Regulatory View of Point on Health Functional Foods in Korea, Japan, and China

This is the re-arrangement of the 2004 Asia Nutrition & Dietary Supplement Conference organized by ABF(The Asia Business Forum) in Singapore, especially regulatory view of point of health functional foods for Korea, Japan, and China. Foods that may have health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients that they contain are often called 'Functional Foods'. The concept of functional foods has become popular in recent years, first in Japan and later in other countries, including the USA. In USA, The functional foods was controlled by ACSH (the American Council on Science and Health). In Korea, 'Functional Foods'. was defined on the 'The Law for the Health Functional Foods'(Law No. 6727 : effective as of $26^{th}$, Aug. 2002). KFDA(Korea Food and Drug Administration) is the only authority body for approval, advertisement and claims for the Health Functional Foods in Korea. In Japan, the Japan Health Food and Nutrition Food Association controls the approval, regulate functional foods' advertisement and claims under the name of FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Uses). In China, the State Food and Drug Administration(SFDA) is the only authoritative organization for the application, supervision and administration of health related products. Asia, especially Korea, Japan and China, is one of the leader in the vitamins and dietary supplement(VDS) market. Regulatory issues on restrictions are the most important how to tap into the health functional foods market including Korea.