The acute exposure assessment was conducted on a single‑consumption‑event basis considering the reported use levels and analytical data of glycerol in slush ice drinks and the proposed maximum level of 50,000 mg glycerol/L in de-alcoholised wine. The Panel considered that a conservative dose above which unintended pharmacological effects would occur should be used for the determination of the acute reference dose (ARfD). Based on Wald and McLaurin (1982) study, the Panel derived an ARfD of 125 mg glycerol/kg body weight for a single consumption event.

General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) recently announced that starting from June 1, 2026, annual random inspections will be carried out on certain import and export goods outside the scope of statutory inspection. CIRS Group has noticed that imported food contact products are also included in the inspection list, and relevant enterprises should pay close attention.

Since 2020, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has gradually released usage restrictions and labeling regulations for six new food raw materials produced from genetically modified microorganisms, including three 2′-fucosyllactose, astaxanthin, Ganoderma microsporum globulin-like protein concentrate, and trans-resveratrol. CIRS Group has compiled key information on these 6 products for industry reference.

On April 23, the China State Administration for Market Regulation issued a notice on “Deepening the Governance of the Internet Advertising Ecosystem” and simultaneously released the “Key Tasks for Regulating the Order of the Internet Advertising Market”. The rectification work will last for six months starting from the date of publication.

To help companies better understand the design requirements for the labeling of prepackaged special dietary foods, CIRS Group has compiled a summary of the key changes in this draft for reference, based on the draft and its compilation notes.

It can be hard to keep track of regulatory deadlines, so the CIRS team has put together this helpful infographic to make it a little bit easier. Scroll down to the bottom to find links to each of the dates mentioned.

On January 27, 2026, Taiwan released the “Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Novel Food Ingredients”, which clarify the definition, required submission materials, and regulatory procedures for novel food ingredients in Taiwan. The guidelines also specify documentation requirements for ingredients produced using genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), ensuring the safety of such food ingredients for consumption.

On April 22, 2026, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued 4 new food materials. Comments are welcomed before May 22, 2026.

On April 17, 2026, the National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment solicited public comments on expanding the scope of use for the food additive Carmine and the food nutrient enhancer 3'-sialyllactose sodium salt.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the third most abundant solid nutrient in breast milk, following only lactose and lipids. HMOs form a variety of complex structures through different combinations of five basic components—glucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, L-fucose, and N-acetylneuraminic acid—and possess multiple functions, including regulating the gut microbiota, establishing the intestinal barrier, boosting immunity, and enhancing cognitive development.