From ASEAN to Turkey: Driving Global Harmonisation in Food Safety and Nutrition Claims

The Bridge is a series of Interviews on Legacy, Leverage, and Intergenerational Leadership. This post is sponsored by Bridge to Significance Pte Ltd

As the food industry undergoes rapid transformation through technological advancement and evolving global regulations, few leaders are as uniquely positioned to guide its future as Richard Khaw. With over 20 years of experiential knowledge, Khaw is currently embarking on a new professional chapter he calls "Richard 3.0." This initiative is more than just a career transition; it is a holistic mission to translate decades of high-level expertise into community-wide impact, mentorship, and systematic industry sustainability.

The "Richard 3.0" theme serves as a roadmap for his current engagement with startups, Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) environments, and regional regulatory bodies. By focusing on the intersection of technical excellence and educational empowerment, Khaw aims to bridge the gap between complex laboratory standards and the practical needs of the next generation of food innovators. Laboratory Standards: Addressing Blind Spots and ISO 17025

One of the most critical challenges facing the commercial food sector today is the inconsistency in laboratory operations. According to Khaw, a significant blind spot exists regarding the misalignment of internal processes with ISO 17025 requirements—the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

Khaw identifies that this misalignment frequently results in nonconformities during audits, which can undermine the integrity of food safety data. "Ensuring proper competency assessment is critical for accurate and trustworthy laboratory results," Khaw emphasises. For startups and commercial labs, alignment with ISO 17025 is not merely a regulatory hurdle but a fundamental pillar of business continuity. Without precise, harmonized standards, the industry risks making decisions based on flawed data, which can have severe implications for public health and consumer trust.

Industry Harmonisation: From ASEAN to Global Leadership

Khaw’s influence extends far beyond the laboratory.

As President of the Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology (SIFST) within ASEAN, he is spearheading initiatives to harmonize health and nutrition claims across the region. This work involves standardizing documentation and processes to reduce non-tariff barriers, ensuring that food products can move more freely and safely across borders.

Looking toward the Global Harmonization Institute World Congress in Turkey in 2027, Khaw plans to showcase ASEAN’s success as a model for other continents. However, he notes that regional efforts must be paired with active participation in global forums like the Codex Alimentarius Commission and World Health Organization (WHO) meetings. A prime example of the need for this alignment is the ongoing debate over "ultra-processed foods." Khaw argues that negative perceptions often stem from a lack of clear, international definitions. By educating consumers and aligning these definitions globally, he believes the industry can maintain its competitiveness while ensuring food security through initiatives like Singapore’s "30 by 30" goal.

Education and Mentorship: Building a Sustainable Legacy

At the heart of "Richard 3.0" is a commitment to people.

Through the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme at Nanyang Polytechnic, Dr Richard, as he is sometimes known, has already helped 30 students transition into roles in food quality management and safety, providing essential manpower for a growing industry.

His future plans involve even more targeted community support, specifically focusing on the elderly. Recognising that senior citizens are a vulnerable group with weakened immune systems, Khaw intends to leverage his expertise to educate them on food safety and nutritional health. Furthermore, he is eyeing the National University of Singapore’s Distinguished Senior Fellowship Program for 2027 to act as a mentor for younger innovators. By documenting "atypical" analysis results and unrecorded experiential knowledge from his career, Khaw hopes to accelerate the learning curve for the next generation.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Goal

Richard Khaw's ultimate legacy project aims to empower individuals—from corporate leaders to community elders—to take responsibility for food safety. By providing educational training and comprehensive industry support, he envisions a future where food safety incidents are minimised to insignificant levels. As he gets ready to share these insights and connect with wider networks, "Richard 3.0" symbolises the impact of sharing knowledge to create a safer, more sustainable world. ----------

Media contact: ian.gan@smaths.com