[MFDS News] Improve management standard for quality control of Saw palmetto fruit extracts

 

Improve management standard for quality control of Saw palmetto fruit extracts

- Advance administrative notice of amendment to the 「Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Food」 -

□ The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS, Minister Kim Ganglip) announce an advance administrative notice on April 11 about the revision of 「Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Food」, which include adding specification for quality control of Saw palmetto fruit extracts.

□ Major revisions include ▲ Establish specifications of fatty acids and phytosterol in Saw palmetto fruit extracts ▲ Improve quercetin and kaempferol* ratio expression in the manufacturing standards of Ginkgo leaf extracts.

* Flavonol glycoside which are functional compounds (or marker compounds) of Ginkgo leaf extracts

ㅇ Establish specifications of fatty acids and phytosterol in Saw pal metto fruit extracts.

* Fatty acid : No less than 80% of total fatty acid

** Phytosterol : No less than 0.2% of sterol, no less than 0.1% of β-sitosterol

- By establishing new specification, it is possible to protect consumers by preventing manufacture and sale of Saw palmetto fruit extracts mixed with other vegetable oils.

* United states and Europe are also managing quality control of saw palmetto extract with specification of Fatty acids and phytosterol.

ㅇ Also, Clarify the ratio expression of quercetin and kaempferol in themanufacturing standard of ginkgo leaf extracts.

* (Current) the ratio of quercetin and kaempferol shall be 0.8 ~ 1.2. → (Re vision) the ratio of quercetin and kaempferol shall be 0.8 ~ 1.2. (quercetin : kaempferol = 1 : 0.8 ~ 1.2)

- There were many inquiries from business manager about the ratioof quercetin and kaempferol because the standards were not clear, but we expect the revision will improve business manager's under standing about manufacturing standards in Ginkgo leaf extracts.

□ MFDS will continue to improve the standards and specifications of health functional food reasonably so that consumers can trust the products. ㅇ Details are available on the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's website (www.mfds.go.kr > statute and data > legislation/ administra tive notice) and opinions on the revision (proposal) can be submit ted by June 10.

By - MFDS