In response to consumer complaints about difficulties finding, reading, and calculating the production dates and shelf lives of pre-packaged foods, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), in accordance with the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and relevant standards and regulations, recently issued Announcement on Encouraging Food Enterprises to Improve the Labeling of Production Dates and Shelf Lives of Pre-packaged Foods (hereinafter referred to as the Announcement) to address these concerns.

On January 19, 2024, the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) released the General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Food (Draft) (hereinafter referred to as GB 7718 draft) for public comments. Comments are welcomed before February 29, 2024. CIRS Group has compiled the key changes in the draft to help food enterprises gain a clearer understanding of the design requirements for the labeling of prepackaged food.

On January 3, 2024, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued 4 new food-related products for public comment, including 2 food contact additives and 2 food contact resins. The deadline for public comments is January 21, 2024.

On December 21, 2023, the European Commission issued Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2847 and 2023/2851, authorizing the placing on the market of apple fruit cell culture biomass and partially hydrolysed protein from spent barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rice (Oryza sativa) as a novel food. These Regulations will enter into force on January 10, 2024.

On November 30, the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) issued an announcement (No. 10 of 2023) on the approval of 9 “Three New Foods”, including three new food raw materials, two new food additives, and four food-related products.

For a long time, there has been ambiguity regarding whether capsule forms are allowed for common food. The industry generally holds the view that capsules are commonly seen in health and pharmaceutical products, yet not suitable for common food. Consequently, few capsule-type common food products have been imported into China through general trade. It is anticipated that more of these products will enter the Chinese market following this notice.

On October 7, the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) issued an announcement (No. 8 of 2023) on the approval of 15 “Three New Foods”, including four new food raw materials, six new food additives, and five food-related products.

As of the end of June 2023, the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) has issued two announcements (No. 1 of 2023, No. 3 of 2023), with a total of 42 products approved, covering 17 new food-related products (including those for expanded use).

On August 1, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) issued an announcement (No. 5 of 2023) for “Three New Foods” with eight products approved, namely two new food raw materials, three new food additives, and three food-related products.

As of June 30, 2023, four novel foods have been approved by European Union (EU) in the second quarter of 2023. These are Cellobiose; 6’-Sialyllactose sodium salt produced by derivative strains of E. coli BL21(DE3); Iron milk caseinate, and Aqueous ethanolic extract of Labisia pumila