A Walkthrough of Food Labeling Regulations in China

The significance of designing a China compliant label for food products is an easily neglected element of a China market access strategy. The importance of this factor cannot be understated considered in the light of the high volume of imported foods that are rejected or detained at ports every month due to substandard labels or lack of Chinese labels.

China’s complex labeling system and language barrier are two major stumbling blocks that overseas food companies who are considering launching products in China must come to grips with. Generally speaking, the regulatory framework for labeling is founded by the overarching Food Safety Law and supported by a series of food department rules for different product categories issued by several authorities.

Main food labeling concerned regulations/standards

In addition to paying close attention to the requirements listed above in the general regulations, overseas exporters must also be clear about stipulations listed in specific product standards when preparing labels, e.g. the labels of infant formula products are not allowed to bear any images of women and infants or statements like “like human milk” or “like breast milk” according to the product standard GB 10765-2010 National Food Safety Standard Infant formula.