China Updates Good Manufacturing Practice for Health Food After 27 Years

On September 25, 2025, China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly released the new national food safety standard, GB 17405-2025 Good Manufacturing Practice for Health Food. This standard, set to be implemented on September 2, 2026, marks the first revision of the foundational GMP regulation (GB 17405-1998) since its initial release.

The update signifies a major shift in the regulatory oversight of health food manufacturing, moving from a baseline hygiene framework to a comprehensive, risk-based food safety management system. Key changes include the introduction of mandatory process validation, stricter environmental controls, enhanced raw material management, and alignment with general food safety standards like GB 14881. The one-year transition period provides manufacturers time to adapt their facilities, processes, and documentation to meet the new requirements. Here are the most significant changes industry professionals should be aware of.