Commercial Information Circulars
24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref : EIC 111/2/19
17 June 2016
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 514/2016
US : FDA Updates the Nutrition and Supplement Fact Labels on Packaged Foods
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently announced a final rule to update the Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods as well as make some minor changes to the Supplement Facts label found on dietary supplements. The final rule will be effective on 26 July 2016. On the compliance dates, most food manufacturers will be required to use the new label by 26 July 2018. Manufactures with less than $10 million in annual food sales will have an additional year (i.e. 26 July 2019) to comply with the new rules.
DETAILS
2.The Nutrition Facts label regulations apply to all packaged foods, both imported and domestically produced, except certain meat poultry and processed egg products, which are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
3.The final rule updates the list of nutrients that are required or permitted to be declared; provides updated daily reference values and reference daily intake values that are based on current dietary recommendations from consensus reports; amends requirements for foods represented or purported to be specifically for children under the age of 4 and pregnant and lactating women and establishes nutrient reference values specifically for these population subgroups; and revises the format and appearance of the Nutrition Facts label. For more details on the new requirements, please refer to the Federal Register and the relevant FDA's press release at the following links: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-05-27/pdf/2016-11867.pdf and http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm502182.htm.
ENQUIRIES
4.For enquiries concerning this circular, please contact Mr Lewis LAU at telephone number 2398 5405.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Janice LAU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry