food-compliance

name	food-compliance
description	Use when selling food, beverages, dietary supplements, or novel food ingredients in any market, checking food safety regulations, allergen declarations, labeling requirements, HACCP, or import procedures for food products

Food Compliance

Full regulatory workflow for food, beverages, and dietary supplements across major markets. From recipe to retail shelf.

Decision Flow

digraph {
  rankdir=TB; node [shape=box style=rounded fontsize=10];
  cat [label="1. Classify: conventional food,\nnovel food, supplement,\nor food additive"];
  novel [label="2. Novel food check\n(new ingredient = heavy path)"];
  haccp [label="3. HACCP plan in place?"];
  allergens [label="4. Allergen assessment\n(different lists per market)"];
  label [label="5. Nutrition panel +\nmandatory label elements"];
  facility [label="6. Facility registration\n+ import permits"];
  import [label="7. Import docs: health cert,\nphytosanitary, prior notice"];
  sell [label="8. Place on market"];
  cat -> novel -> haccp -> allergens -> label -> facility -> import -> sell;
}

Market-by-Market Requirements

EU -- General Food Law + Labeling

Regulation	Scope
178/2002 (General Food Law)	Traceability, RASFF notification, withdrawal/recall obligations. Applies to ALL food.
1169/2011 (Food Information to Consumers)	Mandatory labeling: name, ingredients, allergens (bold), net quantity, date marking, storage, origin (for certain products), nutrition declaration, operator name/address
2015/2283 (Novel Foods)	Any food not significantly consumed in EU before May 1997 needs EFSA authorization. Timeline: 18-24 months. Cost: EUR 50,000-300,000 for full dossier
1333/2008 (Food Additives)	Positive list only. If additive not listed = cannot be used. E-numbers
1881/2006 (Contaminants)	Maximum levels for lead, cadmium, mercury, mycotoxins, acrylamide, etc.
2073/2005 (Microbiological criteria)	Process hygiene criteria + food safety criteria. Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli limits
Allergens (14 mandatory)	Cereals with gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites (>10mg/kg), lupin, molluscs

HACCP: Mandatory for all food business operators (Regulation 852/2004). Must document hazard analysis, CCPs, monitoring, corrective actions.

Nutrition declaration: Energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein, salt. Per 100g/100ml mandatory; per portion optional.

US -- FDA FSMA

Requirement	Detail
FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act)	Preventive controls for human food (21 CFR 117). Written food safety plan with hazard analysis, preventive controls, monitoring, verification
Facility registration	Every facility that manufactures/processes/packs/holds food for US consumption must register with FDA. Biennial renewal (Oct-Dec, even years)
Prior notice	FDA must receive prior notice of imported food shipments. Submit via PNSI (Prior Notice System Interface) or ABI
GRAS	Generally Recognized As Safe. New substances need either GRAS self-determination or FDA food additive petition (12-24 months, USD 50,000-500,000)
Nutrition Facts panel	Mandatory format per 21 CFR 101.9. Calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbs, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, Vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium
Allergens (9 mandatory)	Milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame (added 2023 by FASTER Act)
State laws	California Prop 65 (lead, acrylamide, etc.), state-specific labeling
Dietary supplements	Regulated under DSHEA. Supplement Facts panel (not Nutrition Facts). NDI (New Dietary Ingredient) notification for new ingredients -- 75 days before marketing

Import process: Prior notice (15 days before arrival for non-express shipments) -> FDA may examine/sample -> Entry at customs -> Release or detention.

UK -- FSA (Food Standards Agency)

Requirement	Detail
Legal basis	Retained EU food law (Regulation 178/2002, 1169/2011 equivalents)
Allergens	Same 14 allergens as EU. Natasha's Law (Oct 2021): pre-packed for direct sale must have full ingredient list with allergens
Labeling	Must show UK business operator address. UKCA marking not required for food but "UK" origin marking rules apply
Novel foods	FSA manages UK novel food authorisations (separate from EFSA since Brexit)
Import	IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) for pre-notification. Health certificates required for products of animal origin

Japan -- Food Sanitation Act

Requirement	Detail
Legal basis	Food Sanitation Act, JAS Act (quality labeling), Health Promotion Act (nutrition)
Allergens	8 mandatory (shrimp, crab, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanut, walnut) + 20 recommended (abalone, squid, salmon roe, orange, cashew, kiwi, beef, sesame, salmon, mackerel, soybean, chicken, banana, pork, matsutake, peach, yam, apple, gelatin, almond)
Food additives	Positive list. Only additives designated by MHLW can be used. Japan's approved list is significantly shorter than EU/US
Import procedure	Import notification to MHLW quarantine station. Inspection (document check, visual, lab test). First-time imports require lab testing
JAS standards	Japanese Agricultural Standards. Voluntary for most categories but mandatory labeling format (quality labeling standards)
Nutrition labeling	Mandatory: energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sodium (expressed as salt equivalent)

Codex Alimentarius

International food standards developed by FAO/WHO. Not legally binding but:

• WTO reference standards for trade disputes
• Basis for national regulations in 180+ countries
• Codex MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits) for pesticides used as default where national standards don't exist
• Key standards: CODEX STAN 1-1985 (labeling), CAC/RCP 1-1969 (general hygiene/HACCP)

