Because of COVID-19, in order to reduce turnover, avoids personnel gathers, and prevents cross-infection, and takes into account such factor as the uncertainty in production arrangements among different local enterprises, on February 21, SAMR issued an announcement on Suspending On-site Inspection of Special Food Registration during the Outbreak.

According to the provision of Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, China exercises strict supervision and administration on special foods, which includes health foods, food for special medical purpose, and infant formula foods. Health food (produced by using ingredients without the Catalogue of Ingredients of Health Food, or import in China for the first time), foods for special medical purpose, and infant formula milk powder recipes should be registered by SAMR.

Measures for Registration and Filing of the Health Food, Measures for the Registration of Infant Formula Milk Powder Recipes, and Measures for the Registration of Foods for Special Medical Purpose were issued on February, 2016, June, 2016, and March, 2016, respectively. All of these Measures clarify that the Review Agency should examine the application documents and made specific provisions for on-site inspections. According to the Measures for the Registration of Infant Formula Milk Powder Recipes and the Measures for Registration and Filing of the Health Food, the review agency will conduct an on-site inspection of the applicant to evaluate whether the registration application materials are consistent with the actual situation. The Measures for the Registration of Foods for Special Medical Purpose asked the review agency to conduct an on-site inspection of the applicant according to actual needs.

On July 17 last year, SAMR issued an announcement on soliciting opinions on Regulations for On-site Inspection of Special Food Registration (Interim) (Draft for Comments), which has more specific requirements for future on-site inspections. And in this time, Center for Food Evaluation, SAMR indicates they will carry on on-site inspections in a timely manner according to the prevention and control of COVID-19.