According to the Food Safety Law and the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Quantitative Packaged Commodity Measurement, and with reference to previous food label management experience, "prepackaged foods" is defined as: foods 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. Prepackaged foods should be prepackaged in advance first, and there should be uniform labeling for weight or volume on the package.

Labeling of imported prepackaged foods

The labels for imported prepackaged foods can be used in both Chinese and foreign languages, as well as traditional Chinese characters. All mandatory labelling contents in the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2011) should be marked, and the recommended contents can be marked optionally. When both Chinese and foreign languages are used for imported prepackaged foods, the foreign language should correspond with the contents of mandatory Chinese labeling and optional labeling, that is, the meanings of the Chinese and foreign languages should be basically the same, and the font size of foreign language should not be larger than that of corresponding Chinese character. For imported food with special package shape, the font height in Chinese should not be less than that of the corresponding content in foreign language on the same display panel.

In the case that Chinese labels are affixed to the original package of imported prepackaged foods, the Chinese labels should be marked in accordance with the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2011); the graphics and symbols of the original labels in foreign language should not violate the requirements of the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2011) and relevant laws and regulations.

The contents of the ingredients list in foreign languages of imported prepackaged foods should have their corresponding contents in the Chinese ingredients list. For the contents which are not marked in the ingredients list in foreign languages of the original product, but should be marked according to Chinese laws, regulations and standards, they should also be marked in the Chinese ingredients list (including water and single raw materials added in the food production and processing process).

For imported prepackaged food, the country or region of origin, and the name and address of the agent, importer or distributor registered in the People's Republic of China, shall be declared, but the name, address and contact way of the manufacturer need not be declared. The name and address of the manufacturer in foreign language do not need to be translated into Chinese.

The name of the country or region of origin of imported prepackage food refers to the name of the country or region where the food becomes the final product, including the name of the packing (or filling) country or region. The Chinese labels for imported prepackaged foods should truthfully and accurately indicate the name of the country or region of origin.

Imported prepackaged foods may be exempted from marking relevant product standard codes and quality grades. If the product standard code and quality grade are marked, they should be true and accurate.

How to mark imported prepackaged food without production date

The production date should be faithfully marked according to the expiry date and best before date by means of affixing and reprinting.

Special requirements for labelling of imported prepackaged foods

The Chinese registration number or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the country/region should be marked on the inside and outside packages of imported food.

For an imported cold fresh meat product, its inner and outer packaging shall bear a secure, clear, and legible written identification in both Chinese and English, or in Chinese and the language of the export country (region), indicating the following: country or region of origin, name of the product, registration number of the production enterprise, and production lot number; and the outer packaging shall bear the specifications, place of origin (specific to state, province, or city), place of destination, production date, shelf life, storage temperature, and other information in Chinese, and must indicate that the place of destination is the People's Republic of China, and carry the official inspection and quarantine mark of the export country (region).

For an imported aquatic product, its inner and outer packaging shall bear a secure, clear, and legible written identification in both Chinese and English, or in Chinese and the language of the export country (region), indicating the following: name of the goods and scientific name, specifications, production date, lot number, shelf life, and storage conditions, production method (seawater fishing, freshwater fishing, or aquaculture), production area (sea area in the case of ocean fishing, country (region) in the case of freshwater fishing, or country (region) where the aquaculture product originates), the name, registration number, and address (specific to state, province, or city) of each production or processing enterprise involved (including a fishing vessel, processing vessel, transport vessel, or an independent cold store), and the place of destination must be indicated as the People's Republic of China.

The label of an imported dietary supplement or food for special dietary use in Chinese must be printed on the smallest sales package, and shall not be affixed thereto.

Source: Shanghai 12360 Customs Hotline

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