Amicogen Receives MFDS Approval for Functional Labeling of 'Low Molecular Weight Collagen Peptide AG' as General Food

Amicogen, a bio-pharmaceutical and healthcare material specialist company (CEO Park Cheol), announced on the 5th that its individually recognized functional ingredient, ‘Low Molecular Collagen Peptide AG,’ can now be labeled with functional claims on general foods.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) reviewed the possibility of using this ingredient in general foods on the 12th of last month and approved the use of the already recognized skin functionalities (▲ may help with skin moisturizing ▲ may help maintain skin health from UV-induced skin damage, etc.) for general foods as well.

The functional labeling system for general foods allows functionalities previously permitted only for ‘health functional foods’ to be applied to ‘general foods’ (with content ranging from 30% to 100%). This system was established by the MFDS in December 2020 through a notification, enabling functional labeling and marketing for ‘general foods’ manufactured using ingredients with scientifically proven benefits to the human body. Amicogen plans to maximize sales by expanding its market and consumer base through labeling skin health functionalities on various food forms such as beverages, ramen, bread, and snacks, now that functional labeling is possible for general foods.

Lee Joong-su, head of the Healthcare Research Institute, stated, "With the application of collagen, one of our core ingredients, to general foods, we have secured a foundation to expand the market beyond the existing health functional food sector. We will continue to build competitiveness in the food market through ongoing research and development."

Amicogen’s collagen ingredient is stably sourced through its gelatin manufacturing plant in Vietnam, ‘Aminabico,’ and is an individually recognized ingredient approved with the highest domestic content of the functional marker component GPH.

Hwang Eun-sung, head of the Healthcare Business Division, said, “Amicogen’s low molecular collagen uses gelatin derived from catfish skin in the Mekong River region of Vietnam, produced by Aminabico, which is superior to competitors’ collagen in taste, odor, and molecular weight. Our collagen has a daily intake approved by the MFDS that is significantly lower than competitors’, making it suitable not only for health functional foods but also for general foods, which is advantageous for expanding the collagen business.”

Currently, Amicogen is actively conducting R&D to secure various functional ingredients. For collagen, preclinical trials have confirmed effects on skin health, muscle strength improvement, bone health, children’s height growth, and hair improvement. The company is accelerating full-scale research and development to expand functionalities through human application trials and plans to differentiate and diversify the collagen business continuously. Amicogen aims to promote and grow its excellent collagen not only in the Korean market but also in Southeast Asia, Russia, and Europe.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.