China Announces Plant Oil Labeling Requirements

On July 4, China State Administration of Market Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and National Health Commission issued a joint announcement detailing the following:

The labeling and instruction manual shall comply with Food Safety Law and Administrative Measures on the Labeling of Food.
Mono-oil product shall use the standard name of the plant oil. If a product contains two or more varieties of plant oils, it shall use the name “blended edible plant oil”.
Plant oils made from genetically modified raw materials shall be clearly marked as “genetically modified XXX”, such as “genetically modified soybean” in the labeling and instruction manual. Plant oils made from non-genetically modified types of the following ingredients are allowed to be claimed “non-genetically modified XXX”, such as “non-genetically modified soybean oil”.

GM ingredients can be used in food in China
Soybean seed	soybean	Soybean powder	Soybean oil	Soybean meal
Corn seed	Corn	Corn oil	Corn powder
Rape plant seed	Rapeseed	Rapeseed oil	Rapeseed meal
Tomato seed	Fresh tomato	ketchup

The announcement is designed to protect consumer rights and to prevent manufacturers from misleading consumers. Relevant departments will also conduct special inspection for a whole month beginning on Dec. 21 to check purchasing, production and financial recording activities of relevant stakeholders in the supply chain.Manufacturers shall record and keep evidence on the varieties and amount of raw materials they purchase and use in plant oil production until the shelf-life ends.
Plant oils which do not comply with new labeling requirements that are produced before Dec.21, 2018 are allowed to be sold in the market until their expiration dates.