Food Labeling Regulations and Standards --Review of 2015 and Expected Future Developments
The year 2015 was a year of great change in food labeling regulations and standards in Japan. Let’s review important events of 2015, which had an impact on food labeling experts, in chronological order.
Major Events (2015)
| 2015 | January | Revised 'Quality Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Food'(Stearidonic acid producing soybean) |
| Revised 'Cabinet Office Ordinance on Labeling Standards for Milk and Milk Products' (Listeria monocytogenes) | ||
| March | Partially revised 'Specifications and Standards for Food, Food Additives, etc.' (Food with Health Claims) | |
| Promulgated 'Cabinet Office Ordinance on Matters Significantly Affecting Food Safety' | ||
| Published 'Food Labeling Standard', 'FAQs on Food Labeling Standards', 'Concerning Food Labeling Standards (enforcement notice)' | ||
| Published 'Guidelines on Notification of Foods with Functional Claims' | ||
| April | Enforced the new 'Food Labeling Standard' | |
| Started to accept applications for 'Foods with Functional Claims' | ||
| Started to use 'Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2015)' | ||
| May | Published 'FAQs on Alcoholic Beverages Labeling under the Food Labeling Act' | |
| June | The first amendment of 'Concerning Food Labeling Standards (enforcement notice)' | |
| Published 'Notes on How to Write Application for Foods with Functional Claims' | ||
| Introduced 'Geographical Indication (GI logo)' | ||
| July | The first amendment of 'FAQs on Food Labeling Standards' | |
| Held 'Expert Committee Meeting on Food for Specified Health Uses' | ||
| September | The second amendment of 'Concerning Food Labeling Standards (enforcement notice)' | |
| Published 'Checklist of How to Write Application for Foods with Functional Claims' | ||
| October | Revised 'Labeling Standards for Geographical Indication for Alcoholic Beverages' | |
| Promulgated 'Labeling Standards of Manufacturing Quality for Fruit Wines' | ||
| December | Promulgated 'Revised Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations' (Administrative Monetary Penalty System) | |
| Held 'Panel on How to Provide Information When Selling Food on the Internet' | ||
| The second amendment of 'FAQs on Food Labeling Standards' | ||
| The third amendment of 'Concerning Food Labeling Standards (enforcement notice)' |
Expected future developments relating to food labeling regulations and standards
Here is the list of food labeling related events scheduled from 2016 onwards.
| 2016 | April | Starting to use the 'Database of Manufacturer's ID Codes' |
| Implementing 'Revised Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations' | ||
| September | The end of transition period (fresh food) to implement the new 'Food Labeling Standard' | |
| 2017 | April | Reviewing the system of 'Foods with Function Claims' (slated to review after two years from the implementation) |
| 2020 | March | The end of transition period (processed food, food additives) to implement the new 'Food Labeling Standard' |
| The end of the period of use of 'Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2015)' |
As you can see, regulations and standards relating to food labeling have been changing significantly in Japan. Such changes will require an internal information management system that handles and reviews an ever-larger amounts of information, and the year 2016 will be a challenging year to build up such a system.
January 2016