NHC unveils the legislation plan for food safety related standards

The National Health Commission of China (NHC) published notifications for 2023 food safety related national standards legislation plan and 2024 food safety related national standards legislation suggestion. 

The 2023 national standards legislation plan contains the following 9 sections of different food safety areas. 

• 12 food addictive national standards 

The standards regarding Sodium L-malate, Vanillol and Sanzan Gum will be made for the first time. The standards regarding Tomato Red, Capsicum Red, Pectin, Vitamin B2, Lauric Acid, General Rules for Food Additive Labeling, L-Alanine, Erythritol, L-Cysteine Hydrochloride will be modified based on the current versions.

• 1 food related products standard

The addictive for food contact materials standards (GB 9685-2016) will be modified.

• 3 pollutants standards 

The following 3 pollutants standards will be modified: Limits of Heavy Metals in Dried Meat Products, Limits of Heavy Metals in Dried Aquatic Products, Limits of Contaminants and Mycotoxins in Liquid Special Medical Foods. 

• 11 physical testing methods 

The physical testing methods of Determination of trans fatty acids in food for infants and young children and dairy products (GB 5413.36-2010), Determination of Amino Acids in Food (GB 5009.124-2016), Determination of Indicative PCB Content in Food (GB 5009.190-2014), Determination of perfluoroalkyl compounds in food (GB 5009.253-2016) will be modified based on current standards. The physical testing standards of Food contact materials and articles Determination of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and determination of migration, Food contact materials and articles - Determination of migration of citrate and sebacate compounds, Food contact materials and products - Determination of migration of bisphenol A-diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F-diglycidyl ether and their hydroxyl and chlorinated derivatives and etc. 7 standards will be made. 

• 5 micro-biology testing methods 

Food microbiological examination - Examination of diarrhea-causing Escherichia coli (GB 4789.6-2016), Bacteria inspection for food, Bifidobacteria inspection and etc 5 micro-biology testing methods will be made or modified. 

• 1 toxicological testing methods

The toxicological testing methods of Pig-a Gene Mutation Test in Peripheral Blood of Rats in Vivo will be made in 2023. 

• Food product standards

The standards of Vegetable oil (GB 2716-2018) will be modified. 

• 2 special dietary food standards

The standards of Gastrointestinal malabsorption, pancreatitis full nutritional formula food and Foods for special diets for people with gluten intolerance will be made. 

• 3 standards for food nutrition fortifiers 

The standards of Food nutrition enhancer casein phosphopeptide (GB 31617-2014), Food nutrition enhancer carbonyl iron powder (GB 29212-2012), and Food nutrition enhancer inositol (cyclohexyl alcohol) (GB 1903.42-2020) will be modified. 

For more information, please contact GPC via compliance@gpcregulatory.cn or zhengmin@cn.gpcregulatory.com.