Request a DemoFood additives are essential to the modern food industry for enhancing sensory quality and ensuring shelf-life stability. In recent years, China has continuously strengthened its regulatory system through the refinement of national standards, clearer approval procedures, and enhanced enforcement mechanisms. The current framework is primarily based on a standardized national system (GB standards) and risk assessment principles, aligning progressively with international practices while addressing domestic food safety priorities.
This article provides an overview of China's regulatory structure for food additives, including competent authorities, key regulations and standards, approval procedures, and requirements for imported additives.
1. Competent Authority
Under the current food supervisory system, the NHC and its subordinate CFSA are responsible for risk assessment and the formulation of national standards. Meanwhile, SAMR manages domestic market supervision and licensing, while GACC oversees import and export compliance.
Competent authority | Responsibility |
National Health Commission (NHC) |
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National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) |
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State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) |
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General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) | Customs inspection, quarantine, and declaration |
2. Regulations and Standards
The overarching legal basis is the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, supplemented by the Implementing Regulations of the Food Safety Law. Together, these regulations set out clear requirements covering the production, import, export, distribution, recall, and traceability of food products (including food additives).
The following are the main regulations and standards governing food additives:
Use standards | Use standards primarily define the permitted additives, their applicable food categories, and maximum use levels. |
Specification standards | Specification standards set out detailed requirements for additives, including raw material controls, sensory requirements, physical and chemical indicators, microbiological indicators and test methods. Quality specification standards for single-variety food additives, e.g.:
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Labeling standards | |
New food additive | |
Production | |
Import and export |
3. Food Additive Requirements
Food additive refers to synthetic or natural substances added in food to improve the quality, color, taste and flavor of food as well as meet the needs of corrosion prevention, refreshment and processing technology. Flavorings, chewing gum bases, processing aids for food industry and nutritional fortification substances are also included.
The use of food additives should meet the following basic requirements:
Not to cause any health hazard to the human body;
Not to cover up putrefied and deteriorated foods;
Not to cover up the quality defects of the food itself or during processing, or for the purpose of adulteration and counterfeiting;
Not to reduce the nutritional value of the food itself;
To reduce the dosages used in food as much as possible on the precondition of reaching anticipated results.
Food additives can be applied in the following cases:
To keep or improve the nutritional value of food itself.
As an essential ingredient or composition for some food for special dietary use.
To improve the quality and stability of food as well as its sensory properties.
For the convenience of food production, processing, packing, transportation or storage.
3.1 GB 2760-2024 Standard for Uses of Food Additives
China applies a strict positive list system for food additives, with GB 2760-2024 serving as the core standard governing their use. In addition to defining food additives and setting out general principles for their use, the standard specifies 23 function categories and establishes lists covering food additives, food flavorings, and processing aids for the food industry.
23 function categories of food additives:
No. | Function | No. | Function | No. | Function |
1 | Acidity regulator | 9 | Colour retention agent | 17 | Preservative |
2 | Anticaking agent | 10 | Emulsifier | 18 | Stabiliser and coagulant |
3 | Antifoaming agent | 11 | Enzyme preparation | 19 | Sweetener |
4 | Antioxidant | 12 | Flavour enhancer | 20 | Thickener |
5 | Bleaching agent | 13 | Flour treatment agent | 21 | Flavouring substance |
6 | Bulking agent | 14 | Coating agent | 22 | Food processing aid |
7 | Chewing gum base | 15 | Humectant (water retention agent) | 23 | Other |
8 | Colorant | 16 | Nutritional fortification substance |
Lists of food additives:
Appendix | List |
Appendix A Provisions for the use of food additives | Table A.1 Permitted varieties, application scopes and the maximum levels or residue levels of food additives |
Table A.2 Food categories corresponding to the exceptional food numbers in Table A.1 | |
Appendix B Provisions for the use of flavorings | Table B.1 List of foods not allowed to be added with flavorings and essences |
Table B.2 list of natural flavorings allowable in foods | |
Table B.3 List of synthetic flavorings allowable in foods | |
Appendix C Provisions for the use of processing aids for the food industry | Table C.1 List of processing aids that can be used during the course of various foods processing without residual limits (excluding enzyme preparations) |
Table C.2 List of processing aids that need stipulated functions and application scopes (excluding enzyme preparations) | |
Table C.3 Food enzyme preparations and their sources |
Currently, China has authorized over 2,300 food additive varieties. To improve accessibility, GB 2760-2024 incorporates the additive varieties and conditions of use approved through individual NHC announcements since the implementation of GB 2760-2014, covering all updates up to NHC Announcement No. 5 of 2023 (August 1, 2023).
