The Indonesian food and drug authority, also known as “BPOM,” issued a draft regulation on September 9, 2024, proposing standard labeling disclosing the sugar, salt, and fat content of packaged food products sold in the country. The draft Regulation on Nutritional Value Information on Food Labels to implement Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024 on the Implementation of the Health Law seeks to mandate “Nutri-Level” front-of-pack nutrition labeling to indicate the amount of sugar, salt, and fat at four possible levels, with a modified stoplight-color system: Level “A” (lowest amount) has a dark green background Level “B” has a light green background Level “C” has a yellow background Level “D” (highest amount) has a red background These levels are shown in the following sample image: The requirements for sugar, salt, and fat content for each level are based on amounts per 100 milliliters of ready-to-eat processed food as follows: Further requirements relating to nutrients reflected in the Nutri-Level labeling include: Foods labeled as level A are not allowed to contain natural or artificial sweetening food additives, either through direct addition or carried over from other ingredients. Foods labeled as level B may only contain natural sweetening food additives. Foods labeled as level C or D may use natural and artificial sweetening food additives. “Sugar” includes all monosaccharides and disaccharides, excluding lactose. Processed plain liquid milk and plain milk powder are exempt from the requirement to declare total fat content on the Nutri-Level label. Labeling Implementation The implementation of Nutri-Level labeling must comply with the following requirements: The Nutri-Level label must list all four letters (as shown in the examples below) unless the package meets the criteria for display of a simplified format label. The Nutri-Level of the processed food must be indicated by enlarging the relevant letter, as shown

Addressing technical barriers to trade is a key priority for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as part of trade facilitation in achieving the single market and production base under the ASEAN Economic Community directive agreed in 2015. The region has been undertaking positive steps toward standard harmonization in ASEAN priority sectors, integrating and bringing about regulatory convergence by taking into account the diversities that exist in the ten ASEAN member states. Health supplements in ASEAN are under the responsibility of the Traditional Medicine and Health Supplement Product Working Group (TMHS PWG). One of the TMHS PWG’s outputs is the ASEAN Agreement on a Regulatory Framework for Health Supplements, which includes various technical requirements for health supplements that participating member states must adopt by adjusting their domestic regulations. The key ingredients of these health supplements are vitamins and minerals. While all ASEAN countries allow the use of vitamins and minerals in health supplements, the amounts allowed for use vary, depending on the nutritional requirements deemed appropriate by each country. Partly in response to these efforts for regional harmonization, there have been important changes to vitamin and mineral limits in certain ASEAN countries that are worth monitoring. Some of these are outlined below. Thailand In January 2024, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) updated the Thai Recommended Daily Intake (Thai RDI) guidelines for the Thai population. Subsequently, the TFDA adjusted the vitamin and mineral limits in order to comply with the updated Thai RDI and to follow the ASEAN Agreement on a Regulatory Framework for Health Supplements. The TFDA’s adjustment of vitamin and mineral limits for use in food supplements came in Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 448) B.E. 2566 (2023) Re: Food Supplements (No. 5), which was published in the Government Gazette on January

With the growing prominence of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors, businesses in Vietnam are increasingly recognizing their importance in driving global demand, societal impact, and economic value. A comprehensive acknowledgment of ESG-related legal requirements is critical for investors and companies operating in Vietnam to meet stakeholder expectations and ensure compliance. Our guide provides a basic overview of the rapidly evolving ESG landscape in Vietnam, covering a range of key issues for companies doing business in the country: What is ESG, and what does the ESG legal framework look like in Vietnam? Who needs to follow ESG regulations in Vietnam? What are the benefits of ESG compliance? How can enterprises enhance ESG best practices in Vietnam? Please click on the link below to view the full article.

On July 19, 2024, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 450 B.E.2567 (2024) came into effect after being published in the Government Gazette the day before. The notification introduces significant updates to the labeling requirements for prepackaged foods. This new regulation consolidates and updates Thailand’s rules for food labeling by repealing and replacing several previous notifications. The notification’s key changes and their implications for food businesses are identified below. 1. Clarified “Best Before” Definition The notification aligns the definition of “best before” with Codex standards. It now refers to the date marking the end of the period during which the food maintains its best quality under stated storage conditions. After this date, food quality may change, and the product cannot be marketed. 2. Updated Labeling Exceptions Certain foods are exempt from labeling requirements, with the latest list including: Foods sold directly to consumers by manufacturers who can provide product information. Unprocessed foods. Some fresh foods not sold directly to consumers. Prepackaged foods produced and sold for immediate consumption in food service settings. However, any of these exempt foods that have received food serial numbers must still have labels that comply with the notification. 3. Expiration Date and Best-Before Date Display The notification provides clearer language for displaying the expiration date and best-before date. If specific wording is required by other notifications, it must be followed. English equivalents are now permitted alongside Thai text. 4. Warning Displays Multiple applicable warnings can now be consolidated and displayed together, provided the complete message is included as specified. 5. Claims about Substances or Ingredients New guidelines have been established for making claims about food additives and ingredients. Claims should be factual, not deceptive, and provably not false. 6. Label Placement and Design Labels must be permanently affixed, proportionate to the packaging, and