Food Industry Asia (FIA)

Earlier this week, Food Industry Asia (FIA) CEO Matt Kovac met with government authorities and academic representatives from Indonesia to discuss the positive contribution reformulation has on delivering more healthful and sustainable products, and what needs to be done for the SME F&B community to drive these efforts. In his capacity as a senior advisor to the ASEAN Food and Beverage Alliance (AFBA), Matt met with Ibu Siti Nadia Tarmizi, M. Epid — Director of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Ibu Nadia, Director of NCDs MOH; Dwiana Andayani, Apt. — Director of Processed Food Standardization, Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM); Prof Purwiyatno Hariyadi, Ph.D — Professor and Senior Researcher, SEAFAST Center, IPB University, and moderator Roy Alexander Sparringa — Expert and Chairman, Indonesian Food Safety Professional Association (APKEPI. They have valuable insights and discussed policy and regulatory developments as well as ideas on how to collaborate with industry. Delegates at the event were also educated on how an ingredients company works with food and beverage brands to reformulate, and the associated opportunities and challenges in changing formulations and catering to consumer preferences. Thanks to Kerry Indonesia for allowing us to visit their R&D centre in downtown Jakarta and letting all try reduced sugar and sodium sodas, chips and cookies! Many thanks to Omar Lechuga and his team for leading that visit! Very insightful and helpful in understanding the processes and technologies used. #reformulation #lesssugar #lesssodium

FIA was honoured to attend the launch of Malaysia's Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste Management in Malaysia (2025-2035) and met with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to discuss the future of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the country. During the visit, we shared insights into the progress, best practices, and position of the food and beverage industry within the EPR ecosystem. With EPR being highlighted as one of the catalyst for sustainable solid waste management under the blueprint, a concerted effort will be crucial in developing effective mechanisms and frameworks for EPR as we look forward to future collaboration with stakeholders to drive meaningful change in waste management.

Asia's booming economies demand healthier food, but misconceptions & regulations may be hindering progress. #Food #Reformulation offers a powerful solution, but clear communication is vital for building trust. It can involve processes such as boosting nutritional content, reducing the presence of ingredients like sugar, salt and unhealthy fat or enhancing other qualities such as shelf life. #Collaboration between governments, companies, and consumers is key to unlocking a tastier, healthier future for Asia. For more information on the topic, here is an op-ed by FIA: https://lnkd.in/dPaSdbAX #FoodIndustryAsia #FoodScience #FoodInnovation #PublicHealth #Health #Nutrition

Last week, during the Food Contact Asia conference organised by Smithers, Food Industry Asia had the opportunity to share insights on several issues which included the risks, implications and challenges associated with contaminants such as BPA and PFAS, as well as on the use of recycled content in packaging. On BPA & PFAS: The industry faces ongoing challenges due to increased scrutiny and restrictive regulations. Tracing and eliminating such substances continue to be difficult given the unclear distinction between intentionally added and non-intentionally. Additionally, finding suitable alternatives with the right balance of functional properties remain elusive. On recycled content in food contact materials: Besides consumers concern over costs and safety, regulations and guidelines in Asia are often limited and lack harmonisation. As industry strive towards the incorporation of recycled content, packaging related policies need to consider and place a greater focus to enhance and support the overall waste management system.    

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is seen as one of the crucial policy tools for driving sustainable waste management and advancing a circular economy. Our position paper outlines some of the key recommendations and strategies for an effective EPR within ASEAN.

FIA was invited to participate in a panel discussion on “Collaboration and Innovation for a Sustainable Halal Ecosystem” organised by Warees Halal during the FHA-Food & Beverage Event held in Singapore. During the discussion, FIA emphasised the importance of a sustainable halal ecosystem, which involves creating new halal products, making healthier versions of existing ones, and distributing them globally without trade barriers. Challenges such as catering to diverse taste preferences, ensuring compliance with various regulations, and managing multiple halal certifications were underscored as hurdles encountered by the food industry. These obstacles are compounded by external factors such as natural disasters and political conflicts, which further disrupt supply chains. FIA advocated for collaboration among governments, certification bodies, industry associations, and businesses to address these challenges, promote transparency and establishment of mutual recognition agreements, ensuring consistency in certification procedures and facilitating market access for halal products and ingredients. #FHA-Food&Beverage #FHA2024 #Halal #MutualRecognition #TradeFacilitation

Understanding processed foods is complicated business given the unique role they play in our lives. Read our position paper on addressing the role and importance of food processing in healthy diets. ⬇

FIA was honoured to be part of the 54th session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA54) in Chengdu, China. This global gathering brought together food additive experts and regulators from across the world, providing an excellent platform for fruitful discussions. Key outcomes of the meeting include a commitment to strengthen the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) as the primary reference, minimising specific additive provisions in commodity standards, and ensuring alignment completion. During the event, the FIA Secretariat also initiated discussions with several industry associations, setting the stage for ongoing collaboration on shared objectives. In addition, while in Chengdu, FIA took advantage of the opportunity to convene our 2nd China squad meeting of the year. This in-person session brought together our members for dynamic discussions marked by robust engagement and meaningful exchanges. #Codex #FoodAdditives #Ingredients #Sweeteners #FoodSafety #China

We have the pleasure to announce a new President at FIA for the next two-years! At our AGM held on Friday 26th April, Christian Stammkoetter, President Asia, Africa & Middle East at Danone, was voted in and confirmed by FIA's Council and General Assembly. As the new President of FIA, Mr Stammkoetter said he was honoured to be taking over and was looking forward to tackling the industry challenges ahead. "The next phase of FIA’s strategic agenda is now underway as we build stronger relationships with stakeholders in key markets and collaborate on critical areas. We must act with confidence – as a well functioning food supply chain is critical for the social stability and progress in this dynamic region. "I look forward to working with the Food Industry Asia (FIA) council, secretariat and our growing membership to shape the next chapter of FIA together."   #FoodIndustry #Asia #Leadership

A new piece of research from the University of Leeds in the UK. ‘The use of sweeteners and sweetness enhancers has received a lot of negative attention… Our study provides crucial evidence supporting the day-to-day use of sweeteners and sweetness enhancers for body weight and blood sugar control.’ What’s your view? #Sweeteners #Diet #bloodsugarcontrol #Sugarreplacer https://lnkd.in/gGqSXudp