India’s nutra regulations: Inter-ministerial committee report receives mixed industry response
An inter-ministerial committee from India has put forth a list of recommendations on how nutraceuticals could be regulated, which has received mixed industry response, especially around disease risk reduction claims.
The 20-page report looked at existing regulations across a wide range of nutraceuticals, including vitamins, minerals, amino acid supplements, Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU), Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), pre-, probiotics, and botanicals.
The report was put forth by an inter-ministerial committee consisting of eight experts.
Trump’s tariff threat: China botanical extracts suppliers look to SEA to mitigate economic impact
There are plans among China botanical extracts suppliers to build operations in South East Asia in a bid to bypass potential tariffs hikes under the new Trump administration, according to industry experts that spoke with NutraIngredients-Asia.
Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are the hotspots that some of China botanical extract suppliers are interested in.
Yinjun Hou, vice chairman of Shaanxi Plant Extract Association, said that some of their member companies have been adopting a wait-and-see approach since last year, but were likely to start taking actions after the election of Trump as the new US president.
‘Sunburnt and discoloured’: Japan steps up efforts to mitigate global warming impact on food security and quality
Japan has been seeking to alleviate the impact of global warming on its domestic food supply chain after new data showed how rising temperatures are hitting crops and increasing food loss.
For instance, key agri-food products such as rice crops were found to have been impacted by global warming due to rising temperatures.
This is according to new data by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)’s 2023 Global Warming Impacy Survey Report.
‘Pharma drugs’ detected: Nearly 20 supplements from US, Japan, NZ banned by Korean regulator
South Korea’s food and drug regulator has banned almost 20 supplements that claim to support memory and concentration from the US, Japan and New Zealand as they contain ingredients regulated as pharmaceutical drugs in the country.
Vinpocetine, bacopa, citicoline, and lycopodium are some examples.
These ingredients, being regulated as pharmaceutical drugs in South Korea, cannot be used in food supplements, said the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
Malaysia’s ‘modern claims’: Regulator says five applications in, with one approved so far
Malaysia’s drug and health products regulator said that it has received five applications on natural products making so-called ‘modern claims’ since it introduced the framework in April this year, with one application approved as of October.
The approval went to local firm Nova Wellness Group Berhad’s Hepar-P – a liver health product made with Phyllanthus niruri extract.
The product has been approved to claim as a “natural liver support”.
