Singapore | The Singapore Food Agency has proposed new infant formula guidelines to include more nutrient additives.
For businesses, this could heighten compliance demands concerning food regulations.
Proposed amendments within the guidelines include age-appropriate food selection, food service practices, a nutrition care policy, menu planning, and food preparation and portioning for infants.
These hope to enhance the safety and quality of infant formula products while imposing stricter regulations on additives.
"The proposed amendments by SFA aim to elevate the quality of standards of infant nutrition products," stated Deepak Nautiyal, business development director of Global Data APAC.
"This ensures that formula provides essential nutrients for children's healthy growth and development, with a proactive approach to prevent any potential product recalls."
Although the amendments look progressive on paper, Mohini Gupta, consumer analyst at GlobalData, said the proposed alterations are expected to result in heightened compliance demands for businesses.
"The focus on food safety gained urgency following the 2022 US infant formula industry crisis, which led to a product recall in the country due to safety concerns," said Gupta.
"The gravity of the situation was underscored when brands imported tons of baby formula from its Singapore facility to Chicago to help ease a prolonged shortage in the US."
The proposed guidelines focus on educating caregivers about food hygiene and safety whilst tailoring menu planning to meet the specific nutritional requirements of infants and children throughout all stages of development.
Additionally, guidelines on food portioning will ensure that children consume the appropriate serving size to maintain a healthy weight.
"Companies must ensure that their products meet the new regulatory standards, which may involve changing production processes, sourcing ingredients, and labelling practices," added Nautiyal.
"This could require additional investments in resources and personnel to meet compliance requirements."
Compliance with these guidelines may entail additional costs as businesses will need to innovate and develop new products that meet the updated regulatory requirements.
"These amendments could cause businesses to research and incorporate new ingredients, formulations, and technologies to improve their products' safety, efficiency, and nutritional value," added Gupta.
"These guidelines will benefit consumers and manufacturers in the long term, as the emphasis on quality assurance measures means that consumers can expect better quality products."
The Singapore Food Agency has not yet set a date for implementing these guidelines, although they are expected to be carried through in the near future.
