Dairy updates: Japan to implement more stringent standards for non-chilled milk products this year

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has published a ministerial proposal to amend current dairy standards, calling for public and industry comment before these are expected to be enforced come mid-March this year. The amendment will affect milk and dairy products that do not require storage at temperatures below 10°C or are permitted to be stored at room temperature. This will include regular milks, modified milks, low-fat milks, skim milks, processed milks, liquid milk preparations and other milk-based beverages. “Based on the deliberations of the Milk, Meat and Fishery Subcommittee of the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, new regulations will be established for [these] products,” ​MHLW state via the ministerial proposal documentation. “These will generally be milk products that have been sterilised and aseptically packaged, or packaged and then sterilised – specific standards that cover microorganism testing, manufacturing methods, and ...