China Regulatory News

On September 25, 2025, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly announced the release of 32 new national food safety standards and 2...

On September 25, 2025, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly announced the release of 32 new national food safety standards and 2 amendment documents, under the official notice No. 6 of 2025.

Among the most significant updates is the publication of GB 2762-2025 Limits of Contaminants in Foods, which sets maximum allowable levels for a wide range of chemical contaminants in food products to strengthen consumer health protection.

Key Areas Covered by the New Standards

The newly issued standards cover diverse areas such as special medical purpose foods, food additives, food contact materials, nutritional fortifiers, microbiological testing, and toxicological evaluation.

Highlights include:

• GB 29922-2025: General Standard for Foods for Special Medical Purposes

• GB 31662-2025: Total Nutrition Formula for Cancer Patients

• GB 14881-2025: General Hygienic Practice for Food Production

• GB 17405-2025: Good Manufacturing Practice for Health Foods

• GB 4806.10-2025 & GB 4806.16-2025: Food Contact Coatings and Silicone Rubber Materials

• GB 4789.9-2025 & GB 4789.12-2025: Microbiological Testing for Campylobacter and Clostridium botulinum

• GB 15193.30-2025: Neurodevelopmental Toxicity Test

Amendments and Access to Standards

Two existing standards: GB 19301-2010 (Raw Milk) and GB 25190-2010 (Sterilized Milk) were also updated through new amendment documents.

All standards were reviewed and approved by the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee under the framework of China’s Food Safety Law.

The full standard texts of the standards are available for public access and download on the official National Food Safety Standards Data Search Platform here. 

On 30 September 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment  (MEE) Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Technology Center, together with China Environmental Publishing Group, announces tha...

On 30 September 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment  (MEE) Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Technology Center, together with China Environmental Publishing Group, announces that the first training session on standardized hazardous waste management will be held in Nanjing from 12 to 14 November 2025.

Focus on Strengthening Compliance and Policy Implementation

The training aims to strengthen the implementation of China’s Solid Waste Pollution Prevention and Control Law and related policies, while improving the compliance level of hazardous waste generators and disposal units.

Topics will include the latest updates on hazardous waste management policies, classification and identification, transfer and reporting, exemption policies, and technologies for waste utilization and treatment.

Integration of Chemical and Waste Management

This initiative reflects China’s ongoing efforts to integrate chemical and waste lifecycle management within the MEE’s broader environmental risk control framework. The event is organized by the same technical center responsible for new chemical substance registration under MEE Order No. 12, highlighting the connection between chemical management and hazardous waste governance.

Participants will include chemical and pharmaceutical enterprises as well as local environmental authorities, making this a valuable platform to understand current compliance expectations and explore potential collaboration opportunities within China’s regulatory landscape.

From September 8-12 2025, the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) was held in Beijing. During this session, the draft amendment to China’s Food ...

From September 8-12 2025, the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) was held in Beijing. During this session, the draft amendment to China’s Food Safety Law was submitted for its second review.

Food safety remains a critical concern for public health. Four years after the previous revision, the law is being updated to address new challenges arising from the rapid development of the food industry. This round of amendments adopts a targeted “small-scale” approach, focusing on urgent issues such as the regulation of road transport for key bulk liquid foods and stricter penalties for violations.

Key Provisions in the Draft

The second draft introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism for the key bulk liquid foods catalogue, allowing authorities to update it as needed. It also strengthens legal responsibilities for:

• Forging, altering, or using falsified transport records and cleaning certificates for transport containers.

• Failing to fulfill inspection and verification duties related to bulk liquid food road transport.

The draft clarifies that China will implement a licensing system for road transport of key bulk liquid foods. It specifies the obligations of senders, receivers, and transport operators. Road transport operators without proper transport permits will face legal consequences, while stricter penalties apply to those who do not comply with transport standards or falsify documentation.

Focus on Food Safety and Accountability

Officials said the amendments aim to improve traceability, enhance supervision, and protect consumer health by targeting high-risk areas in food transport.

On September 8, 2025, the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) conducted the second reading of the draft Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law. The revised d...

On September 8, 2025, the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) conducted the second reading of the draft Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law. The revised draft clarifies that China will establish and improve a national management system for hazardous chemicals catalogues.

According to the draft, the catalogue of hazardous chemicals will be determined and published by the Emergency Management Department of the State Council  together with other relevant ministries. These include the ministries responsible for industry and information technology, public security, ecology and environment, transport, agriculture, health, customs, market regulation, railways, and civil aviation. The catalogue will be based on established standards for the identification and classification of chemical hazards and will be updated when necessary.

