Burma (Myanmar) Food Testing Requirements

The Myanmar Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a new food regulation aimed at ensuring consumer safety and satisfaction that applies to food and health supplements products. 

In April 2020, the FDA published “Minimum Requirement(s) of Laboratory Parameters for Food Safety” on their website, after the FDA released in 2018 the National Food Law Amendment (24/2013) and Infants/Baby Milk Substitute Products Marketing Regulations (22/2014).  According to the announcement, the Myanmar FDA shared detailed chemical, heavy metal, and microbiological testing lists for specific food categories, including processed baby food milk powder, cheese, and processed whole milk powder.

To date, those tests must be renewed for each new batch of imported products and new Import Health Certificate (IHC) application, while Import Recommendation (IR) procedures have remained unchanged since the FDA’s last announcement on Food/Health Supplements Import Recommendation Procedures in February 2020.  The FDA has already cautioned distributors and marketing agencies in Myanmar not to inflate product descriptions and benefits on flyers, brochures, booklets, and other media as a result of the notification.  An Import Health Certificate (IHC) must be obtained for actual shipment of IR authorized food and health supplements.

Some importers and distributors are finding it difficult to comply with the new stringent testing requirements, as some heavy metal tests are costly, resulting in increased costs and workload for documentation and Certificate of Analysis (COA) applications.  Furthermore, by functioning as an international trade barrier, it could delay dependable imported product availability to consumers and increase the final price to consumers.

On the plus side, the FDA has been using an online booking system for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals since 2019.  People in related businesses are enthusiastic about the online approach since it saves time and eliminates the possibility of personal favoritism.  If the online booking system were expanded to include the food category, it would eliminate some redundant processes, saving importers and distributors’ time, human resources, and travel costs.

Before doing business in Burma, visit www.trade.gov/burma for the latest updates on sanctions, export controls and the investment climate for Burma.

For assistance with this regulation, U.S. exporters can contact Dr. Khine Wah Lwin, Commercial Service Specialist for healthcare.