Taiwan FDA to Regulate 17 Functional Ingredients Like Lutein, Ban Unsubstantiated Claims
Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) plans to regulate 17 functional ingredients, including lutein and probiotics. Under the new rules, companies must register their products and comply with labeling requirements before making any functional claims. This move aims to curb misleading marketing of general food products as health foods, referencing international standards from Japan, South Korea, and the EU.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 17:58
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 4, Reporter Shen Pei-yao) The market is flooded with products like lutein and probiotics claiming to protect eyesight or benefit gut health, but these are actually general foods. The Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) plans to introduce a new system, with the first phase regulating 17 raw materials or ingredients. In the future, businesses must register and comply with labeling regulations, or they will not be allowed to make functional claims.
Cheng Wei-chih, Director of the Planning and Technology Management Division of the TFDA under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told media today that according to the "Health Food Control Act," "health foods" must undergo rigorous safety and efficacy evaluations (registration and inspection) and possess substantial scientific evidence. Only after passing the review will a "Little Green Man" label be issued, allowing claims of specific health benefits.
Products other than health foods are considered "general foods." Cheng pointed out that many health supplements on the market, which are essentially general foods, often use marketing language that skirts the edges of the law, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish the authenticity of product claims. This also creates a "bad money drives out good" dilemma for businesses that are willing to invest in compliance.
To solve this structural problem, Cheng said the TFDA has decided to promote a "tiered management" system. By setting clear rules, the agency aims to make businesses responsible for their product labeling and advertising, while enhancing market information transparency and protecting consumers' right to know and choose.
Referencing regulations from advanced international countries such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU, the TFDA has drafted a regulation on "Functional Ingredients/Components and Their Permissible Descriptive Terms." The initial plan is to regulate 17 functional raw materials or ingredients, while clearly listing the corresponding functional terms that can be used. For example, lutein can be described as "helps maintain eye health."
On May 27, the TFDA convened a "Policy Communication Meeting on Functional Food Management Planning," inviting academia, industry, associations, and experts. The meeting was chaired by Director-General Jiang Zhi-gang, who explained the direction of the functional food management system plan.
Cheng emphasized that in the future, businesses wishing to make functional claims must first register their products on a designated platform, obtain a registration number, and upload scientific reference materials proving that the content of the functional ingredient meets the requirements for the claimed statement. Furthermore, product labeling and advertising must strictly adhere to the permissible descriptive terms listed on the TFDA's "positive list."
Additionally, Cheng stressed that food products must not involve false, exaggerated, or misleading claims. The management of food and pharmaceuticals should remain clearly distinct. The TFDA will continue to gather opinions from all sectors and make rolling amendments to the regulations. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150604
Cheng Wei-chih, Director of the Planning and Technology Management Division of the TFDA under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told media today that according to the "Health Food Control Act," "health foods" must undergo rigorous safety and efficacy evaluations (registration and inspection) and possess substantial scientific evidence. Only after passing the review will a "Little Green Man" label be issued, allowing claims of specific health benefits.
Products other than health foods are considered "general foods." Cheng pointed out that many health supplements on the market, which are essentially general foods, often use marketing language that skirts the edges of the law, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish the authenticity of product claims. This also creates a "bad money drives out good" dilemma for businesses that are willing to invest in compliance.
To solve this structural problem, Cheng said the TFDA has decided to promote a "tiered management" system. By setting clear rules, the agency aims to make businesses responsible for their product labeling and advertising, while enhancing market information transparency and protecting consumers' right to know and choose.
Referencing regulations from advanced international countries such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU, the TFDA has drafted a regulation on "Functional Ingredients/Components and Their Permissible Descriptive Terms." The initial plan is to regulate 17 functional raw materials or ingredients, while clearly listing the corresponding functional terms that can be used. For example, lutein can be described as "helps maintain eye health."
On May 27, the TFDA convened a "Policy Communication Meeting on Functional Food Management Planning," inviting academia, industry, associations, and experts. The meeting was chaired by Director-General Jiang Zhi-gang, who explained the direction of the functional food management system plan.
Cheng emphasized that in the future, businesses wishing to make functional claims must first register their products on a designated platform, obtain a registration number, and upload scientific reference materials proving that the content of the functional ingredient meets the requirements for the claimed statement. Furthermore, product labeling and advertising must strictly adhere to the permissible descriptive terms listed on the TFDA's "positive list."
Additionally, Cheng stressed that food products must not involve false, exaggerated, or misleading claims. The management of food and pharmaceuticals should remain clearly distinct. The TFDA will continue to gather opinions from all sectors and make rolling amendments to the regulations. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150604