Newsletter
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.
Note: The main features of each newsletter can be accessed from this page but if you are interested in receiving the original "Label bank Communication" and want to make sure to not miss any issue, please sign up by filling in the form provided and click "Submit".
Past issues
- April 2021
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Moving toward mandatory labeling for walnut (Japan) new
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
- December 2020
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Handling of food additive list and food/drug category list in Japan
Recently, we have held a webinar hosted by REACH24H Consulting Group, a Chinese corporation that provides consulting on regulatory-related matters about chemicals for various countries. I talked mainly about the title of this article although the theme I received was "Regulatory Requirements of Food Ingredients/Additives Used in Japan"..........more
- December 2020
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A news which attracts interests was announced in Taiwan in August this year. According to an announcement by Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), it will be prohibited to display "health" in a product name of general food products. It will go into effect on July 1, 2022..........more
- November 2020
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Food labeling is required for containers and packaging, but similarly, when using containers and packaging of the applicable material, it is necessary to display the "identification mark", the so-called recycling mark. Containers and packaging" are the "containers" including bottles, cans, and bags, which contain products, and the "packaging" including packaging papers and wrapping films,.........more
- November 2020
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This article is a sequel to our June 2020 article, "Updates on International measures regarding Food Labeling regulations during the COVID-19 Pandemic". We would like to take this opportunity to share information about the changes taking place in Japan this year, based on our experiences..........more
- October 2020
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Organic JAS system based on the JAS Act (Act on Japanese Agricultural Standards) allows the organic JAS logo to be used only by the registered business operators that have been certified by the accredited certification bodies to verify that organic foods are produced in compliance with the standard for “organic JAS”. This system sets the standard of sustainable production methods so as to.........more
- October 2020
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Fair Competition Code related to labeling Foods for Specified Health Uses
"Fair Competition Code and Enforcement Regulations on Labeling of Foods for Specified Health Uses" announced by the Consumer Affairs Agency and the Fair Trade Commission on June 24, 2020, took effect on August 21st. Since Fair Competition Code has been required for Foods for Specified Health Uses, which are subjected to inspection by the Japanese government in terms of labelling, .........more
- September 2020
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In Japan, the "Fair Competition Code" is voluntarily set by business operators or business associations (councils): It is based on the "Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations" which stipulates to prohibit misleading and false labeling statements or representations.........more
- September 2020
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On July 16th, 2020, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) announced the "Partial revision of the guidelines for the legal product names of seafood" and the "Proposal procedure for the new standardized Japanese names for fish according to the guidelines for the legal names of seafood"..........more
- August 2020
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Labeling of food containing designated ingredients, etc. enforced on June 1.
"Food containing designated ingredients, etc." refers to foods that contain ingredients designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as ingredients requiring special precautions. The law to partially amend the Food Sanitation Act was promulgated on June 13th, 2018. One of the outlines of the revision is "Collecting health hazards information from foods containing ingredients requiring.........more
- August 2020
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On May 25, 2020, The Consumer Commission Food Labeling Section Meeting deliberated on the partial revisions to Food Labeling Standards (such as labeling of food additives, etc.), and approved to the consultation paper and the proposed draft report to remove the terms.........more
- July 2020
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Regarding wording for Nutrient Content Claims
"Rich in calcium", "zero-fat", "30% less salt"... Regarding Nutrient Content Claims, "Food Labeling Standards" define the standards, and the labeling must meet the specified conditions. Take a look at the examples of expressions below. Examples of expression indicating the ability of a food to supplement nutrients, or to ensure the proper intake of certain nutrients/calories.........more
- July 2020
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The Consumer Affairs Agency announced the "Business Inspection Report on the revision of the standard values for the labeling of nutrients (hereinafter "Report")" on April 24, 2020. *Please note that it might not be the latest since Food Labeling Standards,.........more
- June 2020
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This month, I would like to take up the above Cabinet Office Ordinance, as it has a serious impact on food safety..........more
- June 2020
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Updates on International measures regarding Food Labeling regulations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
It has been a few months since the world is knowing a global crisis, that involves a battle between nature and sciences. As it has been a priority to the governments to inhibit the spread of the COVID-19 infection amongst the populations, lots of businesses and legislative activities are being postponed temporarily without totally losing guard especially on Food safety and labeling. .........more
- May 2020
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Points to be noted about the labeling of frozen chilled products
"フロチル(fro-chill)” is the abbreviation of “フローズンチルド商品“(frozen” and “chilled product) in Japanese. Although there is no clear definition of the term, this refers to products of which storage condition will be changed from "frozen" to "chilled" such as : - "products that are distributed and stored in a frozen state, thawed at the time of sale and sold in a chilled state'' - "products that are .........more
- May 2020
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[April 13, 2020, postscript] On April 10, 2020, the Consumer Affairs Agency(CAA) issued a new notice. The previous notification that China was the sole target country (dated March 3&9, 2020) has been abolished..........more
- April 2020
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At the 9th discussion on the Labeling System for Food Additives held on February 27, 2020, the Consumer Affairs Agency published the "Report on Discussions about the Labeling System for Food Additives (Draft)". Regarding the labeling system for additives,.........more
- March 2020
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About the additives labeling methods
This time, I would like to feature the additives labeling methods as ingredients. Taking the following labeling as an example, I would like to review them along with the Food Labeling Standards. Ingredients: wheat, sugar, whole egg, vegetable oil and fat, cashew, glucose syrup, walnut, almond powder, maple syrup, milk, salt/leavening agent, trehalose, thickening agent (xanthan), flavoring agent,.........more
- March 2020
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The guidelines' draft for the ex-post review on Foods with Function Claims has been published.
The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) published "The guidelines' draft to ensure transparency of the ex-post regulations (ex-post review) of Foods with Function Claims based on related legislations on food labeling, etc." and started receiving public comments on January 16, 2020..........more
- February 2020
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Food label news: Highlights of 2019 and upcoming schedules
During the past year, there were various announcements and changes related to food labeling. As this year, 2020, will be the end for the transition period for the new Food Labeling Standard, we hope this article will offer you the opportunity to check again the upcoming schedules..........more
- January 2020
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The 6th “discussion about the labeling system for food additives” was held at the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) on November 1, 2019. The discussion started in April 2019, mainly regarding the use of “-free” and “non-use” for labeling. Therefore, I would like to feature it here..........more