Label Regulation Changes to Hit U.S. Exports to Japan

New labeling legislation introduced in Hong Kong will affect hundreds of millions of dollars worth of prepackaged food and beverages exported from the U.S. as nutrition claims will need to be re-written, according to a new report.

The market access of thousands of U.S. products sold in Hong Kong is “threatened” by the new regulations that will take effect on July 1 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Services said.

The hardest hit will be the fastest growing categories of health, organic, and snack foods and some retailers have already suspended imports of new U.S. products with nutritional claims, while others are taking a "wait and see" approach, it was claimed.

Hong Kong is currently the ninth largest market for US grocery exports, with 2008 sales 77 percent ahead of 2007 levels and expected to reach $1bn by the end of the year. The US is Hong Kong's second largest supplier of food.

The new regulation requires all prepackaged food sold in Hong Kong to label energy plus seven nutrients — protein, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars.

Source: FoodNavigator-USA.com