To accurately address the common questions frequently encountered in the acceptance of special foods and related administrative licenses, and to effectively improve applicants’ efficiency and experience, the Food Review Center of the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the “Summary of Common Issues on the Acceptance Work” on October 28, 2025.

Pursuant to the Announcement (No.38, 2023) jointly issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation, National Health Commission, and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine regarding the Directory of Health Functions Permitted for Health Food Claims for Non-Nutrient Supplements (2023 Edition) (hereinafter referred to as “the Claims”), all registered non-nutrient supplement health foods will be regulated in accordance with the Administrative Measures for the Catalog of Health Food Ingredients and Health Functions and the Claims for five years from the date of this announcement.

FAQs on the Replacement of Health Food Registration Certificate in China (Vol. 4)

FAQs on the Replacement of Health Food Registration Certificate in China (Vol. 3)

FAQs on the Replacement of Health Food Registration Certificate in China (Vol. 2)

According to data from the SAMR's Special Food Query Platform, five imported health food products secured registration approvals in the summer of 2025. This marks the first such approvals granted in seven years.

In order to help enterprises better understand the filing status of health food (dietary supplements) in China, CIRS has gathered statistics on health foods approved in 2025 (as of June 30) and analyzed them from multiple perspectives.

Chinese health food (dietary supplement) industry is undergoing a transitional phase, characterized by stricter product approval and stronger regulatory supervision. According to the information released by the Center for Food Evaluation, State Administration for Market Regulation and the Special Food Information Query Platform, in the first half of 2025, the SAMR issued a total of 858 health food registration approvals, 116 of which are new health food products.

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.

According to the information released by the Center for Food Evaluation, State Administration for Market Regulation and the Special Food Information Query Platform, in 2024, State Administration for Market Regulation issued a total of 1390 health food (dietary supplement) registration approvals, 346 of which are new health food products.