Vol 4 / Issue 18 29 September, 2014 Asian Food Regulation Information Service Subscriber Edition Vol 4 / Issue 18 29 September, 2014 From the Editor... In this Issue This publication is trying to grow up and From the Editor .............................. 1 move from being a newsletter to a magazine. Regulatory Updates Here is the first attempt at some significant ASEAN .......................................... 3 design changes. There is additional colour China ............................................ 3 and the layout, I hope, makes the publication Hong Kong ................................... 4 more readable. Indonesia ...................................... 4 Korea ............................................ 5 I’d really like to hear your comments, via the Taiwan .......................................... 6 website, a topic to kickstart the Comments International Regulations ............. 8 column on the website. Feature Article: Is There a Snail in my Soup? ..... 13 ASEAN News ................................. 16 Until next issue... Regional News ............................... 18 Sincerely Adrienna Zsakay Consumer News ............................ 21 Nutrition News ............................... 22 Events ............................................. 24 Food Funnies ................................. 26 www.asianfoodreg.com page 2 © Asian Food Regulation Information Service 2014 Vol 4 / Issue 18 29 September, 2014 Regulatory Updates ASEAN • Public Comment and Consultation • Field Testing Fishery Improvement Project Protocol for the • Develop a Verification Tool and Framework ASEAN Region (Draft • Environmental and Social Performance Benchmarks for Public Comment) 1. Environmental Benchmarks Prepared by the Steering 1.1 Stock Status and Data Collection Committee - Fishery Improvement Project Protocol for 1.2 Risks to Ecosystems and Endangered, Threatened the ASEAN Region, September 2014. or Protected Species 1.3 Fisheries Governance Public Comment is open from 15 September 2014 ~ 15 1.4 Traceability of Fisheries Products November 2014 2. Social Benchmarks This document covers: 2.1 Mandatory Minimum Entry Points or Pre- • Introduction and Overview Requisite • Context and Opportunity 2.2 Fair Income for Fishers • Scope and Vision 2.3 Safety and Security at Sea 2.4 Working Hours • Structure of the FIP Protocol for the ASEAN Region 2.5 Freedom of Association • Implementation Process 2.6 Sanitary Facilities • Environmental and Social Benchmarks 2.7 Social Impact Assessment • Verification Tool and Framework 2.8 Emergency Measures in Community in Place • Governance of the FIP Protocol for the ASEAN Public Comment template and contact details. Region To download, click here • Pathway to the FIP Protocol for the ASEAN Region CHINA vegetable beverage, has been released earlier this month. China Issues New Non- The non-compulsory standard will become effective complusory Standards on 1 June 2015. This standard was issued in SAC’s Announcement No. 21 of 2014 together with 258 new China’s first national standard national standards, which also includes GB/T 31114- for fruit and vegetable drinks, 2014 Frozen drinks-Ice cream, GB/T 31119-2014 Frozen namely GB/T 31121-2014 Fruit drinks-Ice milk, GB/T 31120-2014 Candy terminology, & Vegetable juices and fruit & www.asianfoodreg.com page 3 © Asian Food Regulation Information Service 2014 Vol 4 / Issue 18 29 September, 2014 Regulatory Updates continue... GB/T 31122-2014 Liquid packaging base card board and Announcement 21 from the Standardization GB/T 31123-2014 Paperboard for solid food packaging. Administration Council of China can be downloaded, click here (Source: Chemlinked, 19 September 2014) HONG KONG Targeted Food Surveillance on Clostridium perfringens in Ready-to-Eat Food The Centre for Food Safety holds a Trade The number of referrals from the Department of Briefing Session Health on suspected food poisoning outbreaks caused by Clostridium perfringens has increased from about 10 On 24 September 2014, the referrals in 2011 to about 30 in 2013. Majority of these Hong Kong Centre for Food cases involved food produced in local food premises. Safety held a Trade briefing session on In view of the observation, CFS conducted a targeted 1. Food Safety Ordinance, Cap 612 surveillance on Clostridium perfringens in ready-to-eat food 2. Food Safety Order, gazetted on 14 September 2014 in order to better assess the situation. Order No: CFS/1/2014 Food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens is usually Companies are prohibited from importing, and supplying associated with inadequately cooked foods or cooked into Hong Kong food specified in Annex A. foods that are cooled for prolonged period or stored under sub-optimal temperature. Foods prepared in bulk, • All lard / lard