News Details
China Notifies WTO of New National Food Safety Standard for Vanillin
On 28 August 2025, The National Health Commission of the China (NHC) notifies formally the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft national food safety standard for vanillin, a widely used food additive. The notification was issued by the National Health Commission (NHC) under the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS).
The proposed standard, titled National Food Safety Standard of the P.R.C.: Food Additive Vanillin, outlines the physical and chemical specifications for vanillin, which is primarily produced through chemical synthesis. The requirements are based on sampling and testing of vanillin currently available in China’s domestic market.
The measure aims to enhance food safety and aligns with international benchmarks, specifically the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA, 2001) under the Codex Alimentarius Commission. China confirmed that the proposed regulation conforms to this international standard.
All trading partners may be affected by the change, as vanillin is a common ingredient in food processing and flavoring. The draft standard is available in Chinese and spans five pages. Interested parties are invited to submit comments within 60 days, with the deadline set for October 27, 2025.
The proposed adoption and enforcement dates are yet to be determined. Feedback can be directed 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.
We acknowledge that the above information has been compiled from World Trade Organization (WTO).
Global Product Compliance (GPC) specializes in Global Regulatory Compliance Solutions across sectors
globally. SSS Europe, a familiar name in chemical regulatory and compliance services now formally belongs
under the umbrella of GPC Holding Sweden.
Since 2008, we have emerged as one of the leading names among Global Regulatory Compliance Service
Providers with Representation services in Europe, Asia and Middle East for respective chemical
regulations.
