On March 27, 2025, Chinese NHC released 50 new national food safety standards, including GB 25596-2025: National Food Safety Standard – General Principles for FSMP Infant Formula. The transition period for this new standard, based on previous regulations and a comprehensive evaluation of various factors, has been set at two years. It will officially come into effect on March 16, 2027.

As defined in the Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 on food enzymes, “food enzyme” means a product obtained from plants, animals or micro-organisms or products thereof including a product obtained by a fermentation process using micro-organisms “food enzyme preparation” means a formulation consisting of one or more food enzymes in which substances such as food additives and/or other food ingredients are incorporated to facilitate their storage, sale, standardisation, dilution or dissolution.

China NHC issued notifications regarding the acceptance of “three new foods”. The applications for 11 new food additives and 4 new food related materials have been received.

In day-to-day life, you’ve likely heard marketing slogans like: “Our product has a clean ingredient list – no added sucrose or preservatives, making it safe for both the elderly and children.” Businesses often use these claims to create a perfect image of their products. When consumers see labels such as “不添加蔗糖 (no sucrose added)” or “不添加食品添加剂 (no food additives)”, they subconsciously assume the product is of high quality. However, sucrose is not the only type of sugar, and food additives are not necessarily harmful.

Understanding the US FDA’s regulations and policies is vital for companies that intend to export their food materials to the US market. However, in recent years several companies have ceased their submitted GRAS Notice, and it's important to understand the reasons why.

The application of synthetic biology in food production continues to deepen. In response to this trend, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated its guidance for novel food applications, further refining requirements for products derived from synthetic biology

Recently, the newly revised Food Label Supervision and Administration Measures (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”) and the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Prepackaged Food Labels (GB 7718-2025) were officially released and will take effect simultaneously on March 16, 2027. These new regulations standardize various labeling requirements for food products and further clarify the requirements for special food labels, including health food.

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 defines feed additives as substances, micro-organisms or preparations, other than feed material and premixtures, which are intentionally added to feed or water in order to perform, in particular, one or more of the following functions: satisfy the nutritional needs of animals, favourably affect: the characteristics of feed or animal products; the colour of ornamental fish and birds; the environmental consequences of animal production; animal production; performance or welfare; or have a coccidiostatic or histomonostatic effect.

Recently, the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation have jointly issued an announcement regarding the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2025) and 50 other national food safety standards, along with nine amendments (Announcement No. 2 of 2025).

On March 25, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the National Health Commission (NHC) announced that, in accordance with the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, the 2025 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia was reviewed and approved by the 12th Pharmacopoeia Commission Executive Committee and is now officially released.