What are the main changes in the revision of the series of standards for infant and young children formula food?

Firstly, in line with the revision trend of the Codex Alimentarius Commission standards, National Food Safety Standard Older Infants and Young Children Formula (GB 10767-2010) has been divided into 2 standards, namely GB 10766 and GB 10767; secondly, in order to fully ensure the nutritional effectiveness of infant formula, the minimum value of nutrient content in the product has been revised or increased; thirdly, in order to fully protect the safety of infant and young children’s nutrition, the maximum value of nutrient content in product has been revised or increased; fourthly, some optional ingredients in the 2010 version of the standard have been adjusted to essential ingredients; fifthly, the contaminant limits, mycotoxins and pathogenic bacteria are uniformly quoted from the relevant basic standards to reflect the harmonization between standards.

How to define infant and young children formula food?

The revision of the standard clarifies the concept of milk-based and soy-based formula for infants and older infants. The two different bases should be based on milk and milk protein products (milk-based), or soy and soy protein products (soy-based) as the main source of protein, respectively, and the two should not be mixed. For young children formula, the two may be used separately or in combination; when used separately, the product is milk-based young children formula or soy-based young children formula, respectively. For both milk-based and soy-based products, the main source of protein in the product should be milk and milk protein products, or soy and soy protein.

In addition, with the continuous improvement of food production and manufacturing processes, and consumer demand for product diversification, the requirements for product form in 2010 version standard has been removed.

What are the revisions of macronutrient (i.e., protein, carohydrate and fat) indicators?

According to the latest scientific evidence, with reference to the revision trend of international standards and the nutrient requirements of infants and young children in China, the macronutrients have been revised: firstly, the requirements for protein content in older infants and young children formula have been adjusted and the requirements for whey protein content in older infants formula have been added; secondly, the requirements for carbohydrate content in older infants formula have been adjusted to be consistent with the requirements for infant formula; thirdly, the requirements for lactose content in older infants and young children formula have been added, and the addition of sucrose to infant and older infants formula has been explicitly restricted. Through the revision to further improve the macronutrient content and quality requirements in the products.

What are the requirements for fructose and sucrose in GB 10765 and GB 10766?

The requirements for fructose and sucrose have been revised in GB 10765 and GB 10766. The new standard indicates that infant and older infant formula should not use fructose, sucrose and ingredients containing fructose and/or sucrose such as fructose syrup as the main source of carbohydrates.

What are the revisions to vitamins and minerals?

The revision of vitamin and mineral content in the standard mainly includes: firstly, the minimum value of some indicators have been set to ensure the adequacy of nutrient intake; secondly, the maximum value of some indicators have been set to ensure the safety of nutrient intake; thirdly, consider the impact of soy-based infant formula on the absorption and utilization of iron, zinc and phosphorus, the separate provisions of iron, zinc and phosphorus content have been added in soy-based products.

What are the revisions to adjust the optional ingredients to essential ingredients?

Choline, selenium and manganese play an important role in the growth and development of infant and young children. In view of the actual addition of the above nutrients in the current market in China, the choline in infant and older infant formula has been adjusted from optional ingredients to essential ingredients, and the manganese and selenium in older infants formula have been adjusted from optional ingredients to essential ingredients.

What are the implementation requriements of the series standards?

The transitional period for the implementation of the infant formula series standard is set with reference to the provisions of the previous versions of the standards, taking into account the actual needs of the supervision and registration of infant formula, and is set at 2 years for all factors. The series standards for infant formula are mandatory national food safety standards. Before the implementation date of the series of standards, food production and operation units are allowed and encouraged to implement the standards. After the implementation date, food production and operation units, food safety supervision agencies and inspection institutes should be in accordance with the implementation of these standards. Food products that have been produced before the implementation date may continue to be sold during the shelf life.