According to our sources AQSIQ is now requiring its local braches CIQ to send samples of infant formula and cereal-based complementary foods for babies imported after 1 May 2015 to the HACCP center of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine Comprehensive Test Center for centralized internal testing. The special project covers all items of the three kinds of products (except food additives) listed in the relevant national standards, including GB 10765-2010, GB 10767-2010 and GB 10769-2010. Infant formula products require additional testing, including diethylstilbestrol, 17 beta-estradiol, estriol, progesterone, 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, fatty acid esters of chloropropanols and cadmium. In addition to samples, CIQs also need to attach the sanitary certificate and testing report submitted by companies for CIQ inspection declaration.
While samples are being tested by the HACCP center, local CIQs will conduct their inspection process as usual and issue relevant certificates for qualified products. If the test results from the HACCP center and the local CIQ are not consistent, a discussion will be organized to find out the reason and a re-test might be necessary to reach consensus. If the product is determined as non-compliant, the importer should implement a product recall.
Not every food product that passes CIQ inspection is 100% compliant with Chinese requirements. On 5 May 2015, CFDA released the results of a national campaign in which spot checks were conducted on 1565 batches of Infant formula products during 2014. 4 imported infant formula brands failed this CFDA National Inspection despite already having passed CIQ inspection at port (see CL food news on 7 May 2015). The results of testing vary a little due to different labs and biased interpretations of the same regulation. It’s already a heavy burden for both domestic company and overseas exporters but there is not a perfect measure to solve the problem at the current stage. AQSIQ’s special centralized testing is a way to further ensure that imported infant formula products are safe and compliant with Chinese regulation.
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