In February 2026, Chinese customs detected a total of 452 batches of non-compliant imported food during inspection and quarantine procedures. All of these batches were legally returned to the country of origin or destroyed, and none entered the domestic market.

In early 2026, Vietnam's food safety regulatory framework entered a period of significant adjustment. Following the issuance of Decree No. 46/2026/ND-CP and Resolution No. 66.13/2026/NQ-CP, which proposed revisions to the food registration and filing system, strong industry reactions and extensive discussion followed. Vietnamese authorities subsequently issued two separate resolutions suspending implementation.

A regulatory shift centered on risk management is reshaping China's imported food sector, especially the fast-growing cross-border health supplement segment. June 1, 2026 marks a critical compliance milestone concerning product identity and regulatory status.

Many companies initially assume that entering the Saudi market simply requires preparing products and translating labels before shipment. However, in practice, the process is far more complex. Some companies encounter obstacles during product registration, others face customs clearance rejections, and in some cases, even when products and documentation are complete, the company itself may lack the necessary export qualifications. The challenges often do not lie in a single step, but rather in the overall regulatory framework, which is more complex than many expect.

Since the implementation of GACC Decree No. 248 nearly four years ago, over 96,000 overseas food enterprises have completed registration, officially embarking on their journey into the Chinese market. As a professional compliance service provider with deep sector expertise, FoodMate has successfully delivered technical guidance to more than 100 domestic and international enterprises, enabling them to secure market access qualifications smoothly. With the promulgation of the new regulations (GACC Decree No. 280) and supporting documents, China has further tightened its registration approval and oversight of overseas food manufacturers for import. In response to the surge of industry inquiries, FoodMate has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions below:

On April 8, 2026, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) released FAQs and responses regarding the Administrative Measures for the Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food. Currently, food categories requiring official recommendation for registration include meat and meat products, aquatic products, and others. Compared with the previous version of the Measures, six categories of primary edible agricultural products have been removed, including oilseeds, coarse grains, fresh vegetables, dried beans, seasonings, and unroasted coffee beans and cocoa beans.

Many companies initially assume that entering the Saudi market simply requires preparing products and translating labels before shipment. However, in practice, the process is far more complex. Some encounter obstacles during product registration, others face customs clearance rejections, and some discover that, despite having complete products and documentation, their company itself does not meet export qualifications. The challenges often lie not in a single issue, but in the overall regulatory framework, which is more complex than many companies anticipate.

Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) are specially formulated products designed to meet the unique nutritional or dietary needs of individuals with restricted food intake, impaired digestion or absorption, metabolic disorders, or specific medical conditions. These products are directly related to the health and safety of vulnerable groups. China implements strict registration and regulatory supervision over FSMP, and any illegal or non-compliant business activities will be seriously investigated and penalized in accordance with the law.

In March 2026, the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the "Work Plan for Feed Quality and Safety Supervision in 2026," making clear arrangements for feed quality and safety supervision. Among them, regulatory requirements related to pet feed have been significantly adjusted. Foodmate closely follows the relevant contents of the plan, focusing on new changes and requirements in pet feed regulation, and summarizes the key points to help industry stakeholders accurately understand regulatory trends and standardize the production and operation of pet feed.

Recently, China's State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Special Foods issued the draft national standard "Probiotic Ingredients for Health Foods" for public consultation, marking a major milestone for the probiotic industry.

As food trade becomes increasingly frequent, Hong Kong, as a major food import market, has imposed increasingly stringent requirements on the labeling compliance of prepackaged foods. Among these, the labeling of allergenic substances is a key regulatory focus and a critical aspect often overlooked by food companies when exporting to Hong Kong. This article outlines the core requirements for food allergen labeling in Hong Kong from the perspectives of allergen types, labeling formats, exemption scenarios, and language usage, aiming to support the smooth entry of products into the Hong Kong market.

On March 6, 2026, the General Administration of Customs announced the information on non-admitted imported foods across the country in January 2026. A total of 629 batches of food were returned or destroyed in accordance with the law for failing to meet China's national food safety standards or relevant laws and regulations. Compared with 406 batches in December 2025, the month-on-month increase was about 55% (an increase of 223 batches); compared with 357 batches in the same period of 2025, the year-on-year increase was about 76% (an increase of 272 batches). To help import enterprises avoid risks and improve compliance management capabilities, Global Foodmate has systematically sorted out and analyzed the relevant data for the reference of the industry.

On March 11, 2026, the World Trade Organization issued an announcement stating that the European Union plans to amending Regulation (EU) 2023/915. The draft is currently open for comments, with the comment period ending on May 20, 2026. This revision aims to strengthen the regulation of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon content in food and enhance food safety standards. The following sections introduce the evolution of EU limit requirements for mineral oil hydrocarbons and the main contents of this revision.

The 'Regulations on the Registration Management of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Imported Food by the Customs of the People's Republic of China' (Decree No. 280 of GACC) was promulgated on October 14, 2025, and will come into effect on June 1, 2026. According to the Decree No. 280 of GACC, the registration of overseas production enterprises of imported food in China includes 'enterprise application registration' and 'list registration' based on system recognition.

On February 24, 2026, the European Union issued Regulation (EU) 2026/459, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, to impose emergency import control measures on arachidonic acid (ARA) oil originating from China due to risks of contamination with cereulide toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. The regulation took effect on February 28, 2026.

