On March 14, 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation released the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labeling (hereinafter referred to as the "new Measures"), which will come into effect on March 16, 2027, and will be implemented concurrently with the newly revised GB 7718-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods. To help enterprises better understand the changes in the new Measures, Antion interpreted the main content of this regulation for reference.
PART. 1 Refined the requirements for production date and shelf life
(1) The new Measures stipulated that the production date and the expiration date of shelf life should be specifically marked in an independent area on the package, and the marked specific date should not be easily detached. If an independent area is not set up, the words "See a certain part of the package" should be marked on the principal display panel.
(2) The new Measures stipulated that the production date and the expiration date of shelf life should be marked in a form with a distinct contrast, such as white background and black characters, and the font height should not be less than 3.0 mm. When the maximum surface area is less than or equal to 35 cm2^, the font height should not be less than 2.0 mm.
PART. 2 Optimized the requirements for the labeling of font size
The new Measures required that mandatory labeling items on label of prepackaged food should be marked with words, symbols, numbers and patterns that contrast significantly with the background color. The mandatory labeling items on the label should use characters with a height of not less than 1.8 mm, and the ratio of the height to the width of the font should not be greater than 3. When the maximum surface area of the package is greater than 150 cm2^ and 400 cm2^, the font height should be not less than 2.0 mm and 2.5 mm respectively.
PART. 3 Refined the content prohibited from being marked on food label
The new Measures stipulated that false descriptions shall not be made in a deceptive, misleading or exaggerated manner. Content that violates scientific common sense, public order and good customs, or promotes feudal superstition is prohibited. Additionally, it is not allowed to mark products as "specially supplied", "exclusively provided" or "internally supplied" for the Party and government organs or the military. This further regulated the illegal labeling behavior in the market to seek improper economic benefits.
PART. 4 Clarified Requirements for Food Names
The new Measures clearly stated that for foods named after raw materials of animal origin, the raw material reflected in the name must be the main raw material. If only one raw material is reflected, only this raw material should be used. If multiple raw materials are reflected, they should be arranged in descending order of the amount added; For foods of plant origin that simulate that of animal origin, the food name should be marked with words such as "imitation/ vegetarian/ a certain plant"; For flavored foods prepared only with flavorings and spices, words like "XX taste" or "XX flavor" should be marked in the name.
PART. 5 Clarified the definition of production date
The new Measures specified in details that "for single-layer package, it is the date when the packaging process is completed; for multi-layer package, it is the date when the packaging process in direct contact with the food is completed. If processes such as sterilization or fermentation are still required after packaging, it is the date when the corresponding process is completed". This provision helps enterprises correctly mark the production date and avoids confusion in the labeling of the production date.
PART. 6 Special requirements for label of special food stipulated in a separate chapter
The new Measures set up a separate chapter for the requirements for label of special food such as infant and young children formula food, health food and food for special medical purpose. It stipulates a series of detailed requirements for the main labeling content, warning statement, font size, position, claims, etc. of the labels of these three major categories of special foods. At the same time, it is clearly stated nutrient supplements should also be marked with the words "nutrient supplement".
PART. 7 Emphasized the main responsibilities of food manufacturers and operators
The new Measures clearly stated that food manufacturers and operators shall be responsible for the authenticity, accuracy and legality of the food labels they provide, and specified a specific department or personnel to review food label. If the label is presented through information-based means such as a QR code, the content shall be consistent with that shown on the food package.
PART. 8 Clarified the labeling requirements for online food sales
The new Measures stipulated that for prepackaged foods sold online, except for dynamically changing content such as the production date and the expiration date of shelf life, the food label information published on the main sales page should be consistent with that of the actually sold food. The third-party providers of online food trading platforms should strengthen the inspection and monitoring of the labeling information of foods sold online, handle illegal food labeling information in accordance with laws, and keep relevant records.
PART. 9 Optimized penalty provisions for violations of food label
The new Measures stipulated that in cases of marking false production date and shelf-life, forging or falsely using manufacturers' relevant information, and forging, falsely using, or altering the registration or filing No. of special food, penalties shall be imposed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. For other violations of the Measures, depending on the severity of the illegal acts, from least to most severe, penalties such as ordering rectification, imposing fines ranging from 5,000 Yuan to 30,000 Yuan, 10,000 Yuan to 50,000 Yuan, or five to ten times the value of the goods, ordering suspension of production and business operations and revoking licenses shall be given, respectively.
PART. 10 Summary
The Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labeling has been officially released, and enterprises will be given a two-year transition period. The implementation of the new Measures will effectively improve the standardization of food label, strengthen the supervision and administration of food labeling, and contribute to the construction of a safer and more transparent food market environment.
Through the interpretation of the above new Measures, Antion hopes to help food enterprises and relevant industry personnel better understand the changing trends of regulations and standards as well as the supervision trends, providing a reference for future work. At the same time, Antion can provide consulting services such as standard and regulation consultation and food label review. If you have any question, please feel free to contact us at 010-51301566.
Source: Antion
Note: This article is compiled by Antion. Please indicate the source for reprint.