China CFDA to Issue New Labeling Regulation for Infant Formula

From 6-8 of May 2015, the CFDA held a seminar in Guangdong focusing on infant formula regulation and supervision. In attendance at the conference was the director of CFDA’s food supervisory department Ma Chunliang, officials from various local FDAs & food testing institutes and representatives from some big domestic infant formula companies. The main subject was increasing surveillance over domestically produced infant formula by bolstering supply chain traceability, increasing information transparency and instituting new requirements for formula registration and label filling as articulated within the new Food Safety Law which will take into effect since 1 Oct this year (see CL food analysis on 28 Apr 2015).

Another key focus of the meeting was to thoroughly discuss details of the new regulation “Administrative Measures on Labelling of Infant formula and Specification on the Record of Infant Formula Quality and Safety Traceability Information”. No specifics were disclosed however it is expected that the draft will be released for public opinion soon. As the CFDA is responsible for food safety issues at a domestic level and not specifically tasked with supervising imported foods, the regulation will only affect infant formula made in China and will have no bearing on imported products.