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On March 12, 2024, China's National Health Commission (NHC) published a batch of new Food Safety National Standards, including the GB 4806.15-2024 for adhesives used in food-contact materials and articles (“Adhesives Standard”). The authority spent almost 10 years to develop this new standard since it was included in the 2014 Plan for Food Safety National Standards. The Adhesives Standard will become effective on February 8, 2025.

On January 3, 2024, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on four food-contact materials and articles: two new additives and two new resins. Comments are due by January 21, 2024.

New Food-Contact Additives

On December 11, 2023, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) published a draft amendment of GB 4806.10 on food-contact coatings and coating layers (Draft Amendment), along with other draft standards for various food, food additives, other food-contact materials, and testing methods. 

On December 1, 2023, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) approved one new food-contact additive, one new resin, and expanded usage for two food-contact materials. The substances and specifications are listed below.

Expanded Usage for Food-Contact Materials

On November 3, 2023, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on one resin. The resin is Undecanoic acid, 11-amino-, homopolymer (CAS No. 25587-80-8), which is to be cleared for use in plastics. The specific migration level (SML) is 5 mg/kg for 11-amino undecanoic acid and the maximum use level is the necessary dosage. Plastic materials and articles containing this substance may not contact food with an alcohol content above 50%. In addition, the use temperature may not exceed 100°C. The time period for contacting food may not exceed one hour.

On September 25, 2023, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) published 85 National Food Safety Standards for food, food additives, food-related products, and various testing methods. Below is a brief summary of the key food-contact standards, including one of migration testing.

On October 7, 2023, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) approved expanded usage for three food-contact materials and two new resins. The substances and specifications are listed below.

Expanded Usage Food-Contact Materials

On August 1, 2023, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) approved expanded usage for two food-contact materials and one new resin. The substances and specifications are listed below.

Expanded Usage Food-Contact Materials

On June 28, 2023, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on four food-contact materials and articles: two are for expanded use, one is a new additive, and one is a new resin. Comments are due by July 24, 2023. 

Food-Contact Additives with Expanded Use

On April 19, 2023, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) published on its website a draft amendment to the GB 4806.1 National Food Safety Standard on the General Safety Requirements for Food-Contact Materials and Articles (Draft Standard). This is the first proposed amendment to the GB 4806.1-2016 Standard, which took effect in 2017. Once finalized, the updated GB 4806.1 Standard will impact industry compliance with China’s food-contact material (FCM) regulations.