Food Additive Production Supervision and Administration Regulations Take Effect in June

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 3 (Reporter Zhu Liyi) China's first administrative regulation specifically governing the production of food additives, the "Food Additive Production Supervision and Administration Regulations," officially took effect in June, and this regulation sets stricter requirements for enterprises.

The regulation points out that food additives refer to artificially synthesized or natural substances that are approved by the health administrative department under the State Council and published in the form of standards, announcements, and other means, and that may be added to food to improve food quality, color, aroma, and taste, as well as for the needs of preservation, freshness retention, and processing techniques. Other substances may not be produced as food additives, and production licenses may not be issued for them as food additives.

This regulation also further raises the entry threshold for food additive production, setting stricter requirements for the quality of practitioners, the environment of product premises, factory buildings and facilities, the hygiene management of production equipment or facilities, and ex-factory inspection capabilities.

This regulation, promulgated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, also sets stricter requirements for food additive enterprises, with a dedicated chapter stipulating “producer quality obligations,” specifically including: producers shall conduct ex-factory inspections of food additives sold ex-factory, and may sell them only after they pass inspection; producers shall establish a quality management system for raw material procurement, production process control, product ex-factory inspection, and after-sales service, and shall keep production management records; food additive packaging shall use safe, non-toxic materials and ensure that food additives are not contaminated; producers shall conduct self-inspections of production management, with emphasis on food additive quality and safety control. In addition, if produced food additives pose safety hazards, producers shall implement recalls in accordance with the law.

In terms of labeling, this regulation requires that food additive labels and instructions must not contain untrue or exaggerated content, and must not involve disease prevention or treatment functions. Food additive labels and instructions shall be clear, conspicuous, and easy to recognize and read. Food additives with usage contraindications or safety precautions shall have warning marks or warning instructions in Chinese.