Mainland China’s e-commerce market is booming, but competition is fierce. Many in the health products sector believe that “Brand Hong Kong” inspires confidence among mainland consumers. As a result, Hong Kong health brands looking to explore the mainland market may find it advantageous to explore the demand there via cross-border e-commerce channel, which allows them to bypass the cumbersome product registration procedures associated with “general trade” practice. It also enables them to gauge consumer responses through e-commerce retail platforms. These insights can then be used to develop long-term strategies for venturing into the mainland market.

When consumers purchase fruit, their primary consideration is often its appearance. This has led to the rejection of fruits that are high in quality but do not meet aesthetic standards. These "ugly fruits" are frequently discarded as food waste despite being perfectly edible. not only powder (nop), is working to repurpose these "ugly fruits" into high-quality products, thereby generating economic value through a circular economy approach.

As announced with immediate effect by the General Administration of Customs on 7 January, cultured aquatic products from Hong Kong may now be exported to the mainland provided that they meet relevant laws and regulations, in addition to the inspection, quarantine and hygiene requirements agreed by the GAC and the Environment and Ecology Bureau of Hong Kong.

The General Administration of Customs recently unveiled 15 measures to promote the further development of China’s western regions. These cover the construction of smart ports and international aviation hubs; customs control facilitation; multi-modal transportation; the cultivation of special agricultural and food brands; development of new business sectors such as bonded R&D and bonded repair; coordination of infectious disease prevention and control mechanisms between ports; intellectual property; and joint efforts against the smuggling of dangerous goods such as weapons, ammunition and narcotics.

The FDA is proposing to require a front-of-package nutrition label for most packaged foods that according to the agency will give consumers readily visible information about a food’s saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content. Separately, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is considering proposals to modify the labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 introducing a ban on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This ban follows an assessment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which found that BPA has potentially harmful effects on the immune system. While the Regulation entered into force on 20 January 2025, the BPA ban has an 18 month phase out period for most of the products covered by the prohibition.

The FDA announced on 15 January the revocation of the existing authorisation for the use of the Red 3 dye in food and ingested drugs in response to a 2022 colour additive petition that sought an authorisation revocation. The ban will enter into force on 15 January 2027 with respect to foods and 18 January 2028 with respect to ingested drugs.

While having won the approval of some, Indonesia’s new halal certification system is viewed as too onerous by many importers and exporters.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to revise its regulations regarding a certification of admissibility form that allows entry of certain fish or fish products otherwise subject to certain trade restrictions.

The General Administration of Customs recently announced its decision to revise and scrap a number of documents relating to the management of inbound items, with effect from 1 December. Adjustments have been made with regard to the management of inbound and outbound personal postal items, customs declarations for inbound and outbound passengers, and duties on vapes. Previous announcements and notices concerning the release of personal baggage carried by inbound and outbound passengers and the amount of duty-free tobacco and cigarettes that passengers can bring into the country have been scrapped.