Take home
In 2016, China’s food competent authorities will emphasize the improvement of its food regulatory system, source control of domestic and imported food products, establishment of food traceability system and regulation of special foods.
On 11 May 2015, the General Office of the State Council (the head government body in charge of national food safety and responsible for allocating the works of other departments) issued a Notice on Major Work Arrangements on Food Safety 2016. The document outlines priorities of China’s main food-related competent authorities (including NHFPC, CFDA, AQSIQ, MOA, MIIT) this year for improving the national food supervision mechanism.
Formulate important regulations
The formulation or revision of the following regulations should be expedited:
- Implementation Rules for the Food Safety Law (CFDA has published its draft for public consultation, see CL Food News on 11 Dec 2015);
- Rules for on-line foods operation (CFDA has published the draft of “Administrative Measures for Supervision on Operation of Foods Sold on the Internet”, see CL Food News on 20 Aug 2015);
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A series of rules regarding registration of special foods (including health food, foods for special medical purposes and infant formula)
- CFDA has issued the draft of Administrative Measures on Health Food Raw Material Directory and Health Function Directory (Consultation Draft)
- CFDA has released drafts of 5 supplementary rules for registration of medical foods (see CL Food News on 19 Apr 2016);
- CFDA has notified WTO “Administrative Measures for Registration of Infant Formula Formulations” (see CL Food News on 15 Jan 2016); sub registration guidance will also be formulated;
Improve the National Food Safety Standards System
NHFPC should sort out and publish the list of all available national food safety standards and the list of local standards. More efforts should be paid to lay down or amend standards that are desperately needed or important and standards for pesticides and veterinary drugs residue. During the 2015-2020, NHFPC in cooperation with MOA, CFDA and AQSIQ should newly formulate 1000 pesticides residue standards, 100 veterinary drugs residues standards, 300 agriculture industry standards.
Intensify supervision on infant formula
Regulators will continue to impose intensified regulation on infant formula, supplementary foods for infants and young children, dairy products, meat products, alcohol, seasoned flour products, edible vegetable oil, food additives. That means supervising bodies will carry out several rounds of special checks on these products.
Establish food traceability system
CFDA and AQSIQ will urge companies dealing with meat, vegetable, infant formula, alcohol, edible vegetable oil, etc. to establish product traceability system first.
Urge Merger & Acquisition of infant formula companies
MIIT, MOFCOM and CFDA should propel M&A of domestic infant formula companies. It was also mentioned in the last year’s working arrangement (see CL Food News on 19 Mar 2015)
Implement examination on overseas manufactures & exporters
Chinese food importers will be required to examine their overseas food exporters and manufacturers in terms of qualification, product compliance and food safety control system. AQSIQ has drafted a regulation especially for directing importers to carry out the work (see CL Food News on 15 Sep 2015).
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