The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular No. 29/2023/TT-BYT guiding the content and method of recording nutritional ingredients and nutritional values on food labels. This Circular will take effect from February 15, 2024.
Regarding the scope of regulation, this Circular provides guidance on the content, method of recording nutritional ingredients, nutritional values and implementation roadmap for prepackaged foods produced, traded, imported and circulated in Vietnam.
According to the Circular, food produced, traded, imported, and circulated in Vietnam must have the following nutritional ingredients listed: Energy (kcal); Protein (g); Carbohydrate (g); Fat (g); Sodium (mg) on the food label.
In particular, soft drinks, processed milk with added sugar and other foods with added sugar must have the total sugar added. Foods processed by frying must have saturated fat added. Foods that do not contain/contain the above-mentioned nutritional ingredients but the nutritional value of that ingredient is less than the value specified in Appendix I of this Circular are not required to have that nutritional ingredient listed on the food label.
Accordingly, the nutritional components expressed in 100g/100ml of food/in 01 serving have been determined on the label/per packaged portion when the number of portions in that package is declared.
The Ministry of Health requires that the labeling of nutritional ingredients and nutritional values on food labels must comply with the provisions of this Circular and relevant provisions of the law on product labeling and food safety. It must be accurate and not cause misunderstanding or confusion about the nutritional value of food products. Information on ingredients and nutritional values on food product labels must be easily recognizable, easy to understand and indelible.
Regarding the roadmap for labeling, the Circular clearly states: By December 31, 2025 at the latest, organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing food for circulation in Vietnam must label the nutritional ingredients on food labels according to the provisions of this Circular.
From January 1, 2026, organizations and individuals are not allowed to produce, print, import and use labels that do not comply with the provisions of this Circular.
Clause 2, Article 1 of this Circular clearly states that there is no adjustment for the following raw materials and foods: Raw materials and foods not sold directly to consumers, including edible ice; Foods with a single ingredient; Natural mineral water, bottled drinking water (including those with added CO2 and/or flavoring); Food salt, refined salt; Vinegar and vinegar substitutes including those with added flavoring only; Flavorings, additives, food processing aids; Food enzymes; Tea, coffee without other added ingredients except colorants, flavorings; Health protection foods; Alcoholic beverages; Food specified in Clause 2, Article 1 of Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP dated April 14, 2017 of the Government on product labeling (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP) amended and supplemented by Decree No. 111/2021/ND-CP dated December 9, 2021 of the Government and food specified in Clause 1, Clause 2, Article 25 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018 of the Government detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP); Food produced by small-scale food businesses as prescribed in Clause 10, Article 3 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP; In case organizations and individuals specified in Clause 2, Article 1 voluntarily record nutritional ingredients and nutritional values on food labels, they shall comply with the provisions of this Circular. |
Source
Comment (0)