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What are the Requirements for Additives Used in Packaging in China?

There is an article on PackagingLaw.com about China publishing a positive list of approved substances for use in food packaging. Is there an FDA...

What are the "Made in USA" Labeling Requirements for a Product Manufactered in U.S. and China?

Our product has two components; one is made in China and the other is made in the U.S. We realize that we have to disclose China, so can we...

When Should Products be Labeled "Made in USA or China"?

We have vacuum accessory products that we sometimes make here in the states, and sometimes we purchase in China. Can we mark the package "Made in...

China notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on May 22, 2015, concerning its draft Standard on the General safety requirements for food contact materials and articles, which was developed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC). Comments on the Standard are due by July 21, 2015.

On April 25, 2015, China's amended Food Safety Law (FSL) passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The amended law, which some are calling the most stringent food safety law ever passed in China, will enter into force on October 1, 2015. The official version of the law is available in Chinese here.

Comments of China's draft amendment to the Hygienic Standards for Uses of Additives in Food Containers and Packaging Materials (GB 9685-2008) are due by March 15, 2015. The draft amendment, published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) on January 20, 2015, incorporates key revisions to the Standard, such as removing the following use scopes for listed additives: glass, metal, ceramics, and enamel.

China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) recently issued several new and expanded clearances for food-contact materials in China. Specifically, NHFCP's Announcement No. 8 (2013) approved four new additives and one new resin for use in food packaging, and expanded clearances for three other additives for food packaging. The chemical substances referenced in the Announcement are listed below.

 

 

The Legislative Affairs Office of China's State Council published on October 29, 2013, draft revisions to Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (Draft) and requested comments on the draft proposal by November 29, 2013. Overall, the draft reflects a trend in strengthening the regulation of food and food-related products (e.g., food additives and food packaging materials) in China and incorporates new provisions that are now contained in various food regulations.

China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), formerly known as the Ministry of Health (MOH), has issued the final approvals for food packaging materials petitioned under the country's "clean-up" procedures. The "clean-up" procedures allowed manufacturers of unapproved food packaging materials to file petitions prior to June 1, 2010, seeking an appropriate clearance.

The Chinese government approved a restructuring plan on March 14, 2013, which will result in extensive changes to China's regulatory agencies responsible for food and food packaging. A goal of the restructuring plan is to streamline food regulatory matters.