For additives approved thereafter, it is necessary to refer to the individual approval notices issued by NHC's irregular announcements regarding "Three New Foods". Historical NHC announcements on food additives can be accessed here.
Another highly important and practical principle under GB 2760-2024 is the carry-over principle.
Carry-over: effect in ingredients
Food additives can be introduced into foods through food ingredients in the following cases:
The additive is allowed to be used in food ingredients according to GB 2760;
The dosage of the additive in food ingredients shall not exceed the maximum allowable amount specified in GB 2760;
The ingredients shall be used under normal production process conditions, and the content of the food additive in the foods shall not exceed the level introduced by the ingredients;
The level of the additive brought into the food by the ingredients should be lower than the level normally required for its direct addition to the food.
Carry-over: effect on final products
When a food ingredient is used in the production of a specific final food product, the additives approved for that final food product are allowed to be added to the food ingredient, as long as (i) the amount of the food additive in the final product does not exceed the requirements of GB 2760, and that (ii) the label of the specific food ingredient clearly indicates that the product will be used in the production of that specific food product. Therefore, in this case, food additives added to the food ingredients have an effect on the final product rather than on the food ingredient.
3.2 GB 14880-2012 Standard for Uses of Nutritional Fortification Substances
Nutritional fortification substances refers to natural or artificially synthesized nutrients and other nutrients added into foods to increase its nutritional components (values).
The scope and amount of nutritional fortification substances used in foods should comply with the followings.
Appendix A Regulations on Use of Food Nutritional Fortification Substances
Appendix B List of Permitted Compound Sources of Nutritional Fortification Substances
Appendix C Permitted Nutritional Fortification Substances and Compound Sources for Special Dietary Foods
GB 14880 also includes an Appendix D, which contains the Food Category (Name) Description. This section is used to define the permitted scope of use for nutritional fortification substances and are only applicable to GB 14880.
3.3 GB 1886.359-2022 Standard for Uses of Gum Base and Its Ingredients
Gum base refers to the chewing gum base made by compounding rubbers and/or resins and other gum base ingredients for production of gum-based candies, giving them chewiness and/or foamability, not for the purpose of providing nutrition. Gum base ingredient is a general term for natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, resins, waxes, emulsifiers, softeners, antioxidants, preservatives, filling agents used for producing gum base, and food raw materials used as gum base ingredients.
The use requirements for gum base as a food additive should comply with the provisions set out in the following lists.
Gum base: Appendix A List of gum base ingredients allowed for use in gum base
Natural rubbers: Appendix B Natural rubbers allowed for use in gum base ingredients
Synthetic rubbers: Appendix C Synthetic rubbers allowed for use in gum base ingredients
Resins: Appendix D Resins allowed for use in gum base ingredients
Waxes: Appendix E Waxes allowed for use in gum base ingredients
Emulsifiers and softeners: Appendix F Emulsifiers & softeners allowed for use in gum base ingredients
Antioxidants and preservatives: Appendix G Antioxidants & preservatives allowed for use in gum base ingredients
Filling agents: Appendix H Filling agents allowed for use in gum base ingredients
4. New Food Additives Application
According to the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, to produce or import new food additives, the manufacturer/importer should submit safety assessment materials of the intended product to the NHC for review. For applications that comply with food safety requirements, a license shall be approved and publicly announced. Otherwise, reasons for disapproval will be given in written notice.
