Vietnam Ad Review, ANZ Health Stars Implementation Progress in Regulatory News Roundup

Vietnamese PM orders Ministry of Health to review regulations on advertising functional foods

Vietnam’s Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of Health to review regulations on functional food advertising.

The decision was in response to a request from the Vietnam Functional Food Association (VAFF) to tighten controls on functional food advertising.

In recent years, problematic advertising has exploded with the growing market for functional foods. Examples include misleading consumers into believing that dietary supplements have the same effects as drugs.

Kobayashi side effect: Japanese functional food companies are legally required to comply with four new rules from September

Food manufacturers making functional claims (FFCs) are legally required to comply with four new regulations from September 1, the latest move by Japanese authorities following the Kobayashi Pharmaceutical red yeast rice scandal.

One of the new regulations requires manufacturers to inform the Consumer Protection Agency (CAA) of new scientific findings about the safety or effectiveness of their products.

This means that if new findings emerge, it will be necessary to remove certain claims deemed inappropriate from products available for sale.

China to approve nearly 600 infant formulas in 2023 – new data on national standards​

Last year, China approved nearly 600 infant formulas based on the new GuoBiao (GB) standards and national standards.

Last year, as the country was fully adapting to the new British standards, a total of 592 infant formulas and 97 companies producing such formulas were approved, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said.

The new GB standards require companies to reformulate calories, carbohydrates, proteins and micronutrients. In the process, brands that were unable to meet the requirements left the market, leaving room for other players to grow.