Overview

In China, food products are regulated under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). There is a shared responsibility by state, provincial, municipal, and county-level authorities. Any new food additives, novel food ingredients, and new food contact materials that are not used/consumed in China should get National Health Commission (NHC) approval and get published before being used. For imported foods, they also need to follow the regulations set by the GACC.

Classification

Food products in China are divided into:

1. General Foods
2. Special Foods
   
   1. Health Foods
      
      1. Functional Foods (with 24 approved functions)
      2. Nutritional Supplements
   2. Food for Special Dietary Use
      
      1. Infant and Follow-up Formula
      2. Food for Special Medical Purpose (FSMP)
      3. Other Food for Special Dietary Use

Registration and Notification

Registration is required for infant and follow-up formula, FSMP, and functional food, whereas notification is required for nutrition supplements before the import.

Important Validities

The registration certificate is valid for five (05) years. Application for renewal should be submitted six (06) months before the expiry date. Otherwise, the certificate may be expired before approval of renewal.

Freyr experts can provide Regulatory services in China for any kind of food products, such as China food product registration, classification, formulation/ingredient assessment, label & claims review, technical dossier compilation, and submissions to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).