Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 – harmonisation, food safety and health claims at the centre of the ASEAN programme

8 September 2026

16–18 September 2026 | JIExpo, Jakarta, Indonesia

During Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 in Jakarta, one of the key content sessions will focus on regulatory harmonisation, food safety, analyst competencies and the rules governing health claims across ASEAN countries.

The programme will bring together representatives of scientific organisations, regulators and food technology experts. A common theme will be how greater alignment of standards across Southeast Asia can support consumer safety, innovation and food trade.

View the full agenda

Harmonisation as the Ingredient of Trust

The programme will open with Dr Richard Khaw of FIFSTA – Federation of Institutes of Food Science and Technology in ASEAN. In his presentation, “ASEAN Food Science & Technology – Harmonisation as the Ingredient of Trust,” he will discuss the importance of harmonisation as a foundation for building trust in the regional food system.

In practical terms, greater alignment of standards can be important both for food safety and for companies operating across several ASEAN markets. More consistent requirements can reduce administrative barriers, improve transparency and facilitate market access.

Mutual recognition of food analyst competencies

The first main session will focus on the Mutual Recognition of Certification Programme.

The topic, “Building Mutual Recognition of Food Analyst Competencies: The Philippines-Malaysia Pilot Initiative,” will cover:

alignment of competencies and qualifications,
a mutual recognition framework,
a potential ASEAN-wide recognition pathway.

The presentation will be delivered by Dr Maria Leonora Francisco, President of the Philippines Association of Food Technologists, and Assoc. Prof. Dr Adi Md Sikin, President of the Malaysian Institute of Food Technology.

The Philippines-Malaysia pilot may serve as a practical example of how common professional standards could be developed across the region, potentially supporting greater specialist mobility and more consistent quality-control systems.

Regional food safety management

The second session will focus on the Regional Food Safety Management System Initiative.

Under the title “Food Safety Template: Build Readiness, Raise Standards,” representatives of the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT) will discuss approaches designed to improve company preparedness and strengthen food safety standards.

The session will feature:

Assistant Professor Puangpetch Nitayanont,
Dr Jutarat Pattanatorn,
Araya Rojjanawanicharkorn.

Such regional tools can be particularly relevant for food manufacturers exporting to several ASEAN countries, where differences in requirements and implementation of food safety systems may increase operational complexity.

Safe and nutritious school meals in Indonesia

A separate presentation will focus on “Bridging Safety and Nutrition: Regulatory Strategies for Safe and Nutritious School Meals in Indonesia.”

The session will be presented by Prof. Dr Taruna Ikrar, Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority – BPOM.

The topic brings together two areas that are increasingly important in food policy: product safety and nutritional quality. In institutional catering, and particularly in meals intended for children, regulators must consider ingredient quality, microbiological safety, nutritional composition and the organisation of the entire supply chain.

Health claims and functional food

One of the most relevant sessions for functional food manufacturers will be “Harmonisation of Functional Food & Health Claims.”

Professor Pavinee Chinachoti, Chair of the Food Innovation Regulation Network Thailand, will present “Health Claims Harmonisation: Science-to-Policy Translation.”

The session will cover:

scientific substantiation requirements,
regulatory alignment across ASEAN countries,
the impact of more consistent rules on innovation and trade,
a case study.

For companies developing products with additional functional properties, health-claim requirements have a direct impact on product development, scientific documentation and marketing communication.

Creating an innovation-ready regulatory environment

The second part of this session will be presented by Professor Samuel Godefroy of Laval University in Canada, President & COO of the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS).

His presentation, “Innovation-Ready Food Regulatory Environment – Learning from the Asia Experience,” will examine how regulatory systems can protect consumers while still allowing room for the development of new technologies and products.

As functional foods, novel ingredients, processing technologies and digital quality-control tools develop more rapidly, regulators face the challenge of creating rules flexible enough to keep pace with innovation.

Next steps for ASEAN cooperation

The programme will conclude with Dr Richard Khaw, who will summarise the key takeaways and outline future steps, including initiatives related to the World Congress 2026 and ASEAN Food Conference 2027.

The session as a whole highlights the growing importance of harmonisation across ASEAN – not only from a regulatory perspective, but also for trade, innovation, food safety and professional competence development.

For international manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, greater alignment of standards between countries in the region could in future mean easier market access and more predictable operating conditions.

Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 in Jakarta

Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 will take place from 16 to 18 September 2026 at JIExpo in Jakarta.

The event is aimed at food industry professionals, ingredient manufacturers, R&D specialists, food technologists, regulators and companies developing new solutions for the sector.

Register for Fi Asia Indonesia 2026

Source: Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 / FIFSTA materials.