NAVIGATING GLOBAL FOOD REGULATIONS

In an era shaped by globalisation, the food business faces evolving regulatory frameworks that profoundly influence how products move from producer to consumer. Exhibitors preparing for SIAL Network events, one of the leading international food industry exhibition platforms, must navigate a complex landscape of food safety rules and labelling requirements to ensure products meet legal standards in key markets such as the European Union (EU), the United States (US) and China. Variations in requirements for traceability, hygiene, nutrition information and import controls can pose challenges but also opportunities for businesses positioning their offerings on the global market.

 

Harmonising global food safety standards
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Across jurisdictions, the bedrock of international food safety regulation is a commitment to protect public health through consistent and enforceable standards. At the global level, the Codex Alimentarius, sometimes described as the “Food Code”, represents a cornerstone in this effort, providing internationally recognised guidelines on food safety, hygiene, contaminants, additives and labelling that influence national law and facilitate trade. Its standards, developed under the joint auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Trade Organization (WHO), help harmonise expectations and reduce barriers in food commerce. Compliance with Codex principles also supports adherence to the WTO’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which constrains member states’ policies on food safety and inspection to scientifically justified practices.

Similarly, in the United States, the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act focuses on preventing contamination through risk-based controls and mandatory hazard analysis, reflecting a prevention-centred approach to food safety. China’s Food Safety Law, regularly updated to address market developments, underscores stringent supervision of production, distribution and labelling, with compulsory oversight of genetically modified ingredients and safety certificates for certain imports.

 

For food businesses exhibiting high-risk categories, including dairy, meats or ready-to-eat products, aligning with these frameworks is not merely bureaucratic compliance. It signals a commitment to consumer protection that can enhance brand trust at SIAL Network events and across global markets.

Navigating nutritional labelling requirements
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Outside of safety enforcement, nutritional labelling represents another layer of regulatory complexity for international exhibitors. Products in major markets must carry precise information about energy values and constituent nutrients, but the specifics vary by territory. In the EU, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 mandates that most pre-packed foods display a standardised nutritional declaration listing energy, fats, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt, all expressed per 100g or 100ml in legible format.

Meanwhile, in the US, the Nutrition Labelling and Education Act requires a comprehensive nutrition panel with 14 core nutrients, and additional labelling such as front-of-package symbols for foods high in sodium or sugars is increasingly enforced through the Food and Drugs Act.

China’s regime draws on national standards (such as GB 7718), demanding labels in the local language that feature net content, producer and importer details, ingredient lists and nutrition facts tables, alongside food-specific requirements. Labelling of genetically modified foods is mandatory in China, where products containing approved modified ingredients must be clearly identified and unverified “non-GMO” claims are prohibited. Similar transparency requirements now apply in the European Union, where GMO content must be declared under harmonised food information rules, and in the United States, where mandatory disclosure has been in force since 1 January 2022. Under the US National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, foods containing bioengineered ingredients must carry specific on-pack wording such as “bioengineered” or “derived from bioengineering”, or an official seal.

While these regulatory approaches differ in form and presentation, they reflect a shared emphasis on consumer information. For international brands, such requirements can complicate cross-border marketing strategies, but they also reinforce the need for careful product formulation, traceability and documentation when preparing for export markets.
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Recent regulatory developments in key markets
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Beyond long-established food safety and labelling frameworks, the past 12 months have seen several regulatory developments that international exhibitors need to factor into their market access strategies. In the European Union, food safety policy has extended further into packaging and materials. A revised framework on food contact materials entered into force in early 2025, updating definitions, purity criteria and documentation requirements for substances used in packaging that comes into contact with food. For exporters, this reinforces the need to demonstrate not only product safety but also compliance across the entire packaging chain, including inks, coatings and plastics used for transport and retail presentation.

In the United States, recent regulatory signals have focused on clearer nutrition communication and traceability. The Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act has introduced a final rule on additional traceability record requirements for certain foods. This measure, although enforcement is deferred to mid-to-late 2028, underlines the priority on rapid traceability and documentation for foods bound for the US market, including foreign producers.

 

The FDA finalised its modernised definition of the voluntary “healthy” nutrient content claim, aligning it more closely with current dietary guidance and setting stricter criteria around added sugars and key nutrients. In parallel, the agency proposed a mandatory front-of-package nutrition information box in January 2025, indicating a move towards more visible, standardised nutrition disclosure for packaged foods.

Beyond China, several countries across the wider Asia-Pacific region have also accelerated regulatory reforms that international exhibitors should monitor closely. In Indonesia, the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has strengthened its pre-market authorisation and labelling controls for imported processed foods. Recent updates reinforce mandatory Indonesian-language labelling, clearer allergen declarations and tighter scrutiny of health and nutrition claims, particularly for functional foods and beverages. Digital registration via BPOM’s online submission system is now central to market access, increasing the importance of accurate documentation and traceability for foreign producers.

In Malaysia, regulatory oversight continues to evolve under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, with growing emphasis on food safety assurance and consumer information. Updates introduced between 2024 and 2025 have focused on allergen labelling consistency, nutrition information presentation and the regulation of novel foods. Malaysia has also intensified alignment with Codex Alimentarius standards, reinforcing its role as a regional hub where international compliance expectations increasingly converge.

India has likewise advanced its regulatory framework through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Recent amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations strengthen requirements for front-of-pack nutrition labelling, including clearer indicators for foods high in fat, sugar or salt. India has also expanded controls on imported foods, with enhanced inspection, sampling and documentation requirements at ports of entry. 

Strategic compliance for international exhibitors

For participants in a global food trade show environment such as the SIAL Network, regulatory compliance extends beyond avoiding legal sanctions. It supports brand reputation, fortifies market access and can be a differentiator in a crowded exhibition hall. 

International food business operators exhibiting grocery products, beverages or processed foods need to embed regulatory strategy early in product development. This begins with a comprehensive understanding of target markets’ safety controls and labelling mandates, informed by ongoing updates to standards such as those promulgated by Codex committees. It also entails cross-functional coordination, with legal, quality assurance and marketing teams collaborating to ensure packaging, labels, ingredient lists and nutrient panels meet all applicable criteria and resonate with consumer expectations.

Image credits: Cleverdis, Anna Shvets - Pexels, VIVO Ken - Pexels, Cottonbro Studio - Pexels