China’s New Food Safety Law: Building on the Foundations

After the new Food Safety Law was issued, China CFDA working with other relevant departments has devoted itself to analyzing the suitability of the current regulations, administrative measures, rules and guidance documents in aiding efficient and effective implementation of the new FSL and fostering a supportive and effective regulatory environment. A plan to formulate new and amend existing regulations etc. will see more than 30 food regulations and rules developed according to Mr. Li Weixing from CFDA during the “China Food Health Seven-Star Contention Alliance: Seminar” organized by Ecolab. So far CFDA has finished the following regulations or drafts:

Area	Regulation	status
	Implementing rules for the new FSL	the internal draft is ready and will be issued for public consultation soon
Food operation	Administration Measures for Food Operation License	effective from 1 Oct 2015
Food production	Administrative Measures for Food Production License	effective from 1 Oct 2015
On-line food	Administrative Measures for Supervision on Operation of Foods Sold on the Internet	draft
FSMP registration	Administrative Measures for Registration of Foods for Special Medical Purpose	draft
Infant formula registration	Administration Measures for Registration of Infant Formula Formulations	draft
Health food	Administrative Measures for Registration and Filing of Health Foods	draft
	Administrative Measures on Health Food Raw Material Directory and Health Function Directory	draft
	Administrative Measures on Health Food Labeling	draft
	Administrative Provisions on Nutrient Supplements	draft
	Requirements on Nutrient Supplements Dossiers	draft
Food testing/post-market surveillance	Administrative Measures for Food Safety Sampling and Inspection	Effective from 1 Feb 2015
Food recall	Administrative Measures for Food Recall	draft

The detailed work of updating regulations for imported foods will be undertaken by AQSIQ. Overseas companies should pay special attentions to the following three regulatory updates:

AQSIQ introduced the upgraded filing management system for importers and exporters which was implemented on 1 Oct 2015;
On the 13th of Oct 2015, China AQSIQ issued the draft of “Detailed Rules for Supervision and Administration on Food Imported by Bonded Mode of Cross-Border E-commerce”. If this draft regulation is passed unchanged the lax regulatory compliance enforcement of goods traded through CBEC will cease.
AQSIQ also invited public comments on the draft of Administrative Measures for Food Importers’ Examination and Verification on Overseas Enterprises, Chinese food importers will be required to examine overseas food exporters and manufacturers in terms of qualification, product compliance and food safety control system.

In addition to these amendments China’s NHFPC is also still in the process of consolidating the National Food Safety Standard System (see CL Food News on 9 Nov 2015).