New food additives include:
The varieties of food additives that have not been listed in the Food Safety National Standard (GB 2760)
The varieties of food additives that have not been listed in the inventory announced by the NHC
The varieties of food additives with an extended application scope or amount of usage
Application procedure for new food additives:
Applicants seeking approval for the production, distribution, use, or import of a new food additive shall submit an application for authorization of a new food additive, together with the following materials:
No. | Application documents | Domestic | Imported |
1 | Application form | √ | √ |
2 | Common name, function category, dosage and scope of use | √ | √ |
3 | Supporting documents to prove its technical necessity and intended using effects | √ | √ |
4 | Quality and specification requirements, production techniques and testing method as well as the method or instructions to test the additive in food | √ | √ |
5 | Safety evaluation data, including raw materials or sources, chemical structure and physical properties, production techniques, toxicological safety evaluation data or testing reports and quality and specification testing report | √ | √ |
6 | Samples of label, instructions and food additive product | √ | √ |
7 | The supporting document of its production and use issued by other countries (region) or international organizations that are conducive to the safety evaluation | √ | √ |
8 | The certificate to allow the production or sale of the food additive in exporting country | √ | |
9 | The supporting document of examination or accreditation of the manufacturer in the country where the manufacturer is located | √ | |
For applications seeking to expand the scope of use or maximum use level of an existing food additive, the materials specified in Item 4 may be exempted, unless supplementary submission is required during the technical review process. | |||
5. Food Additives Production
A production licensing system is implemented for food additives. To apply for a food additive production license, Applicants must submit the following materials:
Application form for a food additive production license;
Copy of the business license;
Layout plans of the food additive production site, surrounding environment, and functional production areas;
List and layout of major production equipment and facilities;
Internal management systems ensuring food additive safety, including self-inspection procedures, incoming goods inspection records, and finished product testing records.
Enterprises producing any food additives approved and published by NHC (including nutritional fortification substances, food flavorings, and compound food additives) must comply with GB 31647-2018 National Food Safety Standard General Hygienic Practice of Food Additive Production. This standard sets out the basic requirements and management principles for food additive production, covering areas such as raw material procurement, processing, packaging, labeling, storage, and transportation, as well as requirements for production sites, facilities, and personnel.
6. Food Additives Labeling
China maintains strict dual-track labeling requirements for food additives. If you are selling the additives themselves, the label acts as a technical manual focusing on safety and traceability. If you are selling a food product containing additives, the focus shifts to consumer transparency and standardized naming.
Food Additives as a Final Product
According to the Working Rules for Inspection and Quarantine of Import and Export Food Additives, and the GB 29924-2013 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labelling of Food Additives, the following basic information must be provided in Chinese on both the smallest sales package and the outer packaging of the product:
The word 'food additive' (食品添加剂) must be clearly marked;
Name (common name in relevant standards), specification, net content;
Ingredients (list) with common names in the relevant standards;
Country (place) of origin and the name, address and contact information of the domestic agent;
Production date (batch number) and shelf-life;
Required storage conditions;
Scope of use, dosage, and method of use;
Food additives approved and announced by NHC shall indicate the corresponding number of the certification document and the product quality standard approved or recognised;
For compound food additives, the common names of each individual component, as well as the names and contents of auxiliary materials, shall be listed in descending order of content (all individual components must have the same scope of use).
Final Food Products Containing Food Additives
For prepackaged foods, additives must be declared in the ingredient list using standardized names. With GB 7718-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Food now in its two-year transition period before the official enforcement on March 16, 2027, enterprises should actively align their product labeling—especially for food additives—to ensure a seamless adjustment to the new requirements.
Specifically, food additives shall be labeled with their common names as specified in GB 2760, GB 14880 or announcements of the NHC or national food safety standards. Food additives may be labelled either by listing their common names individually, or by grouping them under their functional classes with the corresponding common names indicated. For example, various gum base preparations for gum-based candies can be classified as "Gum base"; food flavors and spices can be classified as "food flavorings", "food spices", "food flavorings and spices", "food-use flavorings", "food flavors", "food-use spices", and "food-use flavorings and spices".
Notably, under the new GB 7718-2025 standard, "Zero Additive" or "No Added" claims are strictly prohibited to prevent consumer deception.
7. China New Food Additive Registration Service
We have been equipped with a professional technician team to provide a one-stop registration service with expertise and efficiency. Our services include:
Food additive regulatory status confirmation
Pre-assessment of new food additive and application plan
Application dossier preparation
Application submission
Respond to ministry enquiries or deficiency
Follow-up of the application result
Please feel free to contact us via [email protected] if you need any help.
