The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Regulation in China?

The outbreak of novel Coronavirus at the beginning of 2020 has severely disrupted China’s regulation schedule. To minimize the spread of the disease, on Jan. 30, China NMPA announced that the onsite processing of special food, drug, medical devices, and cosmetic administrative approval are temporarily suspended (online submission of registration data is still possible) ^[1].

Special food registration will be postponed

To better control the epidemic, the State Council announced that the Spring Festival holiday was extended to Feb. 2 this year (it should have been ended on Jan. 30) ^[2]. To date, most enterprises and some authorities in China have not yet returned to the office. Under these circumstances, review and deliberation on special food registration dossiers have been halted as this requires the support of printing shops, which are also closed now. Both domestic and international onsite inspection activities have been canceled (this is also a prerequisite of registration).

The release of special food regulations may be delayed

The control of the epidemic is the top priority for the NHC. Greater emphasis will be placed on medical devices and drug supervision while the publication, finalization, or implementation of food regulation will likely be delayed.

The following special food regulations will likely be impacted:

• Administrative Measures on Registration of Infant and Young Children Milk Powder Formula Recipes

• Administrative Measures on the Registration of Food for Special Medical Purposes

• GB 10765 National Food Safety Standard Infant Formula Food

• GB 10766 National Food Safety Standard Older Infant Formula Food

• GB 10767 National Food Safety Standard Young Children Formula Food

Please click the links below for details of 2019 food legislation program:

• China Unveils 2019 Food Legislation Program

• China’s NHC Issues 2019 National Food Safety Standard Project Plan

• NHC Publishes the 2nd Batch of 2019 Food Safety National Standards Project Plan

China will expedite the import of food in rigid demand

On Feb. 3, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that the competent authorities would increase the market supply of agricultural products such as meat products through importation ^[3]. Some leading enterprises will import meat products amounting to over 100 thousand tons during the 1st quarter of 2020, which represents a significant increase compared with the same time last year. To facilitate the importation of meat, the local authorities are required to provide the "green channel" for meat import filing and Automatic Import License so as to minimize the duration for customs release ^[4].