Chinese ministries team up to drive R&D of functional marine ingredients
Eight Chinese ministries, including the National Health Commission (NHC) and State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR), have drafted a first-of-its-kind policy paper aimed at promoting the R&D of functional marine ingredients in health supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine and pharmaceutical products.
One of the goals is to launch various innovative marine functional products and pharmaceuticals in the market and achieve an overall industrial added value of at least CNY130 billion (US$19bn) by the year 2030.
The policy paper titled “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Marine Drugs and Functional Products” was unveiled during a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources last month.
Regulators clamp down on vitamin B6 as toxicity debate grows
As a growing number of countries tighten oversight of vitamin B6 supplements, debate is intensifying over whether the restrictions are proportionate to the risk.
Canada is the most recent country to increase its oversight of vitamin B6 supplements, updating its monograph for vitamin B6-containing natural health products in March following a review that identified a possible association between high doses of vitamin B6 and peripheral neuropathy.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) also licensed products containing between 50 mg and 200 mg of vitamin B6 as pharmacist-only after its Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN) linked 250 reports of peripheral neuropathy and peripheral sensory neuropathy, etc. to vitamin B6 products between 2023 and 2025.
Taiwan planning new rules for Traditional Chinese Medicine products
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare is seeking comment on a new regulation that would clarify the distinction between “food” and “medicine” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products while preserving the country’s long-standing food culture around herbal ingredients.
Under the proposed framework, certain herbs with long-standing culinary use would remain permitted in food products, however, regulators plan to introduce requirements for dosage levels, concentration and labeling practices.
The proposal, first published in April, would expand and formalize the list of Chinese medicinal materials permitted in food products and divides 148 approved TCM ingredients into two categories.
China moves to rein in livestream ads with new draft rules
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is pushing livestream commerce platforms to take greater responsibility for health food advertising as more consumers turn to these channels for purchases.
A fresh set of proposed regulations seeks to tighten control over how pharmaceuticals, medical devices, health foods and foods for special medical purposes can be advertised and how ads are reviewed prior to publication.
Where violations are identified, platforms would be required to issue warnings, restrict traffic, suspend livestreaming activity and maintain records of offending parties.
FSANZ proposes minimum vitamin D levels, new labelling rules for toddler milk
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is proposing a new set of regulations for toddler milk, including minimum vitamin D levels, permitted protein sources and new product labelling rules.
Vitamin D, for example, has to meet the minimum target of 0.36 μg/100 kJ, which is aligned with CODEX standards.
There are currently no minimum levels prescribed for vitamin D and formulations can contain up to a maximum of 0.76 μg/100 kJ.
