4. Labeling Requirements

General Foods
China

This section provides information on labeling requirements and the label approval process.

4.1 Mandatory Labeling Parameters

According to GB 7718-2011 Food Safety National Standard - Pre-packaged food labeling General rules [1] and “Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" [2], the General Foods label requirements are listed below:

Mandatory content:

1. Name of the food
2. List of ingredients
3. Quantitative labeling of the ingredients
4. Net Weight and Configuration
5. Name, address, and contact information of the manufacturer and distributor
6. Manufacturing Data (year/month/day) (drinks with an alcohol content greater than or equal to 10% are exempt from the shelf-life label)
7. Storage conditions 
8. For import food: GACC Overseas Manufacturers Registration Code
9. Product Implementation Standard (import food is exempt)
10. Other mandatory labeling information (irradiated food, GMO label, nutrition label, product grade, product sub-category, etc.）

Recommended/voluntary content:

1. Batch numbers
2. Instructions for use
3. Allergen:
   1. Grain and its products containing gluten protein (for example: wheat, rye, barley, spelt, or their crossbreeding products)
   2. Crustacean animal and its products (for example: shrimp, lobster, crab, and so on)
   3. Fish and its products
   4. Egg and its products 
   5. Peanut and its products
   6. Soybean and its products
   7. Milk and dairy products (including lactose)
   8. Nut and its products
4. Other information (if any)

4.2 Languages

According to GB 7718-2011 Food Safety National Standard - Pre-packaged food labeling General rules [1], the product label shall be in Chinese, and the height of the font, symbols, and numbers for mandatory content must not be less than 1.8 mm.

Foreign languages can be used at the same time, but there should be a corresponding relationship with Chinese (except for trademarks, the manufacturer and address of imported food, the name and address of foreign distributors, and the website). All foreign languages must not be larger than the corresponding Chinese characters (except trademarks).

4.3 Mandatory Information on Stickers

Stickers are permitted to be used on the label of general foods. It is recommended that the ingredients and nutrition labels be covered by the stickers.

Please refer to Section 4.1 - Mandatory Labeling Parameters - above. 

4.4 Product Legal Name

N/A

4.5 Product-specific Labeling Statements

N/A

4.6 Authority Approval

General Foods label does not need to be pre-approved by the authority. It is the responsibility of the business operator to make sure the label complies with the relevant Chinese regulations and standards.

4.7 Additional Notes on Labeling

N/A

4.8 References

1. GB 7718-2011 Food Safety National standard - Pre-packaged food labeling General rules

PDF attached below

2. Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food

http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/zcfg18/bmgz91/3979122/index.html