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On Nov. 26, 2018, National Food Safety Standard Review Committee opened the consultation period on the draft of GB 7718 General Rules for Prepackaged Food Labeling. Comments should be sent back prior to Dec. 14, 2018.
The proposed revision majorly covers the following aspects:
Characters
The draft standard stipulates that the height of words, marks, numbers of mandatory labeling content shall not be less than 2.0 mm (1.8 mm currently) where the largest surface area of package or container of pre-packaged food is more than 40 cm2 (35 cm2 currently).
Ingredient list
1. Food ingredients shall be listed in descending order by mass.
2. Microorganisms used in fermentation during food production shall be classified as “fermentation strain” and “microbial starter culture”.
Ingredient content
1. The ingredient content shall be indicated if it is mentioned in the food name except for the following exemptions:
The product name (containing food ingredient) has been stipulated in national/industry/local standard.
The ingredient content has been stipulated in national/industry/local standard
The name is used only to describe a product’s sensory features like flavor and taste, such as “butter cookies”.
2. The ingredient content shall be “zero” when the wordings like “free from” “contains no” “no” and are applied on the label.
3. Food additive, contaminants and prohibited substances cannot bear indications such as “no” “free from” etc.
4. Wordings like “no addition”, or “no use of” are not applicable to all food ingredients.
Origin labeling
The imported pre-packaged food products shall indicate the country/region where it is produced (including packaged, sub-packaged or filling). Meanwhile it can also label the source or origin of the food ingredients.
Date
The production date could be rectified to facilitate label authenticity and accuracy, and requirements regarding the date of attachment and amendment prohibition are all removed.
Allergen labeling
1. Allergen indication now becomes a mandatory item on the label.
2. Enterprises can voluntarily indicate it if the allergen is likely to be brought into production accidentally, such as sharing a production workshop.
Indication of consumption group
The target consumer group cannot be indicated on the label and instruction except for:
Food requiring special administrative approval
Food whose consumption group has been stipulated in national/industry/local standards
Food proved to satisfy special nutrient demands of various groups by scientific evidence
Optional labeling
1. The dosage and usage direction of imported pre-packaged food should have corresponding Chinese.
2. The indication of product quality level now becomes an optional item. The grading indication in origin country/region is also acceptable for imported food products in China.
Annex
The format for ingredient content label (Annex C) and allergen indication (Annex E) are added.
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