products from Chang Guann Co. Ltd especially cooked meat and poultry dishes, and stored at (Taiwan) including but not limited to the products ambient temperatures with a long cooling period after specified in Appendix cooking are at high risk. • All food products made with the above mentioned In September 2014, the Centre for Food Safety collected lard / lard products (Taiwan or Hong Kong) over 70 samples from 60 different locations including Companies are also required to recall, within a period retail outlets and food factories. of 14-days all the food specified in Annex A, and must be All samples were satisfactory. disposed in the manner specified in Annex C To download a copy, click here To download a copy, direct from the Hong Kong government gazette website, click here INDONESIA Published date: 10 September 2014 Effective date: 11 September 2014 Second Amendment of Covers amendments to: Regulation of the Minister Article 7: Foot and Mouth Disease of Agriculture concerning the Import of Carcass, Article 8: Import of large ruminants meat from countries Meat, Offical and / or with controlled BSE risk, can be considered as importing their Derivatives into the country of origin Territory of the Republic of Article 9: In case the country is not free of Foot and Indonesia Mouth Disease (PMK) may be considered as a country of Number 110/Permentan/O.T.410/9/2014 - Number of origin for the import of processed ruminants meat and pages: 7 www.asianfoodreg.com page 4 © Asian Food Regulation Information Service 2014 Vol 4 / Issue 18 29 September, 2014 Regulatory Updates continue... processed pork meat with the requirement as follows (in Enterprise that import carcass, meat, offal, and/or their this amendment) derivatives: Article 11: The business unit requirement as intended in Article 40: Business, Social Agency, Representative of Article 5 item b must (in this amendment) Foreign Country/International Agency, or State-Owned Article 33: Business, Social Institution, Representative of Enterprise that violate provisions (in this amendment) Foreign Country/International Agency, or State-Owned To download a copy, click here KOREA • Newly added to the list (11): walnut, pine nut, kiwi, chicken, clam, oyster, abalone, mussel, squid, beef, Proposed Draft sesame seed Amendment of the • To clearly highlight allergen labelling by presenting Decree of the Special the allergenic substance list in a separate alert box of Act on Safety Control distinct background colour at the end of ingredient of Children’s Dietary list(e.g., “contains peanut substance”) Life • To require common group name to be indicated WTO Notification G/SPS/N/KOR/486 - 22 September next to allergenic substance using parenthesis (e.g., 2014. 7-pages “contains shrimp(crustacean) substance”) The amendments seek to change the range of Children’s • To increase the font size of the name and content favourite food by excluding foods that are labelled or of the ingredient to be declared on PDP when advertised to be for adult consumption (such as alcohol- the ingredient name is used in the product’s name containing chocolates, non-alcoholic beer, etc.) (12-point or greater -> 14-point or greater) Final date for comments: 60-days from Notification • To clarify the phrase for allergy warning so as to Proposed date of adoption: To be determined prevent confusion regarding its interpretation. Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined • Delete the mandatory labelling of the detailed types To download a copy, click here of ‘bread’, and the mandatory labelling of the contents of peanuts or processed products of nuts. Provision Revision of the “Labelling Standards for Foods Final date for comments: 60-days from Notification WTO Notifcation G/TBT/N/KOR/526 - 17 September Proposed date of adoption: To be determined 2014. 15-pages Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined MFDS proposed the following revisions to the Labelling To download a copy, click here standards for foods: • To extend the list of allergenic substances to be declared on the label. • Previous list (13): eggs (limited to poultry), milk, buckwheat, peanut, soybean, wheat, mackerel, crab, shrimp, pork, peach, tomato, sulphites (where concentrations of 10mg/kg or more as SO2 in the final product) www.asianfoodreg.com page 5 © Asian Food Regulation Information Service 2014 Vol 4 / Issue 18 29 September, 2014 Regulatory Updates continue... TAIWAN perform such certification, commission procedures for certification and other related matters. The Amendment of Plant Final date for comments: 60-days from the date of Protection and Quarantine Notification Act Proposed date of adoption: To be determined WTO Notification G/SPS/N/ Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined TPKM/327 - 23 September 2014.