Food product and safety regulation

Nutrition content claimsCertain nutrition components can be labeled in either absolute terms (e.g., high in XYZ, rich in XYZ, etc.) or comparative terms (e.g., 20% up, half calorie, etc.). Absolute labeling is possible when the quantity of a nutrition component per 100 g (100 ml for liquid products) exceeds or falls below the prescribed standard level. Comparative labeling is possible when the difference ina certain nutrition component compared with a food product exceeds or falls below the prescribed standard level.

Food with Nutrient Function Claims (FNFCs) is food that can supplement nutrients that are not sufficiently absorbed from your everyday diet due to changes in lifestyle or age. On a food labeled "Food with Nutrient Function Claims (XYZ)," the nutrient and its function will also be labeled, so consumers can tell how much of what nutrient it supplies. It is required to advise consumers that too much of a nutrient can be bad for their health, to read the warnings and recommended dailyintake carefully, add FNFCs to their diet discerningly, and consume an appropriate amount of the nutrient.

Health claims"Foods for Specified Health Uses" are those that contain dietary ingredients that have beneficial effects on the physiological functions of the human body to maintain and promote health and to improve specific health-related conditions. Approval from the Consumer Affairs Agency ("CAA") will be required in order to sell a food with "Food for Special Dietary Uses" labeling, i.e., the food must be approved so that it is allowed to state on the label that the food is appropriate for maintaining health and/or recovering from diseases, particularly in infants, young children, pregnant andlactating women, and patients.

Functional claims"Foods with functional claims" are those which state, at the proprietor's risk, that the food would fulfil a specific health purpose based on scientific grounds. Approval from the CAA is not required, but specific information regarding safety and grounds for the function needs to be filed to the Secretary General of the CAA before the food is sold.