ZMUni Compliance Centre

On March 27, 2025, China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly issued Announcement No. 2 of 2025, introducing 50 new national food safety standards and nine amendments. Among them, two key standards focus on food labeling: GB 7718-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Food and GB 28050-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods.

A day earlier, on March 26, 2025, SAMR officially released the Administrative Measures for Supervision of Food Labeling, further strengthening regulatory oversight. All three regulation and food standards are set to take effect on March 16, 2027.

The Administrative Measures for Supervision of Food Labeling introduce eight key provisions to enhance labeling clarity and compliance:

1．Easier Date Identification: Food packaging must feature a dedicated area on the main display panel for production dates, shelf life, and expiration dates.

2．Improved Readability: Labels must use high-contrast colors (e.g., black text on a white background) and larger font sizes based on packaging size.

3．Standardized Date Formats: Expiration dates must be labeled in YYYY/MM/DD format for easy understanding.

4．Enhanced Labeling Standards: Mandatory labeling elements must be clear, prominently displayed, and visually distinct from the background.

5．Prohibited Claims: Labels cannot include medical claims, misleading descriptions, exaggerated claims, or terms like "exclusive supply"for government or military use.

6．Increased Producer Responsibility: Food businesses must ensure label accuracy, legality, and consistency with digital information (e.g., QR codes).

7．Stricter Online Sales Labeling: Prepackaged foods sold online must display key label information, with e-commerce platforms responsible for compliance oversight.

8．Stronger Enforcement: Violations will result in fines and mandatory corrections, in alignment with China's Food Safety Law.

The Administrative Measures for Supervision of Food Labeling and GB 7718-2025 National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Food work in cordination with each other to effectively manage food labeling in China.