Q1：What requirements should imported food meet?

Imported food should comply with the laws, regulations, and national food safety standards of China and the special requirements of any international treaty or agreement entered into or acceded to by China. The food safety standards are technical regulations to control all kinds of harmful factors affecting consumer health in foods. The national food safety standards are formulated and published jointly by the administrative department of health under the State Council and the supervisory and administrative department for food safety under the State Council, and the administrative department for standardization under the State Council provides the national standard number.

The import of food without national food safety standard should conform to the relevant standards temporarily applicable published by the administrative department of health under the State Council.

Q2：What are the management requirements for imported food without national standard?

In accordance with the relevant requirements of the Food Safety Law, the import of food without national food safety standard should be subject to the relevant national (regional) standards or international standards submitted by the overseas exporter, overseas manufacturer or the entrusted importer to the administrative department of health under the State Council. The administrative department of health under the State Council will examine the relevant standards, and if it deems that they meet the requirements for food safety, decide to regard them as temporarily applicable, and formulate corresponding national food safety standards in a timely manner.

Q3：What is the scope of imported food without national standard?

Imported food without national standard refers to food produced and operated outside China, for which China has not formulated and published the corresponding national food safety standard, excluding foods already covered by the general standards or product standards in the national food safety standards, foods announced or approved by the relevant departments of the State Council, premixed food made from a variety of raw materials that already have food safety standards, and other situations that do not belong to the import of food without national food safety standard.

Q4：Are there any cases concerning imported food without national standard?

On March 6, 2020, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment of the National Health Commission publicly solicited opinions on "deproteinized milk mineral lactose powder" managed in accordance with the import of food without national food safety standard. On May 15, 2020, the National Health Commission officially issued the Announcement on the Release of the (Interim) Applicable Standard for Deproteinized Milk Mineral Lactose Powder.

The standard is formulated in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, with reference to the Standard for Dairy Permeate Powders, CXS 331-2017 in the International Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and relevant national food safety standards, and stipulated the scope, terms and definitions, technical requirements and label requirements of dairy permeate powders.

Source: Shanghai 12360 Customs Hotline

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