HACCP Requirements Summary

Market	HACCP Mandatory?	Standard	Audit Required?
EU	Yes (Reg 852/2004)	Codex-based 7 principles	Official controls by competent authority
US	Yes (FSMA preventive controls)	21 CFR 117 (goes beyond HACCP)	FDA inspection
UK	Yes (retained EU law)	Same as EU	Local authority inspection
Japan	Yes for certain categories; expanding	Codex-based	Prefectural health center
Canada	Yes (Safe Food for Canadians Act)	SFCR preventive controls	CFIA inspection

Import Procedures Checklist

FOOD IMPORT READINESS -- [Product] -- [Market] -- [Date]

DOCUMENTATION:
[ ] Health certificate (products of animal origin)
[ ] Phytosanitary certificate (plant products)
[ ] Certificate of analysis (microbiological, chemical)
[ ] Certificate of origin
[ ] Free sale certificate (some markets require proof of legal sale in origin country)
[ ] Lab test reports (pesticide residues, contaminants, allergens)

FACILITY:
[ ] Origin facility registered with destination authority (FDA, EU approved establishment, etc.)
[ ] HACCP plan documented and current
[ ] Third-party audit (GFSI-benchmarked: BRC, IFS, SQF, FSSC 22000 -- not always mandatory but buyers require it)

CUSTOMS:
[ ] HS code for food product
[ ] Duty rate checked (check FTA eligibility)
[ ] Prior notice filed (US: PNSI; UK: IPAFFS)
[ ] Import permit obtained (if required by destination)

LABELING:
[ ] Nutrition panel in destination format
[ ] Allergens declared per destination rules
[ ] Local language
[ ] Operator/importer address in destination country
[ ] Date marking in destination format (DD/MM/YYYY vs MM/DD/YYYY)
[ ] Lot/batch number

Shelf Life and Microbiological Testing

Test	When Required	Typical Cost
Shelf life study	Before launch. Accelerated (6-8 weeks) or real-time	EUR 1,000-5,000
Microbiological testing	Per batch or per shipment (depends on product risk)	EUR 200-800 per panel
Pesticide residue	Required for plant-based products, especially imports	EUR 300-1,000
Heavy metals	Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic	EUR 150-500
Mycotoxins	Aflatoxins, ochratoxin (cereals, nuts, spices, coffee)	EUR 100-400
Allergen testing	Verify absence of undeclared allergens (ELISA or PCR)	EUR 50-200 per allergen

MCP Integration

# Monitor food safety signals:
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals
  query: "food safety regulation"

# Track novel food authorizations:
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__list_regulations
  # Filter for food-related regulations

# Check food ingredient compliance:
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__compliance/check
  product_description: "protein bar with hemp seeds"
  ingredients: ["hemp protein", "oat flour", "cocoa butter"]
  target_markets: ["EU", "US", "UK", "JP"]

Power This With the Cleo Legal API

Food compliance hinges on positive lists (Japan additives, EU Novel Food, FDA GRAS), allergen rules that differ by market, and shifting MRLs/contaminant limits. The API consolidates all of it.

With the Cleo Legal API at https://legaldata-public.cleolabs.co:

• GET /v2/catalog/regulations?vertical=food&country=EU,US,UK,JP,CA — pull General Food Law, FSMA, Food Sanitation Act, SFCR with current articles and effective dates
• POST /v2/compliance/check — screen ingredients against EFSA Novel Food Catalogue + FDA GRAS + Japan MHLW positive list in one call (the "is CBD legal?" question answered correctly per market)
• GET /v2/search?q=allergen+declaration&country=EU,US,JP — current allergen lists (14 EU / 9 US / 8 JP) — these get amended (sesame added to FALCPA in 2023, walnut in JP) and missing one triggers immediate recall
• GET /v2/search?q=MRL&type=substance — pesticide MRLs and contaminant limits per regulation 396/2005, 2023/915 — no need to scrape EUR-Lex annexes manually

Get started:

# 1. Sign up for free at https://legaldata-public.cleolabs.co
# 2. Get your API key (3 lifetime requests free, then €349/mo for 1M)
# 3. Install the MCP server:
claude mcp add cleo-legal-api https://api.legaldata.cleolabs.co/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer ld_live_YOUR_KEY"

Tested ROI: One avoided novel-food blunder (CBD, hemp, insect protein launched without EFSA authorization) saves €50k-€300k in dossier costs. For a small food brand expanding to JP, the API surfaces the additive gap before the shipment is built.

Common Mistakes

• Novel food blindspot: CBD, hemp extracts, insect protein, many botanical extracts are novel foods in the EU. Selling without authorization = illegal. Check the EU Novel Food Catalogue first.
• Allergen list mismatch: EU has 14 allergens, US has 9, Japan has 8 mandatory + 20 recommended. A product compliant in the US may need label changes for EU (celery, lupin, mustard, molluscs, sulphites).
• US Nutrition Facts vs EU Nutrition Declaration: Different nutrients, different units (sodium vs salt), different formats. You cannot use the same panel.
• Forgetting prior notice: FDA can refuse entry for missing prior notice. File BEFORE the shipment arrives.
• GFSI audit assumption: BRC/IFS/SQF certification is not legally mandatory in most markets, but major retailers (Walmart, Tesco, Carrefour) require it. Budget EUR 5,000-15,000 for initial certification.
• Japan additive gap: Many additives legal in EU/US are not approved in Japan. Always cross-check Japan's positive list before exporting.