In recent years, the categories of foods from all over the world have been increasing, which are popular in China. Many consumers come into contact with imported prepackaged food, and the label on the package, as the carrier of product information display, plays a vital role in guiding consumers to purchase imported foods. The relevant knowledge about imported prepackaged food labels are as follows:

What is prepackaged food?

According to the National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2011), prepackaged food means food prepackaged or made up in advance with a measured quantity in package and container, including the foods prepackaged and made up in advance with a measured quantity in a package and container, and they own uniform labeling for weight or volume within a certain limit.

What is food label?

Food label means any words, pictorial, mark or other descriptive matter on the package of food.

Relevant announcements of the GACC

Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety (Order No. 249 [2021])

Article 30 The packagings, labels, and marks of import food shall comply with the laws, regulations, national food safety standards of China, and shall be accompanied by an instruction manual in Chinese if the law so requires.

Article 70 The Customs Administration, upon discovering the Chinese labels unattached to the prepackaged import food, or Chinese labels attached failing to comply with laws, regulations and Chinese national standards on food safety during relevant supervision, and the food importer refuses to destruct, return or technically treat the food according to requirements of the Customs Administration, shall give the food importer a warning or impose a fine less than RMB 10,000.

The Announcement No. 70 [2019] of the GACC put forward requirements for the inspection, supervision and management of imported prepackaged food labels.

1.Cancel the filing requirements for the label of prepackaged food imported for the first time, and the customs shall conduct inspections in accordance with relevant requirements as one of the imported food inspection items.

2.The importers replace the customs to take the responsibility of reviewing Chinese labels, and foods that do not meet requirements are not allowed to be imported.

It is recommended that importers take the initiative to ask the exporters for the original product label and relevant supporting documents before importing prepackaged foods, complete the design and production of the Chinese label in advance, and try to complete the attachment of the qualified Chinese label before the products enter China, which will help improve the efficiency of customs clearance.

What national standards are required for imported prepackaged food labels?

1.National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2011)

2.National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 28050-2011)

3.National Food Safety Standard Labeling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses (GB 13432-2013)

4.National Food Safety Standard Standard for Uses of Food Additives (GB 2760-2014)

5.National Food Safety Standard Standard for the Use of Nutritional Fortification Substances in Foods (GB 14880-2012)

6.National food safety standards for relevant products

Source: 12360 Customs Hotline

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