Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) has announced a revision to the Food Labeling Standards under which sweeteners, colors and preservatives are no longer to be supplemented with words such as “artificial” and “synthetic” when they are declared by their function name on the food label.

Food flavorings can only be collectively declared as “Flavors” without further specification as whether or not they are “artificial”.  It is worth noting that, under the current Standards, “natural” and similar words cannot be used in the labeling of food additives.

All food manufacturers will be given until 31 March 2022 to comply with this new labeling requirement.  Japanese importers bear the sole responsibility for complying with Japan’s Food Labeling Standards for imported products.

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Posted on 18 September 2020