kind of rules are used to make such labeling then? Let us take a look at the cases of the EU, the US, Canada, and Australia.........more
- May 2022
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"The guideline of additive labeling for use of 'non-use'" released (Japan)
"The guideline of additive labeling for use of 'non-use'" was released by the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) on March 30, 2022. The main changes from the content of "[Material 2] Revised and reflected version of the guideline" (revised draft after inviting opinions) used at "The 8th discussion about the guideline of additive labeling for use of 'non-use' " (March 1, 2022)" are shown here..........more
- April 2022
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On February 24, 2022, Japanese Agricultural Standards (hereinafter referred to as "JAS") for Textured Soy Protein Products were established. On the same day, it was added to the JAS list on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and we would like to summarize.........more
- April 2022
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On March 1, 2022, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released the revised "the guideline of additive labeling for use of ‘non-use’"(draft) after inviting comments (public comments) at the discussion about the guidelines of additive labeling for use of "non-use". Some points have been changed.........more
- March 2022
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Regarding beverage labeling targeted for 20 years and older (Japan)
In the liquor section of supermarkets and other stores, you will see a variety of products every day. Some are alcoholic beverages, some are non-alcoholic beverages with tastes like alcohol, and some are not categorized in alcoholic beverages but contain alcohol and I feel we have more options about drinking alcohol. In this article, we will take a liquor section, looking at their definitions from the.........more
- March 2022
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On January 17, 2022, the 66th meeting of the Food Labeling Section Meeting was held at the Consumer Commission of the Cabinet Office to discuss the partial revision of Food Labeling Standards..........more
- February 2022
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Comments invited comments about guideline draft of additive labeling for use of "non-use" (Japan)
The Consumer Affairs Agency started to invite comments (public comments) on "the guideline draft of additive labeling for use of 'non-use’"on December 22, 2021. Since there are some changes in "Type items (draft) of non-use labeling of food additives that may cause misunderstandings".........more
- January 2022
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Regarding prohibited labeling items (Japan)
"Discussions about the guideline of additive labeling for use of 'non-use'" have been held since this March to discuss the non-use labeling of food additives. And the other day, in "Confirmation of whether or not it falls under Article 9 of Food Labeling Standards", 11 items by types were created for "non-use labeling of food additives that may cause misunderstandings"..........more
- January 2022
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Items by Types of Labeling for Non-use Additives (draft) announced (Japan)
[Latest update: December 13, 2021] On December 9, 2021, "the guidelines of additive labeling for use of 'non-use’" was announced. Please refer to the material "Changes since the last discussion meeting" as well.On November 18, 2021, the Consumer Affairs Agency announced "Items by types of labeling for non-use additives (draft) that may cause misunderstandings" at the guidelines study group.........more
- December 2021
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In September 2021, Center for Food Safety (CFS) of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (Hong Kong) announced the "low-salt-low-sugar" mark as a new strategy, which can be voluntarily labeled on pre-packaged foods. As more concerns for sodium (salt) and sugars have globally been.........more
- November 2021
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Foods of which ingredients are from plants, not animals have increased in recent times when consumers’ tastes diversify. Foods derived from plant sources to resemble livestock or marine products are called "plant-based foods". In this article, I would like to take up the handling of the "plant-based foods" in Japan and how they are treated in other countries, too..........more
- November 2021
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The 24th revision of "Regarding Food Labeling Standards" was implemented on the 15th of September 2021, and newly established inspection methods for unintentional presence of genetically modified agricultural products and the addition of inspection equipment were announced..........more
- October 2021
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A part of "provision on items of alcoholic beverages that may be mixed with materials, etc. for the preservation of alcoholic beverages, etc.” has been revised, and "potassium caseinate" was.........more
- October 2021
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Reports "Survey on spatial information content" and "Application-based food labeling validation survey" have been publicized at the Consumer Commission Food Labeling Section Meeting (Cabinet Office) on August 6, 2021. .........more
- September 2021
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"Fair Competition Code concerning labeling of dressings", "Fair Competition Code concerning labeling of hams and sausages", "Fair Competition Code concerning labeling of fermented milk.........more
- September 2021
