New mangagerial regulations on functional foods come into force

From and on January 15, 2015, the Circular No. 43/2014/TT-BYT of Ministry of Health officially enforces the regulations on functional food management. Accordingly, the advertisements of such products on the visual mass media should include the notice line of affirming the products as functional foods not medicines and having no treatment effects.

Those producers licensed with good production practice for functional foods shall be exempted from food safety conditions certificate requirements. The products must be tested as per their effects on human health including products recommended for treatment or containing new substances not yet allowed. The new Circular overrides Circular No. 08/2004/TT-BYT.

Reported by Song Tra – Translated by Vi Bao