Whistleblower Protections and Incentives

The second draft also enhances provisions for public reporting and accountability mechanisms. It affirms that any organization or individual has the right to report violations or hidden safety risks related to hazardous chemicals to the competent authorities. Local governments at county level or above are required to reward those who make significant contributions in reporting and to keep whistleblower information strictly confidential.

Road Transport Safety Requirements

New requirements for the transport of hazardous chemicals are also included in the draft:

• Vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals must not obscure or remove warning signs.

• Vehicles must be equipped with satellite positioning and monitoring systems that meet national and industry standards, and these devices must remain functional without tampering or signal shielding.

• Drivers must strictly comply with road traffic safety laws, with limits set on night driving: no more than two consecutive hours without a break, and each rest stop must last at least 20 minutes.

Strengthening Oversight and Accountability

The second draft underscores China’s commitment to strengthening oversight of hazardous chemicals, with an emphasis on preventing transport-related risks and reinforcing the accountability system.

On August 28, 2025, China’s national standardization authorities officially published the 18th batch of national standards for 2025. Among them are several standards directly relevant to chemic...

On August 28, 2025, China’s national standardization authorities officially published the 18th batch of national standards for 2025. Among them are several standards directly relevant to chemical management, fire suppression chemicals, and hazardous substance restrictions. The full texts of these standards are now accessible through the national standards system.

Fire Suppression Chemicals

Key standards introduced for fire protection and suppression include:

• Foam Extinguishing Agents (GB 15308-2025)
• Dry Powder Fire Suppression Systems and Components (GB 16668-2025)
• Hexafluoropropane Fire Extinguishing Agent (GB 45944-2025)
• Remote-Controlled Fire Monitor Systems – General Technical Conditions (GB 19157-2025)

These standards define chemical composition, performance requirements, and safe use, providing guidance for the production and application of fire suppression systems.

Grain Storage and Other Chemical Agents

• Standards for Management and Use of Grain Storage Chemical Agents (GB 46032-2025)

This standard specifies requirements for safe management, usage methods, and protective measures when applying chemicals in grain storage.

Hazardous Substance Limits in Materials and Products

Two new standards set limits on hazardous substances in products and materials:

• Limit Values for Leachable Hazardous Metals in Wall Materials (GB 46040-2025)
• Requirements for Restricted Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (GB 26572-2025)

These standards set limits on hazardous chemicals to ensure products comply with environmental and safety regulations.

Strengthening Chemical and Environmental Safety

The release of these updates reflect China’s ongoing efforts to strengthen chemical safety, environmental protection, and hazardous substance control in both industrial and consumer sectors.

On 28 August 2025, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) formally notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft national food safety standard for vanillin, a ...

On 28 August 2025, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) formally notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft national food safety standard for vanillin, a widely used food additive. The notification was issued  under the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS).

Draft Standard Overview

The proposed standard, titled National Food Safety Standard of the P.R.C.: Food Additive Vanillin, specifies the physical and chemical requirements for vanillin, which is primarily produced through chemical synthesis.

The requirements are based on sampling and testing of vanillin products currently available on China’s domestic market.

The measure aims to enhance food safety and align with international benchmarks, particularly those established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA, 2001) under the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

China confirmed that the proposed regulation is consistent with this international standard.

Consultation and Next Steps

As vanillin is a commonly used ingredient in food processing and flavoring, the measire may affect a wide range of trading partners.

The draft standard, available in Chinese, spans five pages. Interested parties are invited to submit comments within 60 days, with the deadline set for 27 October 2025.

The proposed adoption and enforcement dates are yet to be determined. Feedback can be submitted to the WTO/SPS National Notification and Enquiry Center of China via telephone at +86 10 5795 4645/4642 or by email at sps@customs.gov.cn.

On August 20, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) announced an extension of the deadline for submitting applications to postpone the public disclosure of chemical substance identificat...

On August 20, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) announced an extension of the deadline for submitting applications to postpone the public disclosure of chemical substance identification information.

According to the Regulations on the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order No. 12) and the associated Guidelines for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances, chemical substances that obtained an environmental management registration certificate before December 31, 2020, as well as substances listed in the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC) prior to the enactment of the Regulations, will continue to have their identification information protected until 31 December 2025.

Extension of the Application Period

Holders of registration certificates may apply to extend the confidentiality period for up to five years. Applications must be submitted at least six months before the expiry of the current protection period, and must include a written justification for the requested extension.

The MEE has now extended the acceptance period for such applications to 15 September 2025. Certificate holders who wish to apply should prepare the necessary supporting documents and submit them through the online registration system for new chemical substances.

For inquiries, the Ministry can be reached at 010-84665463 / 84636376.