China Notifies WTO of New National Food Safety Standard for Vanillin

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.