On October 10, 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Draft Amendment to the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China for public comment. The proposed amendments introduce several notable regulatory updates for the health food sector, aimed at streamlining approvals and updating product labeling requirements.

On October 10, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation publicly solicited comments on the “Draft Amendment to the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft for Public Comment),” explicitly proposing to formally classify infant and young children complementary foods as special foods under regulatory oversight and implement strict filing requirements. This amendment addresses regulatory gaps in the oversight of infant and young children complementary foods, establishing a comprehensive safety management system covering all categories of infant and young children foods.

On October 10, 2026, China's SAMR published a draft amendment to the Food Safety Law, expanding it from 154 to 191 articles with public comments open until November 10. The major revisions enforce strict corporate accountability, introduce dedicated oversight for schools and e-commerce, mandate AI-driven remote surveillance, and establish severe personal penalties.

Navigating China’s complex dietary supplement market requires a clear regulatory strategy. Created by CIRS Group and HPA-Global, this 5-part series breaks down critical market-entry essentials: General Trade vs. CBEC, bonded warehousing, GACC facility registration, Blue Hat filings, and practical timeline/cost considerations to help international brands ensure full compliance.

On October 7, with comprehensive support from CIRS Group, Inner Mongolia Kingdomway Pharmaceutical Limited (hereinafter referred to as “Kingdomway”) officially received a “FDA Has No Questions Letter” from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its fermentation-derived brazzein (GRAS Notice No. 001305). This milestone marks the successful completion of the FDA’s review of the company’s GRAS notice for the product.

China NHC issued notifications regarding the acceptance of “three new foods”. The applications for 3 new food materials (ingredients) and 4 new food additives have been received.

On September 20, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the FAQs on Labeling Requirements for Infant and Young Children Formula Foods (the “FAQs”), providing further clarification on labeling requirements for infant and young children formula milk powder and liquid formula. The FAQs address several key labeling issues, including the indication of production dates and shelf-life expiration dates, allergen statements, milk-source and organic certification claims, label changes and filing requirements, production by other companies within the same corporate group, and the transition between old and new labels.

The EFSA Panel concluded that rebaudioside M produced via a new enzymatic process using genetically modified E. coli enzymes raises no safety concerns. Because no viable cells, DNA, or significant enzyme residues remain, and its physicochemical profile matches approved Reb M, previous toxicological safety data applies, supporting a distinct new food additive entry.

The EFSA Panel concluded that chemically synthesized cannabidiol (≥98% purity) in MCT oil is safe as a novel food supplement for adults over 25—excluding pregnant, breastfeeding, or medicated individuals—at a safe maximum intake of 2 mg per day.

Recently, China's National Health Commission (NHC) issued notifications regarding the approval and review of “Three new foods” (new food raw materials, new food additives, and new food-related products). The notifications included 10 notifications of extension notice and 6 notifications of review opinions