The labelling standard regarding to prepackaged foods, GB 7718-2011, has been implemented for more than 8 years. Recently, the draft for new labeling standard is released. Antion will elaborate the effects of the new rules on imported foods.

What imported foods will be affected?

The labelling standard, GB 7718-2011, is applied to general prepackaged foods. Besides, the labelling of special foods like infant formula should comply with basic and general principles in GB 7718-2011.

What are the main changes?

Basic requirements for labels have been added:

l  It is clear that food or a certain ingredient in food must not be used to prevent or treat diseases in any form.

l  The requirements for "font height and maximum surface area" and "contact information" on the labeling were revised.

l  Deleted the relevant provisions of “If the outer packaging of the sales unit is easy to open and identify, the corresponding content shall not be repeatedly marked on the outer packaging”.

l  Relevant amendments and supplements avoid misleading consumers through labels, and at the same time facilitate the convenience and regulatory needs of consumers when reading food labels when purchasing food.

Revises the relevant requirements for quantitative labeling of ingredients

l  It is explicitly required that “if ingredients mentioned as the food name, the amount or percentage of the ingredients in foods should be labeled.

l  It is clarified that flavors formulated with food flavors cannot use real photos of related ingredients or foods.

l  It is specified that for food additives, contaminations, and substances that indicated in laws, regulations and standards that not allowed to be added, or substances that should not be present in foods, the terms such as “none” and “not contained” should not be claimed on the labeling.

l  It is indicated that the terms “do not add”, “do not use” and their synonyms should not be used.

l  It is determined the basic of descending order of ingredients is the “quality-based” order of the amount added in food processing, and the labeling of ingredient list should be standardized.

Chinese authority decided to require the mandatory labelling of substance causing allergies. It is allowed to emphasis the name of substance or product in the ingredient list or indicate “contains”, “may contains” at the place near ingredient list.

In the draft, there are eight categories. Besides the substance or product below, other allergenic substance labelling is voluntary.

l  Gluten containing cereals and products thereof;

l  Crustaceans and products thereof;

l  Fish and products thereof;

l  Eggs and products thereof;

l  Peanuts and products thereof;

l  Soybeans and products thereof;

l  Milk and products thereof (including lactose);

l  Nuts and products thereof.

Adds the provisions for the labeling of imported prepackaged foods, sets up a separate chapter for imported foods, and details the relevant requirements for imported foods. The main requirements include:

l  It is the first time to introduce the concept of country of origin for imported foods, enterprises can mark the country or region of origin for ingredients based on the demands.

l  The original labeling of imported prepackaged foods should contain the corresponding Chinese labeling for the information related to the appropriate person, consumption amount and edible method.

l  Adds the requirement that “Imported prepackaged foods without a production date should be calculated and marked the production date on the basis of the shelf life and the best date of consumption indicated on the original package”.

Adds “Substances, which made from food that perform certain packaging functions and can be eaten with the food therein, should also be labeled with the original ingredients in the ingredient list of products,” the requirement of the ingredients of edible packaging to be labeled on the ingredient list may provide a solution for the compliance of capsule based normal foods.

Changes the way of date labeling, “the production date and shelf life should be labeled as the order of year, month, and day”, and cancels other forms of date labeling to convenient for consumers to recognize and supervise.

Currently, the Standard is still in the stage of soliciting opinions, and enterprises can give timely feedback on the basis of the actual situation, and state the practical problems and cases, so as to improve the Standard to comply with the current situation and demands of the food industry. Meanwhile, it can be found the importance of the compliance of food labeling, food manufacturers should actively conduct self-check and self-correction, and improve the compliance administration of food labeling.