State Administration for Market Regulation Earmarks Key Reform Goals

China will optimize market access requirements for its food sector and prioritize compliance and safety review of special foods (infant formula, health foods, FSMP) including an assessment and overhaul of the current approval system. A chief goal is to further safeguard consumer rights with a focus on senescent demographics, infants, young children and students in secondary level education. In 2018 China will strengthen supervision on wine quality and safety, and carry out nationwide administrative and supervisory reforms.

On Apr. 28, 2018, State Administration for Market Regulation revealed key outcomes drawn from data sourced from a Q1 2018 national food sector market investigation. Key outcomes include the underscoring of the importance of food and drug safety in China. In the future, China will strengthen supervision on some key areas and attach greater importance to protection of consumer rights.

In regards to special foods specifically infant formula during the 1^st quarter of 2018, 186 infant formula registration applications from 37 manufacturers were newly accepted, and up to now 1138 product formula from 148 manufacturers have been granted approval since the implementation of the infant formula registration policy (check all in our Flist). In terms of infant formula supervision, China has undertaken systematic inspection of 106 batches of infant formula from 96 infant formula manufacturers. The overall qualification rate of food and beverage products was slightly higher compared to last year. In March the State Council issued the 2018 legislation plan, which included the Implementation Rules of the Food Safety Law.

In 2018 strengthening supervision on key areas is still one of the focuses of the State Administration for Market Regulation. Regarding food manufacture it will develop the following 5 special campaigns:

1. Crack down on health food fraud and false advertising, urge enterprises to setup a product traceability system.

2. Develop special inspection on plasticizer in edible vegetable oil across China, focusing on food contact equipment/materials such as production line, bottling line and package materials.

3. Strengthen supervision on wine quality and safety.

4. Develop special reforms targeting imported food in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia

5. Coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to carry out liquid milk and reconstituted milk inspection work.