Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
10.12 LeGISLatION IN JapaN
In Japan, a category of foods for special dietary uses exists, which includes foods for the
ill. Low-calorie foods are included in this category, targeting diabetes and obesity. These foods
requirepremarketapproval.Low-caloriefoodsaredeinedasbeinglessthan50%ofthecalories
of comparable foods or counterparts. Low-calorie tabletop sweeteners are sold in this category.
Combinationsofbulkingagentsandintensesweetenersmayalsobeincluded.Moreover,thecat-
egory food for speciied health uses (FOSHU) includes dietary ibers, oligosaccharides, and iso-
lavones.OligosaccharidesareaddedintablesugartohelpmaintaingoodGIconditionandbowel
movement(350approvedcasesuntiltheendof2010).Xylitolwithcalciummonohydrogenphos-
phate and Fukuronori extract are added to help maintain strong and healthy teeth (73 approved
cases).ByAugust2010,areportonhealthclaimswasreleasedandinvolvedFOSHUapprovaland
regulationofhealthfoods,whenscientiicevidenceontargetednutritionalcomponentsforfurther
discussionaboutauthorizationwascollected(ConsumerAffairsAgency2010).
Japanisoneoftheleadingagriculturalimportingnationsintheworld.Japanhasfar-reaching
policiesthataffectcaloricsweeteners(e.g.,sugarandcornsyrup),becauseitwishestoprotecthigh-
cost domestic production of sugar cane and sugar beets against foreign competition. Sugar beets
areraisedinthenorthernmostlargeisland,Hokkaido,whilesugarcaneisgrowninsouthernmost
Japan,onsmallislandssouthofKyushu,extendingtoOkinawa.
Sugar production is about 800,000 tons, with sugar consumption about 2.3 million tons and
thetotalsupplyofsweetenersabout3.9milliontons(Fukuda,Dyck,andStout2002).Cornfrom
the United States has been the main feedstock for producing HFCS in Japan, and at a level of
3 milliontonsayear,Japan'simportsofcornforHFCSareabout20%ofitstotalcornimports.
Japan'stotalmarketforintensesweetenersisworthapproximately330millionU.S.dollarsin2009
(LeatherheadFoodResearch2010),equivalenttomorethan80%oftheregionaltotal(400million
U.S.dollarsfromJapanandtheFarEast).SCLisoneofthemostpopularsweetenersusedinthe
manufactureofsoftdrinks,confections,icecream,milk,pickles,andfunctionalfoodsfollowedby
stevia,accountingfor40%ofthetabletopsweeteners.ASPandACSKarealsousedwiththelatter
usedintheready-to-drinkcoffeedrinkssector.
Guidelinesforthedesignationoffoodadditivesandfortherevisionofstandardsforuseoffood
additiveshavebeendescribedinAnnex5(Figure10.1).
ScientiicevaluationsareconductedbythePharmaceuticalAffairsandFoodSanitationCouncil
fromtheviewofthepublichealth.Intheseevaluations,standardsoftheJointFAO/WHOCodex
AlimentariusCommissionandconditionsofJapanesefoodintakewillbeconsidered.
1. Safety—The safety of the targeted food additive should be proven or conirmed in the intended
methodsofuse.
2. Effectiveness—Itshouldbeprovenorconirmedthattheuseofthefoodadditivecomesunderone
ormoreofthepurposessetoutinitemsa-bbelow.However,whenthemanufacturingorprocessing
methodforatargetfoodcanbeimprovedormodiiedatcomparativelylowcostandtheimprovedor
modiiedmethoddoesnotrequirethefoodadditiveforthemanufactureorprocessingofthefood,
theuseofthefoodadditiveisnotjustiied.
a.
Topreservethenutritionalqualityofthefood—Anintentionalreductioninthenutritionalqual-
ityofafoodwouldbejustiiedinthecircumstancesdealtwithinitembbelowandalsoinother
circumstanceswherethefooddoesnotconstituteasigniicantiteminanormaldiet.
b.
Toprovidenecessaryingredientsorconstituentsforfoodmanufacturedforgroupsofconsum-
ers having special dietary needs, provided that the food additive is not intended to provide
medicaleffects,suchasthepreventionortreatmentofcertaindiseases.
c.
Toenhancethekeepingqualityorstabilityofafoodortoimproveitsorganolepticproperties,
providedthatthisdoesnotchangethenature,substance,orqualityofthefoodsoastodeceive
theconsumer.
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