Pharmaceutical firms are making strides in the Australia's medical cannabis space, but supplement and nutraceutical firms will have to wait a long time before they can do the same, says an industry expert.
A trade association director is calling for better multi-sectoral cooperation in India, to minimise the need for authorities to clamp down on nutraceutical and supplement companies in India for labelling violations.
From infant formula and health food clampdowns in China to food contamination and supplements controversy in New Zealand, read the latest regulatory news in our monthly review.
Network marketing company Usana reported $1.19 billion in annual revenue in its fourth quarter earnings statement. The company now derives more than 80% of its revenue from the Asia-Pacific region.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Ministry of Commerce summoned all 91 direct-selling firms operating in China to a meeting as part of the “100-day operation” to clean up the health food market.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department in Pune, Maharashtra, has announced a programme to fortify staple foods in the city, supported by a package of support for food and nutrition firms.
Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can successfully treat patients with ulcerative colitis, new research from the University of Adelaide shows, with the findings leading to a commercialisation agreement.
New Zealand’s natural products sector is facing yet another lengthy process of workshops, surveys and consultations to secure regulations that are fit-for-purpose, after the government signalled its intention to go back to the drawing board.
Food industry groups in New Zealand are rallying behind a proposed bill that is demanding the introduction of harsher punishment for people who deliberately contaminate/sabotage food.
At least 300 cases worth roughly US$6.7m (RMB45m) have been identified since China launched a '100-day operation' to stem illegal and unethical practices across the nation's health food and supplement industry.
China will tighten its inspection of infant formula products that are pending registration approval by conducting more sample testing and on-site inspection.
Australian regulators and healthcare professionals have called out manufacturers of 'sunscreen pills', saying they are ineffective and possibly even harmful when ingested.
The Chinese authorities have started a '100-day operation' in a bid to weed out unscrupulous industry practices prevalent in the country's health food market.
Advocacy groups and charities have urged The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to remove sponsorship from infant formula firms for its upcoming Middle East and North Africa conference.
Ninety-eight per cent of the approved health food filings in China over the last 18 months went to domestic firms, a Chinese regulatory consultancy has found.
Food and supplement brands, policymakers, NGOs and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Pakistan are aiming to fight malnutrition with a collaborative effort to ensure financially sustainable food fortification.
Almost 60% of complementary healthcare practitioners in Australia think recent reforms by the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) have had an adverse impact on the industry, according to the regulator's own stakeholder survey.
The UAE Cabinet has implemented a blanket ban on the advertising of infant formula and other infant nutrition products, including follow-up formula and complementary foods.
Nestlé is once more the subject of complaints in India, most recently being accused again of attempting to influence paediatricians to promote its infant nutrition products to parents.
India's fortified flour distribution scheme is spreading further throughout Haryana, with Ambala and Karnal the latest districts to see the scheme introduced among its residents by February 1.
The industry can expect to see a boom in China's functional gummy market as the regulatory environment relaxes, according to Chinese supplement manufacturer Sirio Pharma.
Australian regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is advising "extreme caution" when purchasing health supplements online, after discovering cancer-causing contaminants in a Chinese herbal cough product.
From revamped regulations in New Zealand and India to controversy surrounding infant formula brands in APAC and a supplement firm in China, this month's regulatory review covers the latest news on ingredient, advertising and manufacturing laws in...
From manufacturing restrictions to infant nutrition and cross-border e-commerce rules, we bring you three regulations and policies that will influence the APAC nutraceutical industry in 2019.
Indian regulator FSSAI has issued a clarification regarding its stance on the 14 ingredients listed in Appendix 1 of its Food Safety and Standards Regulations (Nutraceutical Regulations) 2016.
Eighteen employees at Chinese supplement firm Quanjian, including founder Shu Yu Hui, are under criminal detention amid alleged involvement in fake advertising for its multi-level marketing (MLM) activities.
As governments across the world grapple with the problem of expanding waistlines, a tax on drinks containing sugar continues to be thrust into public discourse and promoted as a key strategy to tackle the complex and costly problem of obesity, writes...
The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Asia has levelled serious accusations against infant nutrition firms in 11 APAC countries, claiming unethical marketing practices are rampant in the region.
The announcement of New Zealand’s new Therapeutics Products Bill has brought with it hopes that new legislation may finally follow for natural products, with officials noting they are 'considering options' for separate regulations.
Australian supplement and health good manufacturers have expressed concerns over potential sales losses, following changes to Aussie country-of-origin labelling laws.
Indian regulator FSSAI has issued a gazette notification of its amendments to the standards for children's supplements in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
The trade tensions between the US and China have yet to seriously impact the flow or pricing of dietary supplement ingredients, according to experts familiar with the sector. But continued uncertainty has some observers on edge.
The use of fortified rice will be mandatory in all midday meal schemes, and public nutrition programmes under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in India by December 2019.
Most of the products that have obtained the Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) registration certificate in China are catered to premature and / or low birth weight infants, and there is a lack of FSMP products for the elderly.
Out top 10 most read stories on regulation in the food and supplement industry feature China and India heavily, with cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) and infant formula rules in China a constant topic of interest, alongside stricter laws surrounding ingredients...
Reflecting on the year that’s been, it is interesting to see how much has changed in the complementary medicines industry in Australia in such a short time, Wites Carl Gibson, CEO of trade body Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA)
Vietnam is seeing a surge in the volume of counterfeit dietary supplements being sold and consumed, according to the Vietnam Association of Functional Food (VAFF).
During the 7th IFCN Regional Workshop in Pune, India, recently, 80 dairy experts from more than 55 dairy-related organizations and companies discussed the milk quality and dairy exports potential of India.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) has called for government action to restrict what it claims are attempts by infant nutrition companies to influence paediatricians to promote formula to mothers.
The Ministry of Health Singapore (MOH) is considering multiple measures to reduce Singaporeans' sugar intake from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), including the introduction of a sugar tax and a complete higher-sugar drinks ban.
The director general of New Zealand's Ministry of Health has issued yet another public warning about supplements containing Artemisia annua extract, after 11 more reports of liver complications from consuming such products surfaced.
The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) has 'concluded' its investigation into Capilano over purportedly adulterated honey being sold in Australia, due to 'testing uncertainty'.
By Dr. Kristy Appelhans, MS, NMD Senior Director, Global Consumer Safety, Herbalife Nutrition
Herbalife Nutrition, a world leader in dietary supplements, has developed a rigorous methodology for tracking the safety of its products in the many countries in which the company operates.
China will not implement a new set of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) regulations in January next year and will instead continue with existing regulations.
Our newest monthly review of regulatory news around the APAC region includes legislation in the Philippines to promote breastfeeding, the importance of public-private cooperation to fight omega-3 deficiency, and mandatory oil fortification in India.
It will soon be mandatory for couples registering for marriage in the Philippines to attend seminars on breastfeeding and infant nutrition before they can obtain their licences.
New Zealand's Commerce Commission has granted the Infant Nutrition Council (INC) authorisation to extend advertising and marketing restrictions to include infant formula products for children up to one year of age.