The harshest-ever Food Safety Regulation is finally implemented on 1 October 2015 as widespread news on the Internet. The new regulation is to reform the supervision system for food safety in China by incorporating food safety into public safety system to propel social administration. In the meanwhile, it also affects the compliance for food intended for import and export.

The 14th meeting of the 12th Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China passed the amended Food Safety Regulation upon review on 24 April 2015. Chinese President Xi Jinping signed and published the No. 21 Presidential Decree. The amended Food Safety Regulation would be implemented since 1 October 2015.

The new regulation is regarded as the harshest due to its preciseness and strictness in standards, supervision, punishments and accountability, reflected in: strengthening achievements for food safety regulation reform, emphasizing risk control for food safety, implementing the harshest supervision, intensifying control for sources of food safety, highlighting its strict regulation on special food, consolidate the social administration for food safety and conducting punishments for any illegal or incompliant act.

As for imported food, the new regulation explicitly authorises Inspection and Quarantine Department to supervise the safety of imported food by laws, specifies that imported food and food additives shall be accompanied with conformity certification in accordance with National Inspection and Quarantine departments in China. It further provides for recall requirements for imported food, greatly increases the penalty for illegal acts of imported food and also that for imported food that refuses to be recalled.

For exported food, it specifies requirements for admission of food export, raw material control and standards for related companies. Producers for exported food shall obtain production licenses in advance. Besides, processed or raw materials (edible) for exported food should come from plantations and farms and such exported food should comply with the national (regional) standards for the targeted places.

Furthermore, many national standards for food safety in China are under improvement to adapt to the new regulation. C&K Testing reminds importers and exporters to choose authoritative authorities to ensure your products comply with the latest national laws to avoid trade barriers.

【中文版】