ARCHIVES NO. 854 / XNK-NS: CHINA AMENDING THE REGULATIONS ON SUPERVISING THE LABELING OF PACKAGED FOODS

On August 29, 2019, the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) sent Document No. 854 / XNK-NS to Associations of Industries and Enterprises that export agricultural, aquatic and food products to China, to Inform that China amended the regulations on management and supervision of the labeling of prepackaged food packaging products for import and export, starting to apply from October 1, 2019. The main content is as follows:

1 . From October 1, 2019, registration records are not required to save for packaging labels of prepackaged foods imported to China of the first time. The inspection of label of imported prepackaged food is one of the contents of the inspection and testing to food, the Chinese customs authorities will comply with the relevant laws on testing of Imported and exported goods and food safety and hygiene to conduct testing in accordance with the law.

2. Importing businesses have to respond for ensuring that Chinese-language labels on pre-packed packages of food imported into China comply with relevant Chinese laws, fit administrative regulations, and national food safety standards requirements. If the verification does not meet the standard, be not imported.

3. Pre-packed foods will be subject to probabilistic inspected sampling in the field or in the laboratory, imported enterprises need to provide documents proving that the goods meet import conditions; original documents, and translation of Chinese labeling, the sample of Chinese labeling and other proofs for customs officers.

4. Upon receipt of notice from the relevant authority, the consumer complaint application that the prepackaged food is suspected of violating the regulation, the customs authority will conduct verification, upon confirmation of the violation will be handled according to regulations.

5. Pre-packed foods imported into China for the display of exhibitions, sample goods, duty-free business goods (except for tax-free cases in accordance with the law), food for diplomatic missions, portable goods travel, parcels, and cross-border e-commerce. . . Based on current regulations.

6. Exporters of prepackaged foods should ensure that their prepackaged labels of exported foods meet standards of imported national or territories or requirements of commercial contracts.

7. From October 1, 2019, the following notices are annulled:

(i) Notice No. 44/2006 of the China National Administration of Quality Supervision and Control (AQSIQ) adjusting the inspection and verification regime labeling of exported, imported cosmetics and foodstuffs;

(ii) Notice No. 59/2011 of AQSIQ on the operation of the management system of labeling of imported prepackaged foods;

(iii) Notice No. 27/2012 of AQSIQ on the implementation of the regulations on management, monitoring, testing labeling of imported, export prepackaged foods. The registered documents for previous will be canceled at the same time.

Import-Export Department would like to inform to related organizations and individuals to have a plan to actively coordinate with Chinese imported enterprises in order to meet the above-mentioned regulations of your side in the clearance process to avoid affecting the export progress.

Please contact Mr.Long: +84 902620898 for further information.