Japan's FFC: functional claims via notification, not approval

Japan offers two main routes to functional claims: FOSHU (government-reviewed and approved) and Foods with Function Claims (FFC) — a notification system where the operator files scientific evidence with the Consumer Affairs Agency.

FFC has no approval step, making entry much faster than FOSHU, and imported products qualify. The notifier must be a Japan-based operator (your importer), submitting efficacy evidence (a clinical trial or systematic review) with the filing.

FFC has become the de-facto route for Korean supplements entering Japan — when choosing a Japanese partner, check whether the importer has FFC filing experience.