The Construction Progress of Food-Related Product Standard System in China

Since the concern for FCM (Food Contact Material) occurred late in China, and had not been attached enough attention in a long time, most related standards are likely to be too old in some cases. Some food-related products are not even corresponding with any existing standard. All these cause the frustrations in FCM operation and supervision.

Alone with the living standard improving, food-related product are attached more and more attention. Currently, with the new Food Safety Law promulgated, the attention to food-related products reached a new height. The food-related products standard system is being established energetically and a series of safety standards are being drafted, reviewed or programmed.

By the end of July 2015, the NHFPC (National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China) had released 16 national food safety standards (draft version), regarding food-related products, which include 3 horizontal standards, 4 commodity standards and 8 testing method standards. (See the following chart)

Although the released drafts mentioned above have no legal force yet, they are filed in WTO, and not expected to change generally. So, these draft standards have great reference value.

Besides the above standards, other 10 such as Disinfectors, Plastic and Plastic Articles, Resins for Plastic, paper product, coating and General Hygienic Standard for the Production of Food Contact Material and Articles etc. are in drafting too, and will be released in the near future.

To understand the construction progress of food-related standard system, let us take a look at the procedure of Chinese legislation process. There are 7-step procedures in detail below:

Ⅰ.Programming

The National Health and Family Planning Commission will release a call for proposals that any organization or individual may answer.

Ⅱ. Planning

After consulting to National Committee for Food Safety Standards and circulating a draft plan on-line for comments. National Health and Family Planning Commission publishes the annual plan.

Ⅲ. Drafting

Capable organizations are chose to develop the specific National Food Safety Standards and to prepare draft.

IV. Commenting

The draft is published for comments by mail and on-line massage. The World Trade Organization notification is filed at the same time. The comments are collected and studied by the drafting organization, and the draft is to be modified.

V. Reviewing

The National Committee for Food Safety Standards reviews the drafts.

VI. Approving and Proclaiming

The National Health and Family Planning Commission approve the standard and release the standards on-line as a proclamation.

VII. Amending

The (NHFPC) National Health and Family Planning Commission organize the National Committee for Food Safety Standards and other agencies and organizations conduct follow-up studies and examinations on the implemented provisions. Amendments to existing National Food Safety Standards are published as proclamations in a small number of cases if proved to be necessary.

By the end of 2015, the standards clean-up project will be finished and food-related products safety standard system will be basically completed. The system will greatly improve the managerial level of food safety. And by means of the manufacturing process management of SVHC (Substances of very high Concern) and the management of final product safety, the compliance of food-related product industry will be greatly facilitated

In addition, CFSA (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment) disclosed that four more standards, such as Printing Inks, Textile Fiber and Products and Lubricants which are still in programming, will be developed in the next years.

CIRS will keep focusing on the construction progress of food-related product standard system. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Contact
Ms. Cathy Yu Team Leader of Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs Department, CIRS China
11F Dongguan Building, 288 Qiuyi Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, China, 310020
Tel : +86 571 8720 6538
Fax : +86 571 8720 6533
Email: service@cirs-group.com