82nd Food Labeling Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Published
Overview
On August 6, 2026, the Consumer Commission’s 82nd Food Labeling Subcommittee considered a proposed partial revision to the Food Labeling Standards concerning foods with nutrient function claims. It discussed revisions to minimum and maximum levels, nutrient function claims, and intake precautions. The committee approved a draft response recommending adoption of the proposed revision as drafted.
Key points
- The proposed partial revision to the Food Labeling Standards was approved as drafted.
- The minimum and maximum levels, function claims, and precautions for foods with nutrient function claims will be revised.
- The covered nutrients comprise 1 fatty acid, 6 minerals, and 13 vitamins, for a total of 20.
- The transitional period runs through March 31, 2030.
Overview
The Consumer Commission’s Food Labeling Subcommittee considered the partial revision to the Food Labeling Standards, referred by the Prime Minister on July 17, 2026, in light of the Consumer Affairs Agency’s explanation, an outline of the public comments, and committee members’ opinions. The proposal revises the system for foods with nutrient function claims in line with the latest scientific evidence and the need for information to be easy for consumers to understand.
Impact
The revision may require food-related businesses to change product designs, update packaging, and revise website information. Committee members called for outreach to promote awareness of the system and precautions, preparation of labeling examples and Q&As, and monitoring after the revision takes effect.
Details
Foods with nutrient function claims are a self-certification system covering packaged general-use processed foods and general-use fresh foods. They may display specified functions and precautions when the amount of a nutrient in the recommended daily intake falls within the prescribed minimum and maximum levels. The minimum is set at 30 percent of the nutrient reference value. The maximum is set with an emphasis on safety, using factors such as the maximum daily amount for quasi-drugs, NOAEL, UL, and average or 99th-percentile intake among Japanese people.
Function claims will be revised from the wording used when the system was established, which was based on the 2000 edition, in light of the latest scientific evidence and consumer awareness surveys. The phrases “is a nutrient” and “is one of the nutrients” will be used as appropriate. Precautions will be organized into general items, items for infants and children, and items for specific nutrients. The public comment process received 23 submissions containing 36 points, of which 24 concerned the proposed revisions.