On 14 January 2026, Decree 1083/2025 will come into force, amending previous provisions on the production, importation and marketing of alcoholic beverages. With the aim of strengthening health surveillance, reducing regulatory burdens and applying a risk-based approach, the National Institute for the Surveillance of Medicines and Food (INVIMA) approved the following regulatory changes for alcoholic beverages in 2025: Voluntary Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification

In the context of one substance - one assessment framework, on 12 December 2025 European Commission published three legislative documents aimed to increase the simplicity and transparency of EU rules on chemicals, as follows: Regulation (EU) 2025/2455 establishing a common data platform on chemicals, laying down rules to ensure that the data contained in it are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable and establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals.

EAS Strategies recently hosted a free online webinar entitled “Emerging Front-of-Pack Labelling Policies in the Middle East & Africa: Regulatory Insights” , bringing together industry stakeholders to discuss evolving regulatory approaches to front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling across the MEA region. Held on 18 November 2025, the webinar was delivered by Manal Khouri, Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Middle East & Africa, and was open to industry clients and companies op

EAS Strategies, a member of the European Business Association Kazakhstan (EUROBAK), was represented at the recent EUROBAK meeting with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integreation by Bakhadir Akhmetjanov, Regional Director for Central Asia & the Caucasus.   The meeting brought together EUROBAK members and stakeholders to exchange views on potential areas of cooperation within the scope of the Ministry's Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology.

The European Commission has announced a new amendment to its food supplement regulations, increasing the permitted levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) derived from Schizochytrium sp. (ATCC PTA-9695) oil. Published in the Official Journal on 10 November, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2245 updates the conditions of use within Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. Under the new scope, the maximum allowable DHA in food supplements rises from 250 mg per day for t

On 17 November, the National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA) held a Sectoral Dialogue on foods for special dietary purposes. The meeting aimed to present and discuss two regulatory proposals currently under development: Proposal for a Normative Instruction (IN) establishing the periodic update of IN 367/2025, which sets out the lists of constituents, usage limits and claims for infant formulas, nutrient formulas for high-risk newborns, transitional foods and cereal-

The inaugural meeting of agriculture ministers from Central Asian countries took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The discussions centered on strengthening regional cooperation, advancing sustainable agriculture, and ensuring food security across the Central Asian region. The event was attended by heads of relevant government agencies, diplomats, and representatives from international organisations. Kazakhstan highlighted its achievements in agricultural policy, noting that be

Abu Dhabi’s Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), and Investment Office (ADIO) have launched a strategic initiative to create a unified regulatory framework for novel foods. The framework aligns with global best practices and introduces a streamlined registration system that is expected to shorten approval times by 6–9 months. It will consolidate requirements for novel food registration, halal certification, and production/impor

Mercosur countries have reached a technical agreement to submit joint notifications to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding both draft resolutions and final texts from the Working Group No.8 on Agricultural Matters. This step strengthens regulatory transparency by allowing international public consultation before adoption. If approved by Mercosur's Common Market Group (GMC), the resolution will take immediate effect. Led by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livesto

In October 2025, the East African Community (EAC)—comprising Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda—submitted four draft standards to the World Trade Organization that could affect food packaging and ingredient specifications across the region. Stakeholders are invited to provide comments by 30 November 2025. Key Draft Standards: DEAS 930:2025 – Paper and Board Food Contact Packaging Material — Specification. Establishes requirements, sampling procedures, and test metho

On October 28, 2025 the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, signed the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On the Ratification of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the Establishment of a FAO Representation in the Kyrgyz Republic, signed on 24 April 2025 in the city of Bishkek”, which had been adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on 30 January 2025. This

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a new consultation paper to seek views on additional changes in relation to permissions for caffeine in sports foods and in the general food supply. Discussions to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine food products have been underway since 2020. Some of the proposed additional amendments include: A new prohibition on the retail sale of guarana extract as a food, unless expressly permitted; An