Nutrition labelling and claims: Concerns and challenges; experiences from the Asia Pacific Region
Authors: Tee E‐Siong 
Published: March 2003

The present report provides an overview of the situation of nutrition labelling, nutrition claims and health claims in several countries in the Asia Pacific region. The regulatory requirements of six countries in South‐East Asia (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand), two other countries in Asia (China and Japan) and Australia−New Zealand are reviewed. With the exception of the recently introduced Joint Food Standards Code of Australia−New Zealand and the proposed new regulations in Malaysia, there is no mandatory nutrition labelling requirements for a wide variety of foods in all these countries. Many countries, however, require nutrition labelling to be made compulsory for special categories of foods (e.g. foods for special dietary use) and when nutritional claims are made for fortified or enriched foods. Nevertheless, several food manufacturers, especially multinationals, do voluntarily label the nutritional content of a number of food products. There is therefore increasing interest among authorities in countries in the region to start formulating regulations for nutrition labelling for a wider variety of foods. Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia have proposed new regulations to make it mandatory to label a number of foodstuffs with a number of core nutrients. Other countries prefer to start with voluntary labelling by the manufacturers, but also spell out the requirements for voluntary labelling. The format and requirements for nutrition labelling differ widely for countries in the region. Some countries (e.g. Malaysia) have followed the Codex guidelines on nutrition labelling in terms of format, components to be included and mode of expression rather closely. Other countries, such as the Philippines and Thailand, have drafted nutrition labelling regulations very similar to those of the Nutrition Labelling and Education Act of the USA. Nutrition claims are also not specifically permitted under current regulations in most of the countries reviewed. However, various food products on the market can be found with a variety of nutrition (and even health) claims. It is feared that without proper regulations, the food industry is not certain what claims are permitted to be made. Excessive and misleading claims made by irresponsible manufacturers would serve only to confuse and mislead the consumer. There are therefore also efforts in countries in the region to enact regulations on nutrition claims. Japan has detailed requirements for making nutrition claims such as ‘high’, ‘source of’, ‘free’, and ‘low’; these criteria are not the same as those recommended by Codex. Malaysia has initiated the process to enact regulations to clearly stipulate the permitted nutrition claims and the conditions required to make these claims. The proposed regulations are closely aligned to the guidelines of Codex. Most of the other countries also permit some nutrition claims to be made, with varying degree of resemblance to Codex guidelines. Health claims are not permitted in most of the countries in the region. Some countries have specifically prohibited health claims to be made for foods. The exception is Japan, which has permitted health claims to be made for a group of foods approved to be foods for specified health uses (FOSHU). These may be considered to be functional foods, and presently approximately 200 of them have been approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This is, however, a rather unique system wherein approval is given to individual items based on scientific data submitted. China too has permitted health claims to be made on specific foods that are termed health foods. A health claim phrase permits a simple description or statement of the health functions of the food product. These health foods shall also be preapproved by the Ministry of Health prior to marketing. Indonesia and the Philippines are only two countries in the Association of South‐East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region that allow limited health claims to be made, similar to those permitted by the USA. There are more differences than similarities in the regulations on nutrition labelling and claims among countries in the Asia Pacific region. It is important for discussions to be held among countries in the region for greater collaboration in the enactment of regulations on nutrition labelling and health claims. Although a single nutrition label may not be practical for the region, closer agreements in minimum requirements would benefit food industries. Similarly, more similarities in the requirements for nutrition claims would facilitate regional trade. Health claims is an even more complex subject for the region and regulatory agencies would be cautious in its development. One of the major challenges in promulgating requirements for nutrition labelling and claims is to ensure that the consumer understands the label and that it assists them in making an appropriate food choice. The ability of small‐ and medium‐scale industriesto comply with the proposed regulations is also an important concern. Other concerns include the laboratory capabilities or other means of arriving at the nutrient levels for declaration, an efficient mechanism for processing applications for nutrition and health claims and the monitoring and evaluation of these regulations.