Seminar Puts Spotlight on Marketing Functional Foods with Claims in Asia

“With the increasing public awareness on the role of food in health, the market for functional foods in Asia is huge,” said Dr Tsi. “However, the current regulatory environment for functional foods in Asia is diverse and challenging both for companies and regulatory authorities.”

20/04/09 Health claims regulations in Asia for functional foods will be the focus of an upcoming three-hour intensive seminar hosted by international food and nutrition policy consultancy EAS Asia.

The seminar, titled ‘Regulatory strategies for marketing functional food with claims in Asia’, aims to guide companies through the key aspects to consider when planning regional regulatory strategies in key Asian markets, including China, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.

Taking place in Singapore on June 5, the seminar will give participants an overview of health claims regulations from Codex, the US and the EU and their impact on the region, requirements for making claims on products in key Asian markets including the level of substantiation, and the food regulations most applicable in the region to functional foods.

Speakers Daniel Tsi, Regional Director of EAS Asia, and Wai Mun Poon, EAS Asia Regional Regulatory Affairs Manager, will also offer tips for successful international regulatory strategies, showing examples of key pitfalls and company successes.

“With the increasing public awareness on the role of food in health, the market for functional foods in Asia is huge,” said Dr Tsi. “However, the current regulatory environment for functional foods in Asia is diverse and challenging both for companies and regulatory authorities.”

Ms Poon added: “The different national regulatory systems pose significant challenges for food companies wanting to market functional foods with claims in the region. To enter these markets companies must have a grasp of the different regulations for claims and the requirements for their substantiation.

With this seminar we aim to clarify these differences, helping companies successfully place products on their chosen markets.”