On October 1, 2026, Japan promulgated and put into effect Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 89, which amended its Food Labeling Standards. Businesses that plan or manufacture health food products should review the changes to Appended Table 11, which sets standards for Foods with Nutrient Function Claims. The revision updates the minimum and maximum nutrient amounts in the suggested daily intake, the prescribed wording for function claims, and intake precautions. Check each product’s formulation against its label before deciding when to switch.
Recheck what the label can say, even when the formula stays the same
Under the system for Foods with Nutrient Function Claims, the business checks that the product meets the standards and uses wording prescribed by the government to describe the nutrient’s function. If the suggested daily intake is two capsules, for example, compare the nutrient amount in those two capsules with the standard.
For vitamin D, the minimum increased from 1.65 µg to 2.70 µg. A product that provides 2.00 µg per suggested daily intake falls below the revised minimum for a vitamin D function claim. The vitamin C wording now includes its roles in collagen synthesis and iron absorption. Even when the formula stays the same, review the prescribed claims and intake precautions nutrient by nutrient so none are missed in the packaging update.
Use the manufacture, processing, or import date to check the transition
Processed foods, excluding those for business use, that are manufactured, processed, or imported by March 31, 2030 may still use the previous labeling rules for Appended Table 11. For fresh foods, excluding those for business use, the cutoff applies to the date of sale. When planning the change, link the manufacture or processing date for domestic products and the import date for imported products to the lot and packaging version. This makes it easier to confirm which label applies when the lot ships.
Coordinate formula checks and packaging changes with the OEM manufacturer
For each product, the brand and contract manufacturer should compare the relevant nutrients, suggested daily intake, evidence for nutrient quantities, and current label. If nutrient levels must change, schedule trials and specification checks before ordering packaging. When the changes are mainly to the wording, update online product images and descriptions along with cartons and individual packs so shoppers see the same information when ordering and receiving the product.
A FOSHU labeling approval was announced on November 10
On November 10, the Consumer Affairs Agency announced one labeling approval for a fish sausage with calcium as its functional ingredient under the disease risk reduction category of Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU). FOSHU products undergo a product-specific review of efficacy and safety before labeling is permitted. If you handle both FOSHU and Foods with Nutrient Function Claims, record each product’s category so that your team uses the right materials for its labeling review.