Packaging Happenings: Asahi packaging insights, Taiwan infant formula logos, South Korea hemp labelling rules and more feature on our round-up

Festive fanfare: Asahi Super Dry pushes striking packaging as key touchpoint to connect with consumers in APAC region​

Beer giant Asahi has highlighted the importance of utilising striking packaging to connect with consumers in the APAC region, particularly in times of festivity when many beverage brands are competing to stand out on retail shelves.

Product packaging is important to both relay information and capture consumer attention even in normal times, but when it comes to festivals that involve large-volume sales for family gatherings such as Chinese New Year or Hari Raya in Asia, being able to stand out on-shelf becomes all the more important.

New logo mandatory for infant and follow-up formulas sold in Taiwan from 2025​

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has made it mandatory for infant and follow-up formula sold in the market to be printed with a new logo from January 2025.

The new requirement, which is part of the “Regulations Governing the Labelling of Infant and Follow-up Formula”, was announced on February 1, following a 60-day public consultation held last year.

The green and orange coloured logo consists of a woman carrying a baby and comes with the slogans “mother’s breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for infants” and “The Ministry of Health and Welfare cares for you”. 

Advertising impact: South Korea intends to ban terms ‘CBD’ and ‘THC’ on hemp seed oil​

South Korea’s food and drug regulator says it plans to ban the use of the terms ‘CBD’ and ‘THC’ on hemp food products, including hemp seed oil supplements.

The two terms stand for cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol respectively – which are categorised as narcotic ingredients in South Korea, although CBD is also recognised for treating epilepsy.

Both may be found in trace amounts – CBD at 20mg/kg or less and THC at 10mg/kg or less in hemp seed oil.

Making sugar reduction mainstream: Swiftlet sees snacking format as gateway to mass market​

Swiftlet believes that developing everyday sugar-reduced food products such as snacks are a key gateway to integrate sugar reduction into APAC consumers’ daily diets.

Swiftlet, which was acquired by Vietnamese conglomerate Senix last year, is expanding beyond its initial focus on a direct sugar replacement to the development of food and beverage products such as snacks and beverages.

According to Swiftlet R&D Lead Minh Le, this is because the firm’s research has shown that many consumers in the Asian market still see sugar replacement or reduction as a more premium endeavour, and it wishes to break beyond this concept.

Healthy ageing impact: Country-of-origin labelling mandated for more supplements sold in South Korea​

South Korean authorities have mandated nutrition supplements for the elderly aged 65 and above, as well as six functional raw materials used in Health Functional Foods, to come with country-of-origin labelling.

The requirement came into effect from February 2, but a transition period is given to companies until December 31 this year, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).

The requirement, which comes under the “Guidelines for Country-of-Origin Labelling of Agricultural and Fishery Products”, will apply to a total of 13 items.