In February 2026, the South African Department of Health published new regulations on the Maximum Levels of Mycotoxins in Food (No. 7091 of 2026) through the government gazette. The regulation will enter into force 24 months after publication, replacing the previous regulation R1145/2004 and its amendments.

The Vietnamese government officially promulgated Decree 46/2026/NĐ-CP in late January 2026, introducing comprehensive amendments to the implementing regulations of the Food Safety Law. Set to take effect on April 16, 2026, the new decree will replace the nearly eight-year-old Decree 15/2018/NĐ-CP, marking a significant milestone in Vietnam's food safety governance evolution.

In early 2026, he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. The guidelines emphasize prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods such as high-quality protein, full-fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains, while significantly reducing the intake of highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives. What exactly are added sugars? How do they differ from total sugars? Why should we reduce their intake? And what are the labeling requirements for them? Global Foodmate will guide you through the relevant content regarding added sugars in the United States.

From February 27–28, 2026, the Food Compliance Special Session of the 2026 Foodmate Online Spring Carnival, organized by the Compliance Division of Foodmate, was successfully held via Chinese-language livestream.

On February 27, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) released a draft revision of the "Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods, etc.," proposing the implementation of a full labeling system for genetically modified (GM) foods. The new regulation breaks from the previous "detection-based labeling" principle, stipulating that products such as soy sauce, sugars, and edible oils must be labeled as containing GM ingredients as long as GM raw materials were used, even if no GM DNA or proteins are detected in the final product. Public comments on the draft revision will be accepted until April 30, 2026.

On February 5, 2026, the National Health Commission of China issued an announcement regarding five "new food ingredients, new food additives, and new food-related products," including Gardeniaoil,XiangYu peony flower,Alginate oligosaccharide,Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis YLGB-1496,Camelina seed oil as new food ingredients. Foodmate has compiled a list of all new food ingredients (new resource foods) approved in China from 2008 to February 5, 2026, for the reference of the industry.

In August 2025, an evaluation report titled "Multiple Milk Tea Brands Found to Contain Trans Fatty Acids" brought certain new tea beverage brands into the spotlight of public opinion. The discrepancy between the "Zero Trans Fat" labeling claims and actual test results triggered widespread consumer anxiety about "hidden trans fats" in food. In fact, as early as 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) had called for the global elimination of industrially produced trans fatty acids. As the primary source of industrial trans fats, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) have become a focal point of global regulation.

Recently, the European Commission asked the EFSA to deliver urgent scientific advice on the threshold of cereulide in infant formula as soon as possible, in order to support risk management decisions across the EU.

On January 27, 2026, the UK Food Standards Agency issued a recall notice for Southern Fried Chicken Leg Burgers due to the presence of undeclared celery, an allergen. The following day, on January 28, 2026, another recall was announced for non-chicken cooked meat blocks containing undeclared soy and wheat (gluten). According to public information from the UK Food Standards Agency, there have been 101 recall incidents since 2025 due to undeclared allergens, with specific reasons detailed in the accompanying figure.

The inquirer consulted whether, after the formal implementation of GB 7718-2025, products manufactured during the transition period may continue to be sold until the end of their shelf life. If permitted, clarification was requested regarding the supporting laws, regulations, or regulatory documents.

On January 21, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding labeling and preventing cross-contact of gluten in packaged food. The deadline for feedback is March 23, 2026. This is the FDA's first step in improving label transparency and a specific initiative under the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) strategy.

On January 15, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Catalogue of Permitted Health Functions for Health Foods – Helps Maintain Bone and Joint Health (Relieves Pain or Stiffness / Alleviates Cartilage Damage).

On January 5, 2026, Indonesia's National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) issued a draft regulation titled "Labeling of Origin of Ingredients and Alcohol Content on Product Information, Labels, and/or Markings of Drugs and Foods" for public consultation, with the feedback period closing on January 12, 2026. Once formally adopted and implemented, the draft regulation will replace the relevant 2010 regulations, as well as the 2018 rules and subsequent amendments concerning the labeling of pork-derived ingredients and alcohol content information on processed food products. Enterprises will be required to complete compliance adjustments to relevant product labels and information within 12 months from the regulation's effective date.

On December 25, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of China officially released information regarding food and cosmetics that were not permitted for entry into the country in November 2025. The data showed that a total of 444 batches of food failed to gain entry into the country that month. Compared to the 507 batches in November 2024, the number of batches of food not permitted for entry decreased by 67 batches, representing a year-on-year decline of 13.2%. Compared to the 410 batches in October 2025, the number of batches increased by 34 batches, showing a month-on-month growth of 8.3%. The total volume of food not permitted for entry reached 5,455.56 tons, and all such food was returned or destroyed in strict accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. Global Foodmate conducted an analysis of the released information on food not permitted for entry and is now sharing the analysis results as follows.

On December 18, 2025, the Department of Food Safety and Quality of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia issued a public consultation on the "Draft Amendments to the Regulations of the Food Act 1983" (Bill 4/2025), with the consultation period ending on January 17, 2026. The draft bill proposes to amend the 1985 Food Regulation, with the main revisions including: 1. adding a definition of "non-retail container"; 2. adding Regulation 16A on labeling requirements for non-retail container; and 3. revising Regulation 17 regarding exemptions for certain labeling requirements.