On August 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of HHS officially issued a proposed rule on mandatory GRAS notifications. The FDA proposes to change the current voluntary GRAS notification process to a mandatory system, directly targeting the Self-GRAS pathway.

On July 8, 2026, South Korea’s MFDS expanded mandatory GM food labeling to include products like soy sauce, sugars, and edible oils made with GM ingredients, even if no GM DNA or protein remains. After industry discussions and a WTO notification, labeling takes effect December 31, 2026, with sugars and oils delayed until December 31, 2027.

On August 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially released the proposed GRAS rule, which is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on August 11. Either electronic or written comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by December 9, 2026. The core of the proposed rule is to eliminate the Self-GRAS pathway and require companies to submit GRAS notices to FDA.

Navigating the regulatory landscape for exporting food and feed ingredients to the United States requires a clear understanding of the FDA compliance pathways, safety assessments, and procedures. Backed by U.S.-based toxicologists and a 100% success rate, CIRS Group provides comprehensive global regulatory submissions for GRAS, NDI, and novel food ingredients.

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued updated guidance clarifying the definitions of Genetically Modified (GM) Food and Novel DNA under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). The guidance also includes practical examples to help food businesses determine whether their products fall within the definition of GM food.

On July 17, 2026, the UK Food Standards Agency updated its allergen guidance, requiring food businesses to clearly declare 14 major allergens across all product types. Exporters must emphasize these allergens on labels, implement strict cross-contamination controls, verify allergen-free claims, and maintain comprehensive traceability documentation for UK distributors.

China NHC issued notifications regarding the acceptance of “three new foods”. The applications for 3 new food materials and 1 new food additive have been received.

Recently, China's National Health Commission (NHC) issued notifications regarding the approval and review of “Three new foods” (new food raw materials, new food additives, and new food-related products). The notifications included 17 notifications of extension notice.

China’s SAMR issued draft provisions replacing its 20-year-old probiotic regulations, restricting products strictly to live, non-GMO strains with full strain-level identity and genetic stability data. Commercial ingredients are now limited to single-strain formulas, while minimum daily live bacteria requirements increase tenfold to 107 CFU/mL(g). Crucially, the draft introduces a filing pathway alongside traditional registration, significantly accelerating market entry for approved strains while raising overall technical compliance standards.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) has optimized the documentation requirements for the interim testing registration of agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). This regulatory update significantly streamlines the application process, offering a faster and more efficient pathway for biotech developers, research institutions, and agricultural feed additive manufacturers.