Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) continues to strengthen the national halal ecosystem by signing several strategic partnerships with national and international partners. The partnerships signed include a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), a Recognition Agreement (RA), and cooperation to strengthen halal product assurance (JPH) with universities. The first collaboration was the signing of an MRA between BPJPH and the Moroccan Institute of Standardization (I

The 49th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL49), held in Ottawa, Canada, from 11 to 15 May, completed its work on new guidance for precautionary allergen labelling (PAL). The text has been incorporated into the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985) and will be submitted to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption at its meeting in July. After several years of discussion, the Committee finalised the guidance following two

The Gulf Legislation Platform was officially launched on 14 June 2026 at the GCC General Secretariat headquarters. The initiative aims to strengthen legislative integration across GCC member states by providing a unified electronic reference for Gulf-wide legislation and national laws adopted within the framework of joint Gulf action. The platform facilitates efficient access to legal and legislative documents, supporting government entities, legal professionals, researchers

A new study from the European Commission shows that, as part of the ongoing revision of the rules on animal welfare during transport, digital tools could make it easier for operators and competent authorities to apply and enforce EU transport requirements more efficiently. The study examines how practical solutions could work in technical and operational terms, including: digital journey logs emitted via TRACES geolocation tools for better monitoring of journeys mobile applic

Mexico’s sanitary authority issued new guidance aimed at clarifying the classification of products as food supplements under the current regulatory framework. The guidance, released by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), does not introduce new regulatory requirements or amend existing rules. Instead, it provides additional clarity on how the authority interprets and applies current provisions in practice. In particular, the document ou

The Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce has opened a public consultation on the draft Technical Regulation for the Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods. Drawing on Codex Alimentarius principles, the draft aims to establish updated labelling requirements for all pre-packaged foods. Key elements include clarification that the regulation does not apply to front-of-pack (FOP) labelling, as well as a proposed update to the allergen list in line with recent Codex developments. I

The UAE Cabinet has approved the National Healthy Nutrition Strategy 2031, setting out a comprehensive policy framework to promote healthier diets and strengthen preventive nutrition measures across the country. The Strategy establishes strategic priorities aimed at shifting consumption towards healthier food alternatives, increasing public awareness of appropriate dietary patterns, reinforcing prevention‑based approaches to nutrition‑related non‑communicable diseases, and en

On 15 April, Joint Resolution 1/2026 of the National Administration of Food, Drugs and Medical Technology (ANMAT) and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries was published in the Official Gazette. The Resolution adopts GMC Resolution No. 28/24, which amends GMC Resolution No. 02/12, the Mercosur Technical Regulation on the positive list of monomers, other starting substances and polymers authorised for the manufacture of plastic packaging and equipment intende

On 25 March, the French food safety agency ANSES published a report calling for urgent action to reduce cadmium exposure, warning that the population is primarily exposed through food due to widespread soil contamination. Its assessment shows that dietary intake accounts for up to 98% of cadmium exposure in non-smokers, with staple foods such as cereals, potatoes, and vegetables as the main contributors, while smoking further increases exposure. Biomonitoring data also point

On 23 March, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) closed the proposal to list added sugars separately in the nutrition information panel, concluding that it would be unlikely to deliver a clear public health benefit and could impose significant costs across the food system. The proposal assessed whether the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code should be amended to mandate separate added sugars labelling, following a request from food ministers to review whether

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Board responsible for technical regulation and the WHO Regional Director for Europe signed a 2026–2028 action plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the EEC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Aimed at preventing and reducing non‑communicable diseases, the action plan includes: Joint consultations on updating Union legislation to strengthen requirements for reducing salt and added sugar levels in foods, as well as

The Bolivian Institute for Standards and Quality (IBNORCA) has opened a public consultation on two draft standards aimed at updating the regulatory framework for non‑alcoholic beverages. APNB/IBNORCA 325001 – Non‑Alcoholic Beverages: Requirements This draft standard sets out the characteristics that non‑alcoholic beverages must comply with. Its scope excludes the following products: Beverages made entirely from fruit or vegetables, whether sweetened or unsweetened, concentra