China Consults on GB 2758 National Standards for Fermented Alcoholic Drink and Their Integrated Alcoholic Beverage Thereof, Affecting Beer, Wine and Fruit Wine

Tubers and honey can be used as the main raw material to produce fermented alcoholic drinks. The draft newly adds the limit of formaldehyde for wine and fruit wine. For compound fruit wine, considering formula proportion can be a technological secret, it’s not necessary to label the content of each fruit but only the total fruit content. For wine products whose alcohol by volume are less than 10% vol, they shall be labelled with shelf life afterwards.

On February 13, 2023, China opened 38 national food safety standards for consultation, involving standards related to complementary baby foods, foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), food additives, food contact materials (FCM), contaminants, etc. Any comments can be sent back prior to March 20, 2023 via online system. Read the full list of the 38 standards and analysis to other standards at China Unveils 38 National Food Safety Standard Drafts.

This article analyzes the changes to GB 2758 National Food Safety Standard—National Standards for Fermented Alcoholic Drink and Their Integrated Alcoholic Beverage.

Amendments to the current effective version

According to GB/T 17204-2021 Terminology and Classification of Alcoholic Beverages, fermented alcoholic drinks in China include beer, wine, fruit wine, etc. Compared to the current effective version, namely, GB 2758-2012, the consultation draft proposes the following changes.

1. Definitions are proposed to be revised.

Since some provinces in China use Chinese yam, purple sweet potato, etc. to make alcoholic drinks, this draft adds “tubers” as permitted raw materials in the definition of fermented alcoholic drinks. As disclosed by the compilation explanation of this draft, honey can also be used as a raw material to produce fermented alcoholic drink.

As for the integrated alcoholic beverage of fermented alcoholic drinks, due to the complexity and diversity of raw materials, base of the alcoholic drink, processing techniques, etc., the style of original alcohol base may not change. Hence, the proposal deletes the description “changed its original base style” from its definition.

Proposed definitions in the consultation draft

Terms	Definitions
Fermented alcoholic drinks	Alcoholic beverage fermented or partially fermented from grains, tubers, fruits, dairy products and others (like honey) as the main raw material.
Integrated alcoholic beverage of fermented alcoholic drinks	Alcoholic beverages made from fermented alcoholic drinks as the base by adding edible raw materials, auxiliary materials and/or food additives, and finished by blending, mixing or reprocessing.

2. Sensory requirements are proposed to be specified.

The draft raised specific sensory requirements for product’s color, taste, odor and state. Corresponding test methods are also supplemented. For products with cork closures, a small amount of cork residue is allowed.

3. Limits of formaldehyde are proposed to be revised.

The limit of formaldehyde for beer products is deleted, for the industry doesn’t use formaldehyde during beer production and formaldehyde is also not allowed to be used as processing aid. But the proposal newly adds the limit of formaldehyde for wine and fruit wine.

4. Limits for salmonella and staphylococcus aureus are proposed to be deleted.

To be consistent with the requirements in GB 29921-2021 National Food Safety Standard Pathogen Limit in Prepackaged Foods, the proposal deletes the limits for salmonella and staphylococcus aureus.

5. Labeling requirements are proposed to be updated.

For compound fruit wine, considering formula proportion can be a technological secret, it’s not necessary to label the content of each fruit but only the total fruit content.
The draft deletes the description “Wine, and other alcoholic beverages as well as their integrated alcoholic beverages whose alcohol by volume are no less than 10% vol can be exempted from the labeling of shelf life” to keep pace with GB 7718-2011 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods. According to GB 7718, alcoholic beverages whose alcohol by volume are no less than 10% vol can be exempted from shelf-life labeling. In another word, it means that for wine products whose alcohol by volume are less than 10% vol, they shall be labelled with shelf life afterwards.

For further translation service, please email [email protected].