Legal standing is settled by matching against the official registers, not by interpretation. We take those registers in, match them mechanically against item names, and answer with the source.
1. The registers
| Register | Entries | Governing law |
|---|---|---|
| Designated additives | 476 | Food Sanitation Act |
| Existing additives | 327 | Food Sanitation Act |
| Feed additives | FAMIC published | Feed Safety Act |
2. Three ways the match goes wrong
(1) Spelling splits the register
In Japanese, β-carotene written one way sits on the feed register and written another on the designated-additive register. One spelling alone yields a false “not listed”.
(2) The salt form changes the standing
L-cysteine is on neither additive register; L-cysteine hydrochloride is a designated additive. A change of form calls for a fresh check.
(3) Listed for both human and animal use
Taurine is an existing additive and a feed additive. L-carnitine and monosodium L-glutamate also appear on the feed register. The applicable law and the required documents change with the application, so tell us whether the finished product is for people or animals.
3. Foods with Function Claims
- Strain identity — all 208 spore-forming lactic acid bacteria notifications carry a strain; none lack one (SANK70258 in 194)
- Genus revisions — Bacillus → Weizmannia → Heyndrickxia coexist in the record. Searching by genus misses filings (89 versus 208)
- Botanical source — glucosylceramide is notified separately by source
- Content basis — without it the dose cannot be set
- Count live filings — totals include withdrawals. Bilberry shows 73 of 147 withdrawn, about 50%
We hold the Consumer Affairs Agency’s database and can show counts, doses and claim wording for comparable filings.
4. Allergen labelling
The revision of 1 April 2026 added cashew nut to the specified raw materials (nine items) and pistachio to the equivalent list (twenty items). The same item name can carry a different declaration depending on source — glucosamine from crustaceans or fermentation; gelatin from porcine, bovine or fish.
5. Imported materials
We track the published import violation records (1,682 cases). Most concern control rather than the material, and we advise on whether the choice of material can remove the risk.
Documents we provide
- Regulatory check — standing on each register, with the source
- Notification data — live-filing counts, doses and claim wording
- Allergen information
- Specification and COA
Note: responsibility for the final label and the notification rests with the notifying party.
Related: Specification & Analysis / Regulatory Support (service) / Contact