From GABA to Goji: A Scientific Benchmark for Functional Ingredients in Asia Takes Shape in Zhangzhou

ZHANGZHOU, China, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Second Working Meeting of the Asia Innovation-Ready Food Regulatory Systems Initiative was held in Zhangzhou, Fujian, from September 14 to 15, 2026. Convened by the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS) and organized by Damin International, the meeting was supported by the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST), the Shanghai Junshi Life Science Research Institute, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), and other organizations. Attendees included Academician Chen Junshi, Professor Pavinee Chinachoti, Professor Tee E-Siong, Professor Samuel Godefroy, and Jiang Aiqing, Chairman of Damin Food.

GABA and Goji were selected as the first two pilot cases. GABA is subject to a diverse regulatory landscape across Asia. Japan has incorporated it into its Foods with Function Claims system, Thailand is reforming its framework for health claims, and other jurisdictions classify it as a novel food. Goji presents a different regulatory challenge: can its history of traditional consumption serve as evidence of safety? When it is processed into a standardized extract, are there gaps in the toxicological data for its intended uses, and what additional studies are required?

The meeting examined the current landscape of health claims for non-nutrient substances in Asia and the pilot assessment of Goji. Participants also held in-depth discussions on GABA safety, claim substantiation, and the development of regional guidance.

The meeting produced a series of practical outcomes, including a consensus-based assessment summary for GABA, preliminary conclusions from the Goji pilot, a safety assessment framework, a claim substantiation framework, a capacity-building blueprint, and a framework for developing the Global Food Innovation Regulatory Network (GFIRN).

Consumers will benefit from clearer scientific support for functional foods; innovative food companies will gain more predictable pathways to market; and regulators will be better equipped to respond swiftly to innovation while safeguarding food safety. This regulatory initiative, advanced in Zhangzhou, is helping reshape the future of food regulation in Asia.