The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday published revised regulations for naming and labeling milk products, stipulating that milk with a shelf life of 30 days or more should be called “extended shelf-life fresh milk” from July next year.
The revisions to the Regulations Governing the Product Names and Labeling of Prepackaged Fresh Milk, Sterilized Milk, Flavored Milk, Milk Drink and Milk Powder (鮮乳保久乳調味乳乳飲品及乳粉品名及標示規定) are intended to help consumers better understand different milk products based on their labels, FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said.
The revisions are subject to a 60-day public comment period, Lin said.
Photo: CNA
FDA Food Safety Division Deputy Director Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智) said the changes includes the newly added product names of “long-lasting fresh milk” (長效鮮乳) and “extended shelf-life fresh milk” (延長保存期限鮮乳).
They refer to fresh milk that has undergone high-temperature treatment meeting a certain temperature-time requirement, filled in a clean and sterilized environment similar to aseptic filling, and have a shelf life of 30 days or longer, he said.
The amended regulations on the names of extended shelf-life fresh milk is to go into effect on July 1 next year, so milk products produced from that day on must adhere to the requirement, while other amended regulations take effect on July 1, 2026, Lin said.
As most domestic fresh milk products have a shelf life of 14 days, while some imported products have a shelf life of 30 to 90 days, the Ministry of Agriculture suggested that the FDA help consumers understand the differences through product labels, Cheng said.
Under the 2013 Agreement Between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation, tariffs on dairy products from New Zealand would be reduced to zero from Jan. 1 next year.
The local dairy industry has been calling for the government to help differentiate local fresh milk products from imported extended shelf-life fresh milk products, as it fears consumers would favor relatively cheaper imported milk with a longer shelf life because they cannot tell the difference.
Another revision concerns the font size of liquid milk product labeling, Cheng said.
Based on the product’s volume, the font size must be at least 0.4cm for 300ml or less of milk, at least 0.8cm for 301ml to 600ml of milk, and at least 1.2cm for 601ml or more of milk, he said.
The revisions also require clearer disclosures regarding milk fat and lactose modifications.
Milk fat adjustments that meet the national standards for whole milk, low-fat milk or skim milk can use such wording on packaging, and lactose adjustments that meet the standards for low lactose or lactose-free milk can also be marked on product packages, Cheng said.
The regulations would be expanded to include infant formula, follow-up infant formula and infant formula for special medical purposes, he said.
The rules stipulate that these products can only be labeled as “milk powder” if they contain milk content of 50 percent or more, he
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