Under existing regulations, polyhydric alcohols, also known as sugar alcohols, are excluded from the definition of a sweetener. The government has proposed bringing ten polyhydric alcohols under the regulations: erythritol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, maltitol syrup, mannitol, polyglycitol syrup, sorbitol, sorbitol syrup, and xylitol. Advantame and monk fruit extract would also be added to the list of allowed sweeteners, expanding the total number of permitted sweeteners from ten to 22.

The proposal would also establish more than 900 MPLs for specific sweetener-food combinations under a food category system based on the Codex General Standard for Food Additives. About 80 percent of the proposed MPLs were derived from Codex standards, with the remaining 20 percent based on mainland China standards. CFS said its risk assessment indicated that the proposed MPLs adopted from mainland standards would not pose a health concern based on local dietary intake.

Other changes would introduce a Codex-aligned carryover principle for sweeteners present through food ingredients and exempt sweeteners that naturally occur in foods (e.g., sorbitol in peaches) when they are not intentionally added.

CFS sampled and tested hundreds of foods from local retailers and found that approximately 98 percent complied with the proposed MPLs. Following consultation and completion of the legislative process, the Government has proposed an 18-month transitional period before full compliance with the amended regulations would be required.