According to information released on 19 May 2026 on the official website of Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, a Brazilian delegation held a bilateral meeting with the Director-General of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), Sun Meijun, and her team. The meeting took place on Tuesday (19 May), during which Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and GACC conducted technical discussions on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements necessary for Brazil to export pork and its by-products to China.

On 18 May 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific opinion evaluating the safety of an amidohydrolase produced by a genetically modified Escherichia coli strain SP-a. The food enzyme is intended for use in coffee extracts and coffee substitutes, where it is used to hydrolyse acrylamide.

On May 20, the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Online Food Sellers in Implementing Food Safety Responsibilities officially entered into force in China. The new regulation clearly defines the respective responsibilities of online platform operators and online food sellers, while significantly strengthening enforcement and penalties. Key compliance requirements are summarized below.

On April 15, 2026, the European Union notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft regulation proposing amendments to Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foods.

On May 20, 2026, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued a public consultation notice on six new food additive varieties, including Lacto-N-tetraose.

On May 20, 2026, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency issued Notice No. Sho Shoku Ki 226 revising the Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives. The main revisions involve the establishment and amendment of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for multiple agricultural and veterinary chemicals, including Isocycloseram.

On May 18, 2026, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority issued a public consultation notice proposing amendments to the specific hygiene regulation for food of animal origin.

On January 23, 2026, the Vietnamese government issued Decree No. 37/2026/ND-CP, namely the Regulation Detailing Several Articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulation"). The Regulation further specifies the 2007 Law on Product and Goods Quality and repeals the previous Decree on Goods Labeling (43/2017/ND-CP) and related regulations. It consolidates product labeling requirements into the product quality management framework and introduces significant revisions and supplements, particularly regarding electronic labeling requirements and the identification of responsible entities on labels.

On May 19, 2026, South Korea issued Partial Amendment No. 2026-40 to the "Standards and Specifications for Foods." The amendment entered into force on the date of publication.

Norway Launches Consultation on Amendments to Annexes 1 and 3 of the Regulation on Vitamins, Minerals, and Other Substances Added to Foods

On May 19, 2026, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) updated its guidance titled "Export Organic Food from the UK," originally published on April 20, 2023. The updated guidance clarifies the rules governing the export and movement of organic food, feed, and seed products from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

On May 20, 2026, Türkiye's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry published a new food regulation in the Official Gazette. The regulation entered into force on the date of publication.

On May 18, 2026, Ukraine's Ministry of Health released a new draft standard for the classification and recognition of natural mineral water. The draft establishes an independent regulatory framework without direct alignment to existing international Codex standards and defines comprehensive market access criteria covering geological water sources, physicochemical indicators, microbiological safety, limits for naturally occurring substances, and compositional stability.

On May 11, 2026, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) published the "Evaluation of Certain Food Additives" report, which includes revisions to the maximum permitted levels of lead in formula foods.

On the morning of May 14, 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Health held a special meeting chaired by Vice Minister Do Xuan Tuyen to revise and improve the policy dossier for the amended Food Safety Law based on review comments from the Ministry of Justice.

On May 19, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) issued several public notices, including Notices No. 550004344, 550004346, and 550004347, proposing the establishment and revision of multiple agricultural and food standards. The public consultation period will remain open until June 17, 2026.

On May 12, 2026, Brazil notified WTO members through notification G/TBT/N/BRA/1632 and officially published Law No. 15.404, establishing new quality control requirements for cocoa powder and chocolate products. The regulation is implemented under the supervision of the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) and applies to both domestically produced and imported products marketed in Brazil.

On May 13, 2026, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released Proposal M1024: 2025 MRL Harmonisation Proposal, which proposes harmonized amendments to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 130 agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.

According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), on May 19, 2026, FSANZ published Notification Circular 395-26, which includes Application A1352 seeking approval for chymosin derived from Thermothelomyces heterothallica (gene donor: Bos taurus) for use as a processing aid.

On May 19, 2026, the European Union published Corrigendum 2026/90385 to correct a textual omission in the annex to Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/78 concerning Hexyl Salicylate. The correction clarifies that the restrictions under Entry 380 apply not only to face and hand care products intended for children under three years of age, but also to body care products for the same age group.

The newly revised National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2025) and its accompanying Q&A documents clarify the scope, format, and exemption conditions for the labelling of eight major allergenic substances, while also standardising the presentation of precautionary allergen statements. Foodmate has summarised the key compliance points regarding allergen labelling under the revised standard for industry reference.

On May 19, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) issued several public notices, including Notices No. 550004344, 550004346, and 550004347, proposing the establishment and revision of multiple agricultural and food standards. The public consultation period will remain open until June 17, 2026. The main contents include:

In an effort to curb the spread of non-communicable diseases, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has recently drafted the "Safe Food (Labeling of Packaged Food) Regulations, 2026," proposing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods containing excessive levels of sugar, salt, or fat. The proposed labels would use black octagonal warning symbols displaying the words "High In" to help consumers quickly identify unhealthy food products and encourage healthier dietary choices.

On May 19, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued Notice No. 2026-40 to revise the Food Standards and Specifications. The revised standards entered into force on the date of publication.

On May 18, 2026, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority proposed amendments to the permitted maximum addition levels for vitamins, minerals, and other substances in certain foods. The public consultation period will remain open until August 10, 2026.

On May 18, 2026, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health proposed new requirements for packaged food labeling. The public consultation period will remain open until June 16, 2026.

Trends in International Standards and Regulations+International Public Opinion Information

On May 13, 2026, Jamaica notified WTO members through notification G/TBT/N/JAM/138 regarding the draft "Technical Regulation for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods," according to information released by the Xiamen Technical Barriers to Trade Information Network on May 18, 2026.

On May 14, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) of China released the "Provisions on Administrative Penalty Discretion for Market Regulation (Draft for Public Consultation)" for public comment. The consultation period will remain open until June 14, 2026.

On May 13, 2026, India notified G/TBT/N/IND/435 through the WTO framework. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had previously published the draft "Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026" on February 26, 2026, proposing amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The draft introduces six new professional terms related to food packaging and is open for global comments until July 12, 2026. The date of formal adoption and entry into force has not yet been determined.