In a startling policy u-turn, on Aug. 17, 2018, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published a notification permitting the issuance of temporary permits for unregistred special foods, just two months after China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) detailed the exhibition prohibition list and restriction list for CIIE exhibition, which stipulated that registration or filing of infant formula and health food and registration of overseas dairy manufacturers was required for all exhibitors.