China CFDA Adds New Requirements for Complementary Foods for Infants and Young Children

Takehome:

• It was announced that complementary foods for infants and young children will be strictly regulated including production licensing and labeling investigation.

On Apr. 11, 2017, China CFDA released supplementary requirements for production licensing of complementary foods for infants and young children in accordance with the 2017 version of “Detailed Rules for Production License Examination for Complementary Foods for Infants and Young Children” (see CL news report on Feb. 7, 2017). The production licensing of complementary foods for infants and young children will be strictly regulated by the government.

Manufacturers with a production license for canned food, fine dried noodle, biscuits, farina for infants and young children which are marketed for use as complementary foods for infants and young children according to the “Rules” should apply to change their food category and corresponding production license. The list of manufacturers with the relevant production license will be published.

From Jun. 30, 2018, the manufacturers with the production license for the food categories of canned food, fine dried noodle, biscuits, farina for infants and young children that have not obtained the new production license for complementary foods for infants and young children will not be allowed to produce or sell complementary foods for infants and young children in China. Products manufactured before Jun. 30, 2018 are allowed to be sold until expiration.

The labeling of complementary foods for infants and young children will be investigated, with special focus on products with misleading claims on the label indicating suitability for consumption by infants and young children. Products circulating on the market that do not comply with relevant regulations will be recalled immediately.

Reference link

China CFDA No. 47 (2017) Announcement