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Singapore inviting comments on amendments to food regulations to delete standards of identity
On June 21, 2021, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced that it is soliciting comments from the food industry and stakeholders to comment on the revision to remove the individual food.........more
- August 2021
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So-called nanotechnology, which utilizes materials consisted of tiny particles on the nano level, is attracting attention in the food field in hope of improvement of food texture/solubility.........more
- August 2021
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Practical key points for compliance checking of food ingredients and food labels of export foods
In this column, I would like to summarize the practical points on how to deal with the differences among the "food labeling standards" of each country, which need to be checked when exporting food products from Japan to overseas..........more
- July 2021
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Regarding revision of labeling system related to brown rice and milled rice (Japan)
On March 17, 2021, the Cabinet Office Ordinance on the Partial Revision of Food Labeling Standards was promulgated. The content of this revision is related to the labeling system of brown rice and milled rice. I would like to take up this revision, which came into effect on July 1, 2021..........more
- July 2021
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The implementation date of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard is January 2020 and it is about five months away until January 2022 when this is becoming mandatory.........more
- June 2021
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About the guidelines of additive labeling for use of "non-use" (Japan)
The 1st "discussion about the guidelines of additive labeling for use of "non-use" was held on March 4, 2021. The following points will be discussed using actual labeling as examples as well as identifying and classifying actual situations of additive labeling for use of "non-use".........more
- June 2021
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Revised Food Labeling Act (food recall system) to be enforced soon (Japan)
The "Law to partially amend the Food Labeling Act" promulgated on December 14, 2018, will come into effect on June 1, 2021. The main points of the amendment are as follows. summary of the revision In the case of voluntary recalls, otification to the administration agency.........more
- May 2021
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Updates on the Food labelling regulations current status of each country
Since our previous article on the latest trends of Foods and Food labelling regulations in 2019, there has been a sudden big change to the market due to the global health circumstances accruing in view of the COVID-19. Consequently, a considerable raise of health products and Food supplements was.........more
- April 2021
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Moving toward mandatory labeling for walnut (Japan)
As a new move by the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) regarding allergen labeling, experts exchanged views on the mandatory labeling of walnut at The 1st Advisors' Meeting on Food Allergen (February 15, 2021). Therefore, I would like to look back at the process of making walnut mandatory by.........more
- April 2021
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On February 19, 2021, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) announced "Demand for improvement regarding labeling of products, etc. that claim a preventive effect against Covid-19, and an alert.........more
- March 2021
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Regarding Foods for special dietary uses (Japan)
"Regarding permission for labeling of Foods for special dietary uses (hereinafter referred to as "FOSDU")" was partially revised on November 17, 2020. With this revision, procedures of written-document submission can now be carried out online (via e-mail) for what is possible instead of in writing..........more
- March 2021
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This month, I would like to take up the news about the review of the system for Foods for Specified Health Uses (Hereinafter, "FOSHU"). The first and second "Discussion on the system for".........more
- February 2021
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Food label news: Highlights of 2020 and upcoming schedules (Japan)
I first summarized the news about food labeling of last year and its future schedules. Needless to say, there were a lot of issues concerning the COVID-19 infection last year, but here I would like to take the opportunity to reconfirm the topics related to food labeling..........more
- January 2021
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Regarding the labeling of "multivitamins" and "rich in vitamins"
Statistics Bureau of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications have announced in the "Household economy survey" that monthly expenditure in September of two-or-more-person households on online shopping was JPY 15, 981, a 2.6% increase compared to the same period of the previous year. Speaking of last September, there was a surge in demand before the consumption tax hike..........more
- January 2021
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The food labeling system for brown rice and milled rice is expected to be revised. Public comments on the subject were solicited from October 14th to November 15th, 2020. It was also deliberated by the Consumer Commission Food Labeling Section Meeting on October 27th and November 18th..........more