Global Developments in Food Standards and Regulations

This issue of The World of Food Science provides for readers a feature containing articles on some recent developments in food standards and regulations from selected countries around the globe. In the weeks preceeding the 14th World Congress of Food Science and Technology, to be held in Shanghai, China on 19-23 October 2008, these articles provide a timely reminder that while food is a global commodity, it is the national government and/or food control authorities that determine the standards to which food must apply when produced in or imported into a particular country. National food standards requirements vary, sometimes subtely, sometimes substantially, between countries, even in the same region. In the era of the World Trade Organization SBS and TBT Agreements, such differences can lead to interesting situations.

Authors of these articles are gratefully acknowledged for their contributions.

The World of Food Science will be pleased to publish updates from regulatory authorities of other countries as they become available. In future issues, they will appear in the ‘International Regulatory Update’ section in the panel on the left.

Ken Buckle
Chair, Editorial Advisory Board

Can We Trust These Food Scientists?
The continued erosion of public confidence in science and scientists has been accentuated by a succession of food scares. Changing public perception can only be done by finding ways of conveying the fundamental nature of “science” as distinct from what is said about science by the media and often by scientists themselves.

EU Food Legislation – Some Recent Developments
Some recent EU food legislative developments are described, including new legislation, amending legislation. The difference between an EU Directive and an EU Regulation are explained.

The Regulation Overkill: Food Information
The planned Food Information Regulation shall replace the current Labelling and Nutrition Labelling Directives. Its most striking feature is the introduction of compulsory nutrition information in a new format.

Implications for Food Regulations of Novel Food: Safety and Labeling
There is a lack of definition of "functional food" in all countries. Widely different regulatory national systems used in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China are contrasted with the EU system for novel foods.

Food Law and Regulation in the United States: a System in Flux
In addition to agencies that regulate at the federal level in the United States, each State has its own public health authorities that oversee food safety, and to a lesser extent, food labeling and advertising.

Canadian Food Regulatory Outlook 2008 – 2009
In contrast to Canada’s major trading partners such as the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and in particular the USA, Canada has fallen behind in food regulations in many respects.

Nutritional Labelling Update in Argentina and Mercosur
One of the most important changes produced in Argentine food legislation, is the new mandatory nutritional food labelling, applied since August 2006 for packaged food.

Recent Regulations in Colombia and Chile
In 2007 the Colombian Government set up a Decree and a series of regulations for meat hygiene, safety and control. The Chilean Food Sanitary Regulation was updated in June 2007.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority – Recent Developments in Food Regulations
An important part of the regulatory response of NZFSA, to the changing global approach to food safety, has been the development of a framework for managing risk to systematically address all food safety issues.

A New Paradigm Shift of Food Safety Aspects in India
The food industries in India faced problems as different products were governed by different orders and ministries and the rules and regulations in the Country needed consolidation.

Update on Singapore Food Legislation
The manufacture, import and sale of food products in Singapore are governed by the Sale of Food Act 2002 and the Food Regulations 2006, administered by its national food safety authority, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.

Malaysian Legal Requirements for Innovative Foods
The Malaysian industry is under constant pressure to produce innovative foods, however, the time to market for such products is often slow due to the need to gain regulatory approval.

Philippine Food Standards: Development and Recent Changes
The Malaysian industry is under constant pressure to produce innovative foods, however, the time to market for such products is often slow due to the need to gain regulatory approval.

The Certified Food Professional Program in Thailand
Membership in the Certified Food Professional Program stipulates that members should conduct their work with righteousness, avoid misconduct and behavior contrary to the food laws, and promote and support professionalism in the industry.

Hong Kong: Pre-packaged Foods Face Labelling Hurdle
New Nutrition labelling legislation in Honk Kong is projected to cost US food companies millions of dollars, with the fast-growing categories of health, organic, and snack foods getting hit the hardest.

Summary Reports – Codex CAC and JECFA
31st Codex Alimentarius Committee meeting was held at the International Conference Centre in Geneva, Switzerland on June 30 - July 4 2008. The 69th meeting of the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) was held at FAO Headquarters, in Rome, Italy on June 17-26 2008.

• David Lineback, IUFoST President
• Sheri Schellhaass, IFT President

• Joint IUFoST/FAO Database Relevant to the Food Needs of Developing Countries
• IFT Healthful Foods Directory
• IFT Services Directory
• IFT Food Technology Buyer's Guide

IFST Information Statements

• Cryptosporidium
• Cyclospora
• Foodborne Viral Infections
• HIV/AIDS and the Food Handler
• Verocytotoxin -producing E. coli food poisoning and its prevention

IFT Scientific Status Summaries

IFT Expert Reports

• Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for the Food System

FAO Food Safety Risk Analysis: A guide for national food safety authorities

FAO/WHO guidance on the application of HACCP in small food businesses

WHO Food Safety - Five Keys to Safer Food Manual (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic)