Request a Demo
In China, one of the key compliance points for food import is that the food product only contains permitted food additives. In addition to permitted food additives listed in GB 2760, the National Health Commission (NHC) proposes and approves new food additives through separate notifications. This article tracks and collects the updates on China food additives in 2023, including newly approved and newly proposed ones.
On December 29, 2023, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) opened three new food additives for public feedback, including a new enzyme preparation and two food additives with expanded usage scope. Comments can be submitted to [email protected] before January 21, 2024. Details are as follows:
One new enzyme preparation
Enzyme | Source | Donor |
D-psicose 3-epimerase | Bacillus subtilis | Clostridiumscindens ATCC35704 |
Two food additives with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/kg) | Notes |
Ascorbyl palmitate (enzymatic) | Antioxidant | 01.03 | Milk powder (including sweetened milk powder) and cream powder and their modified products | 0.2 | Calculated by ascorbic acid in fat |
07.01 | Bread | 0.2 | Measured in ready-to-drink status, and increase the usage in solid drinks according to dilution ratio. | ||
14.05.01 | Tea drinks | 0.2 | |||
Sucralose (trichlorosucrose) | Sweetener | 04.05.02.01.01 | Unshelled and cooked nuts and seeds | 4.0 | / |
04.05.02.01.02 | Shelled and cooked nuts and seeds | 2.0 |
On November 30, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) authorized the use of two new food additives as food processing aids.
Two processing aids with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food category |
Edible tannin | Clarifier | Processing technology of sugar |
Ethyl acetate | Extract solvent | Processing technology of tea extract |
On October 26, 2023, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) opened eight new food additives for public feedback, including a new food additive, a new nutritional fortifier, two new enzyme preparations, as well as four food additives with expanded usage scope. Comments can be submitted to [email protected] before November 21. Details are as follows:
One new food additive
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/kg) | Notes |
Rebaudioside M | Sweetener | 01.01.03 | Modified milk | 0.18 | As steviol equivalent |
01.02.02 | Flavored fermented milk | 0.2 | |||
03.01 | Ice cream and ice lolly | 0.5 | |||
05.02.01 | Gum-based candy | 3.5 | |||
14.0 | Beverages (excluding 14.1 packaged drinking waters) | 0.2 | As steviol equivalent; Measured in ready-to-drink status; Increase the usage in solid drinks according to dilution ratio. |
One new nutritional fortifier
Name | Source | Donor |
2'-fucosyllactose, 2'-FL | Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) | (Helicobacter pylori)a |
Notes: a refers to α- 1,2-fucosyltransferase donor; The proposed application scope and usage amounts keep consistent with NHC Announcement No. 8 of 2023 which approved 2’FL from other sources and donors as a new nutritional fortifier.
Two new enzyme preparations
Enzyme | Source | Donor |
Cyclomaltodextin glucanotransferase | Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus | / |
Cellulase | Penicillium oxalicum | / |
Four food additives with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/kg) | Notes |
Tomato red | Colorant | 08.02.01 | Seasoned meat products (adding seasonings to fresh meats) | 0.12 | As lycopene |
08.02.02 | Cured meat products (e.g., salt meats, cured meats, dried salted duck, Chinese ham and sausage) | 0.018 | |||
08.03.05 | Sausage | 0.35 | |||
08.03.07.03 | Dried meat crisps | 0.26 | |||
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleat | Emulsifier | 16.03 | Collagen casing | 0.5 | / |
Rosemary extract | Antioxidant | 04.05.02 | Processed nuts and seeds | 0.3 | / |
Vitamine E (dl-α-tocopherol, d-α- tocopherol, mixed tocopherol concentrate) | Antioxidant | 16.07 | Others (limited to lutein esters) | 50 | / |
On October 7, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) authorized the use of six new food additives, including a new food enzyme, three new nutritional fortifiers, and two food additives with expanded usage scope. Notably, two long-awaited HMOs, namely, 2'FL and LNnT, finally obtained the approvals. Details are as follows:
One new enzyme preparation
Enzyme | Source | Donor |
Serine protease | Bacillus licheniformis | Nocardiopsis prasina |
Three new nutritional fortifiers
Name | Food classification no. | Food category | Usage amount | Notes |
Magnesium lactate | In accordance with provisions of Magnesium in GB 14880. | Quality and specification requirements are specified in the notice. | ||
2'-fucosyllactose, 2'-FL | 01.03.02 | Modified milk powder (limited to milk powder for children) | 0.7 – 2.4g/L (Measured in pure products and ready-to-eat state. The usage can be increased for powdered products that need to be diluted before intake.) | When mixed with LNnT, GOS, FOS, polyfructose and raffinose, the total amount of such substances shall not exceed 64.5g/kg.
Quality and specification requirements are specified in the notice. |
13.01.01 | Infant formula | |||
13.01.02 | Follow-up infant and young children formula | |||
13.01.03 | Infant formula for special medical purpose | |||
Lacto-N-neotetraose, LNnT | 01.03.02 | Modified milk powder (limited to milk powder for children) | 0.2 – 0.6g/L (Measured in pure products and ready-to-eat state. The usage can be increased for powdered products that need to be diluted before intake.) | When mixed with 2'FL, GOS, FOS, polyfructose and raffinose, the total amount of such substances shall not exceed 64.5g/kg.
Quality and specification requirements are specified in the notice. |
13.01.01 | Infant formula | |||
13.01.02 | Follow-up infant and young children formula | |||
13.01.03 | Infant formula for special medical purpose | |||
Two food additives with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/L) | Notes |
Calcium lactate | Stabilizer and coagulator and acidity regulator | 04.02.02.03 | Pickled vegetable | 10.0 | / |
04.02.02.04 | Canned vegetable | 3.0 | |||
Sanzan gum | Coagulator, stabilizer and thickener | 01.01.03 | Modified milk | 0.5 | / |
14.03.03 | Compound protein drinks | 0.75 | Measured in ready-to-drink status. Increase the usage in solid drinks according to dilution ratio. | ||
14.08 | Flavored beverage | 0.5 |
On August 23, 2023, China CFSA opened three new food additives for public comments, including one new nutritional fortifier and two food additives with expanded usage scope. Comments can be sent to [email protected] before September 18.
One new nutritional fortifier
Nutritional fortifier | Source | Donor |
2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) | ATCC 13032 Corynebacterium glutamate ATCC 13032 | Pseudopedobacter saltansa |
a refers to α- 1,2-fucosyltransferase donor
Besides, the usage requirements and quality specification of 2'-FL shall comply with the followings:
Name | Food classification no. | Food category | Usage amount | Notes |
2'-fucosyllactose, 2'-FL | 01.03.02 | Modified milk powder (limited to milk powder for children) | 0.7 – 2.4g/L (Measured in pure products and ready-to-eat state. The usage can be increased for powdered products that need to be diluted before intake.) | When mixed with LNnT, GOS, FOS, polyfructose and raffinose, the total amount of such substances shall not exceed 64.5g/kg. |
13.01.01 | Infant formula | |||
13.01.02 | Follow-up infant and young children formula | |||
13.01.03 | Infant formula for special medical purpose |
Two food additives with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage | Notes |
L-alanine | Flavor enhancer | 14.02.03 | Fruit and vegetable juice (pulp) (including fermented products) | 6.0g/kg | Measured in ready-to-drink state. The usage can be increasedfor solid beverages according to the dilution ratio. |
Propylene glycol alginate | Thickener | 06.05.02.01 | Silk noodles and vermicelli | 1.5g/kg | / |
06.05.02.04 | Tapioca ball |
On August 1, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) authorized the use of three new food additives, including two new food enzymes and one processing aid with expanded usage scope. Details are as follows:
Two new enzyme preparations
Enzyme | Source | Donor | Notes |
beta-amylase | Bacillus flexus | / | For more details, please look up the name in Chinese Mainland: Enzyme Preparations. |
Lysophospholipase (lecithinase B) | Trichoderma reesei | Aspergillus nishimurae |
One processing aid with expanded usage scope
Processing aid | Function | Use scope | Notes |
Sulfuric acid | Neutralization and soap removal | Processing technology of oil | For more detailed requirements for these processing aids, please look up the names in Chinese Mainland: Processing Aids. |
On June 26, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) opened three new food additives for public comments, including one new food additive and two processing aids with expanded usage scope. Comments can be sent to [email protected] before July 20.
One new food additive
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage | Notes |
Mixed tocotrienol concentrate | Antioxidant | 02.01.01 | Vegetable oil and fat | 0.2g/kg | Calculated as total tocopherol and total triene tocopherol |
Two processing aids with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food category |
Edible tannin | Clarifier | Processing technology of sugar |
Ethyl acetate | Extract solvent | Processing technology of tea extract |
On May 6, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) announced to approve the use of seven new food additives, including one new nutritional fortifier, one new enzyme preparation, one food additive with expanded use scope, and four nutritional fortifiers with expanded use scope.
One new nutritional fortifier
L-Se-methylselenocysteine is approved to be used as a food nutritional fortifier, whose application scope and usage amount shall be consistent with GB 14880.
One new enzyme preparation
Enzyme | Source | Donor | Notes |
D-psicose 3-epimerase | Bacillus subtilis | Ruminococcus sp. CAG55 | For more details, please look up the name in Chinese Mainland: Enzyme Preparations. |
One food additive with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage | Notes |
Ascorbyl palmitate (enzymatic) | Antioxidant | 06.07 | Instant rice noodles products | 0.2g/kg | For more details, please look up the name in Chinese Mainland: Food Additives. |
Four nutritional fortifiers with expanded use scope
Name | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage | Notes |
Vitamin B1 | 14.04.02.01 | Beverages for special purposes (including sports beverage and nutrient beverage) | 2mg/kg-5mg/kg | For more details, please look up the names in Chinese Mainland: Nutritional Fortification Substances. |
Vitamin B2 | 14.04.02.01 | Beverages for special purposes (including sports beverage and nutrient beverage) | 2mg/kg-5mg/kg | |
Taurine | 14.04.02.01 | Beverages for special purposes (including sports beverage and nutrient beverage) | 0.1g/kg-0.6g/kg | |
Ascorbyl palmitate (enzymatic) | As a compound source of Vitamin C, the use scope and amount of use shall comply with the provisions of GB 14880. | |||
On April 24, 2023, CFSA opened three new food additives for public comments. Comments can be sent to [email protected] before May 22.
One new enzyme preparation
Enzyme | Source | Donor |
Serine protease | Bacillus licheniformis | Nocardiopsis prasina |
Two food additives with expanded usage scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/L) | Notes |
Calcium lactate | Stabilizer and coagulator and acidity regulator | 04.02.02.03 | Pickled vegetable | 10.0 | / |
04.02.02.04 | Canned vegetable | 3.0 | |||
Sanzan gum | Coagulator, stabilizer and thickener | 01.01.03 | Modified milk | 0.5 | / |
14.03.03 | Compound protein drinks | 0.75 | Measured in ready-to-drink status. Increase the usage in solid drinks according to dilution ratio. | ||
14.08 | Flavored beverage | 0.5 |
On March 2, 2023, China National Health Commission (NHC) announced to approve the use of 16 new food additives, including one new food additive, eight new enzyme preparations, one new food flavoring, four food additives with expanded use scope, and two processing aids with expanded use scope.
One new food additive
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/L) | Notes |
Potassium Polyaspartate | Stabilizer and Coagulator | 15.03.01 | Wine | 0.3 | For more detailed requirements for the new food additive, please look up the name in Chinese Mainland: Food Additives. |
Eight new enzyme preparations
Enzyme | Source | Donor | Notes |
Aminopeptidase | Aspergillus oryzae | Aspergillus oryzae | For more detailed requirements for these new food enzymes, please look up the names in Chinese Mainland: Enzyme Preparations. |
Protease | Trichoderma reesei | Malbranchea sulfurea | |
Phospholipase A2 | Trichoderma reesei | Aspergillus fumigatus | |
Maltogenic amylase | Saccharomyces cerevisiae | Geobacillus stearothermophilus | |
Xylanase | Bacillus licheniformis | Bacillus licheniformis | |
Lactase (beta-galactosidase) | Papiliotrema terrestris | / | |
Carboxypeptidase | Aspergillus oryzae | Aspergillus oryzae | |
Deaminase | Aspergillus oryzae | / |
One new food flavoring
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/L) | Notes |
2-Hexylpyridine | Food flavoring | /
| Prepared as food flavoring and used in various foods (excluding food categories in Table B.1 of GB2760-2014) | As necessary | For more detailed requirements for the new food spice, please look up the names in Chinese Mainland: Food Flavoring. |
Four food additives with expanded use scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage (g/L) | Notes |
Fumaric acid | Acidity regulator | 08.02.02 | Cured meat products (e.g., salt meats, cured meats, dried salted duck, Chinese ham and sausage) | As necessary | For more detailed requirements for these food additives, please look up the names in Chinese Mainland: Food Additives. |
08.03.02 | Smoked, roasted and grilled meat | ||||
08.03.03 | Fried meat | ||||
08.03.05 | Meat Sausage | ||||
09.02.02 | Frozen coating products | ||||
09.04.02 | Cooked or fired aquatic products | ||||
09.04.03 | Smoked, baked aquatic products | ||||
Sodium acetate | Acidity regulator | 08.02.02 | Cured meat products (e.g., salt meats, cured meats, dried salted duck, Chinese ham and sausage) | As necessary | |
08.03.02 | Smoked, roasted and grilled meat | ||||
08.03.03 | Fried meat | ||||
08.03.05 | Meat Sausage | ||||
09.02.02 | Frozen coating products | ||||
09.04.02 | Cooked or fired aquatic products | ||||
09.04.03 | Smoked, baked aquatic products | ||||
Sodium cyclohexyl sulfamate | Sweetener | 07.04 | Bakery food fillings and surface battering (bakery food filling only) | 2.0 | |
16.06 | Puffed food | 0.2 | |||
Vitamin E | Antioxidant | 06.03.02.04 | Flour pastes (e.g., flour pastes used for fish and poultry meat), coating and frying flour | 0.2 |
Two processing aids with expanded use scope
Processing aid | Function | Use scope | Notes |
Polydimethyl siloxane and emulsion | Antifoaming agent | Processing technology of collagen casing | For more detailed requirements for these processing aids, please look up the names in Chinese Mainland: Processing Aids. |
Magnesium stearate | Lubricant, release agent, anti-sticking agent | Pressing technology of effervescent tablets |
* With professional assistance from our food compliance team from REACH24H, the founder of ChemLinked, the application of usage extension of polydimethyl siloxane and emulsion has been officially approved. If you are seeking any assistance on food compliance issues, feel free to reach out to us.
As per the notice released on February 10, 2023, China CFSA opened five new food additives for public comments, including two new enzyme preparations, one new nutrition fortifier, one food additive with expanded application scope, and one processing aid with expanded application scope. Comments can be sent to [email protected] before March 8, 2023.
Two new enzyme preparations
Enzyme | Source | Donor |
beta-amylase | Bacillus flexus | / |
Lysophospholipase (lecithinase B) | Trichoderma reesei | Aspergillus nishimurae |
One nutrition fortifier
Nutrition fortifier | Source | Donor |
2'-fucosyllactose | E. coli BL21(DE3) | Neisseria spp.a |
Notes: a refers to α-1,2-fucosyltransferase donor. Besides, the proposed use requirements for 2'-fucosyllactose remain the same as the notice released on October 28, 2022.
One food additive with expanded application scope
Name | Function | Food classification no. | Food category | Maximum usage amount (g/kg) | Notes |
Sanzan Gum | Thickener, stabilizer and coagulator | 01.01.03 | Modified milk | 0.5 | / |
03.01 | Ice cream, ice cream bar | 1.5 | / | ||
14.03.03 | Compound protein drinks | 0.75 | Measured in ready-to-drink state. The usage can be increased for solid beverages according to the dilution ratio. | ||
14.08 | Flavored drinks | 0.5 |
One processing aid with expanded application scope
Processing aid | Function | Application scope |
Sulfuric acid | Neutralization and soap removal | Processing technology of oil |
Recommended Reading:
We provide full-scale global food market entry services (including product registration, ingredient review, regulatory consultation, customized training, market research, branding strategy). Please contact us to discuss how we can help you by 
