Amended Food Labeling Standards revising the Foods with Functional Claims System

The recent “beni koji” red yeast rice health hazard case (hereinafter referred to as “the Case”) called elements of the Foods with Functional Claims (“FFCs”) system into question. In response, the Japanese government announced on 31 May 2024 that it would be revising the FFC system based on the final report of a study group established by the Consumer Affairs Agency. Since then, a proposed amendment to the Food Labeling Standards revising the FFC system has been discussed by the Consumer Commission of the Cabinet Office and subjected to public comment. The amended Food Labeling Standards were officially published on 23 August 2024. In this alert, we provide an overview of the changes to the FFC system.