According to JJF 1070-2023 Rules for Measurement and Inspection of Net Content of Products in Prepackages with Fixed Content (hereinafter referred to as "JJF 1070-2023"), the net content is the amount of built-in goods of products in prepackages with fixed content after the removal of the packaging containers and other packaging materials. Neither the packaging materials of the commodity nor any other materials packed with the commodity should be recognized as net content.

GB 7718-2011 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (hereinafter referred to as "GB 7718-2011") also stipulates that information on net content should be displayed on the labels of prepackaged foods. In order to help you understand the labeling requirements of net content, Antion has sorted out the relevant standards to facilitate your understanding and learning.

Labeling position of net content

a) The net content should be labeled on the same display as the name of the food of the package or container.

b) The net content of the goods should be prominently displayed on the main display surface or the label of the products in prepackages with fixed content.

The main display surface of the goods here is the layout where the name of the goods is displayed when the products in prepackages with fixed content is normally sold. According to the above requirements, the labeling of prepackaged food should indicate the name of the food and the net content on the main display surface.

Labeling form of net content

The labeling of net content should be composed of net content, numbers and legal units of measurement. Here the requirements of the "net content" must be used in Chinese, "legal unit of measurement" can be used in Chinese to indicate the counting unit, for example, "net content: 500 grams". "Net content" and its subsequent numbers can be separated by spaces or colons and other forms of separation. Solid food can only be labeled with mass unit, while liquid, semi-solid and viscous food can be labeled with volume unit or mass unit.

It should be noted that, according to JJF 1070-2023, the "number" part of the net content labeling, usually should not exceed 3 digits. For example, it should be labeled as "net content: 5.55kg", but not as "net content: 5.555kg".

The JJF 1070-2023 standard requires the prominence of net content, should be clearly visible bold font marking, in the notable position of main display surface of the package or label, and should be significantly different from the background base color of the package. If the net content is embossed or molded onto the surface of the packaging container, the net content information should be clearly visible and easy to read and understand.

Method of labeling net content of promotional packages

If the net content indicated on the label of prepackaged food includes the amount of free (complimentary), the net content of prepackaged food in complimentary packages (or promotional packages) can be labeled with the net content of the sales portion and the net content of the complimentary portion, or the total net content of the sales portion and the complimentary portion and at the same time, the net content of the complimentary portion can be labeled in an appropriate manner. For example, "net content of 500 g, 50 g" "net content of 500 + 50 g" "net content of 550 g (including 50 g)" and so on.

However, it is important to note that any labeling of free (complimentary) quantity should be clear and reasonable, and should not cause consumers to misunderstand the total net content of the goods.

Labeling of prepackaged foods containing more than one item

a) If the same prepackaging contains several pieces of the same kind of products in prepackages with fixed content, the net content of a single piece of products in prepackages with fixed content and the total number of pieces of a single piece of goods should be labeled, or the total net content should be labeled, and the specific way of labeling can be found in GB 7718-2011 Appendix C C.2.3, e.g.: net content (or net content/specification): 200 grams (40 g × 5).

b) The same prepackaged goods containing a number of different kinds of prepackaged goods, should be labeled with the net content of a single piece of a variety of different kinds of products in prepackages with fixed content and the number of a variety of different kinds of products in prepackages with fixed content, or respectively label the total net content of various products in prepackages with fixed content, the specific labeling methods can be found in Appendix C to GB 7718-2011, C.2.4, such as "Net Content (Net content/specification): 200 g (40 g of product A × 3, 40 g of product B × 2)" "Net content (net content/specification): 100 g of product A, 50 g of product B × 2, 50 g of product C".

It should be noted that if the pre-packaged commodity is completely transparent and the consumer can clearly identify the quantity of the quantitatively packaged commodity contained in the package and the labeled net content of a single piece of the commodity, it is not mandatory to label the net content on that package.

Legal units of measurement

a) Liquid food, using volume liters (L) (l), milliliters (mL) (mL), or using mass grams (g), kilograms (kg);

b) Solid food, using the mass grams (g) and kilograms (kg);

c) Semi-solid or viscous foods, using mass grams (g), kilograms (kg) or volume liters (L) (l), milliliters (mL) (ml).

Requirements for Character Height

If symbols are used to indicate legal units of measurement, all character heights (in terms of the letters L, k, g, etc.) should comply with the requirements of 4.1.5.4 of the GB 7718-2011 standard (see the table below). In addition, if the prepackaged goods contain more than one piece of prepackaged goods, the individual prepackaged goods contained in them should calculate the character height by their respective net contents, while the outer package should calculate the character height by the total net contents.

Conclusion

JJF 1070-2023 standard has been implemented since April 12, 2024, the standard for the labeling requirements of the net content increased "the main display layout", "3-digit numerals", "bold font" and other requirements, it is recommended that enterprises to understand the changes in the standard in a timely manner, timely review of the product and adjust the labeling of the product, the net content of the labeling of the correct and compliant.

Source: Antion

Note: This article is compiled by Antion. Please indicate the source for reprint.