Japan | Guidelines for Nutrition Labeling
The Consumer Affairs Agency (hereafter referred to as "CAA"), Government of Japan has published the second edition of the "Guidelines for Nutrition Labeling in accordance with the Food Labeling Act" on 11 May, 2018, last Friday.
Food Subject to Food Labeling Standards:
1) Processed food
2) Fresh produce
3) Food additives
intended for sales as commercial products.
Food NOT Subject to Food Labeling Standards:
Food to be served and eaten at the food facilities (cafeterias, restaurants, food courts, eateries etc.)
Mandatory Nutrition Components:
Energy, Protein, Fats, Carbohydrates, Sodium (indicate as salt equivalent)
Food Subject to Nutrition Labeling according to article 3 of the Food Labeling Standards:
1) Processed food
2) Food additives
Optional Nutrition Components:
Saturated fatty acid, n-3 fatty acid, n-6 fatty acids, cholesterol, sugars, saccharides (limited to monosaccharide or disaccharide and sugars which are not sugar alcohol), dietary fibre, zinc, potassium, calcium, chromium, selenium, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, phosphorus, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, K and Folic acid
All general processed food are required to display the above-mentioned 5 mandatory nutritions facts as prescribed by article 3 of the Food Labeling Standards. For optional nutrition facts which are displayed on the packaging, the values of the relevant nutrition component must be displayed in the nutrition information.
Exceptions when nutrition labeling can be omitted:
1) When the packaging space is less than 30 sq cm.
2) Alcoholic products (alcoholic beverages as prescribed by article 2(1) of the Liquor Tax Act)
3) Items whose source of nutrition contribition is minimal as per the following:
When all the mandatory nutrition information (energy, Protein, Fats, Carbohydrates, Sodium (indicate as salt equivalent)) satisfy the criteria to display their values as 0.
When the nutrient values (protein, fats, carbohydrates and sodium) and calories derived from the daily intake of the relevant food per perceived to be minimal.
⇒ For example, coffee beans and their extracts, herbs and their extracts, tea leaves and their extracts, spices, etc. However, when a lot of spices are used at once, and it is a possible source of nutrient, then the display of nutrition information cannot be omitted.
4) Food in which the raw materials (including their mixing ratio) can change in an extremely short period of time (food that satisfies any one of the following criteria)
When the recipe changes within 3 days such as daily bentos (excluding those with rotating menu)
Food which ingredients changes depending on the parts used. (For e.g. minced meat, processed meat which uses cut meat slices, food which changes depending on the white innards used from multiple parts)
5) Businesses exempt from the obligation to pay consumption tax under Article 9(1) of the Consumption Tax Act (for the time being, including those food products sold by small businesses prescribed in Article 2(5) of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Basic Act )
Full details of the guides can be found here.
Related articles: