Both the amount and frequency of processed food purchases were up in the past year, reports a South Korean government survey. Nearly 24 percent of all households are buying processed foods two to three times per week, a 3.1 percent increase over 2020, and 68.4 percent of households purchase more that once per week. The pandemic is a main driver of this shift, and dumplings, pizza, ready meals were the most popular processed food items.

IFOAM—Organics International offers a guide to the updated European Union organic regulations.  The guide simplifies understanding the regulations by grouping the legislation in a logical way. For example, organic food processors find all the requirements relevant to their activities presented in a logical order and without having to open and consult many different legal acts. IFOAM members receive discounts on the guide.

The USDA Foreign Agriculture Service is hosting the virtual US & Chile: SaborUSA Market Showcase May 9-10 to expand U.S. exporter knowledge on Chile’s trade and economic conditions, and connect exporters with potential buyers through one-on-one, virtual business-to-business meetings. Sign up by February 25.

New preliminary guidelines for China’s regulation of genetically engineered crops will allow those that have been created via gene editing without inserting genes or DNA from other plant of animal species to garner approval in one to two years, rather than up to six years. Instead of extensive, large-scale field trials, as required for genetically modified crops, gene edited crops will only need laboratory data and small-scale field trials. It is unclear if the new guidelines apply to gene edited crops that include DNA from other varieties of the same species.

A literature review commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and published by Wageningen University & Research suggests that environmental, fair trade and climate neutral labels raise awareness but do not necessarily drive more sustainable consumer behavior. The review also encourages combining labels and linking them to other drivers of behavior, and emphasizing other benefits such as health. Labeling systems such as green-yellow-red ‘traffic light’ health scores make it easier for consumers, but the review also found that groups with less sustainable consumption habits were less likely to be reached by current labeling systems.

The European Commission is slated to launch its Green Claims initiative in March. The initiative, designed to reduce greenwashing, is expected to require companies to use the Product Environmental Footprint method for environmental claims. France has been a leader in labeling initiatives with its Climate Resilience Law, which will eventually mandate ecological labeling for food and textiles.

Per capita disposable income in China is up 9.1 percent in 2021, to reach 35,128 Yuan. Spending on food, tobacco and alcohol was 7178 per capita that year, an increase of 12 percent, and totally 29.8 percent of the per capita consumption expenditure.

Korea’s National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) has new documentation requirements for US imported organic foods. Processed organic products covered by the terms of the U.S. – Korea organic equivalency agreement may be exported to Korea if they are accompanied by both a NAQS Import Certificate of Organic Processed Foods issued by NOP-accredited certifying agents and a copy of the NOP organic certificate. All US. organic certifying agents are now required to register with NAQS to issue the Import Certificate electronically. Paper-based certificates are no longer accepted. Certifying agents should issue documents via the electronic system and send printed certificates to exporters/importers through postal mail. Importers must present the printed certificate to the Korean authorities upon product arrival. 

The European Union intends to revise its the Food Information to Consumers Regulation. The changes will impact front-of-pack nutrition labeling, nutrient profiling criteria to restrict claims, origin labeling, date marking, and alcoholic beverages labeling. US stakeholders who would like to comment can do so online before March 7, 2022.