China Releases 50 New and Revised Food Safety Standards

On September 22, 2026, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) released 50 new and revised national food safety standards, covering product requirements, food additives, contaminant controls, and testing methods.

Key changes include:

• Milk protein: New standard GB 31668-2026 establishes national food safety requirements for milk protein, effective August 18, 2027.
• Nutritional supplements: Revised standard GB 22570-2026 expands the scope of GB 22570-2014 to cover nutritional supplements for complementary foods and preschool children, effective August 18, 2027.
• Food additives: Updated quality specifications revise requirements for relevant additives.
• Contaminants: Revised standards update contaminant control requirements.
• Testing methods: Updated methods may require changes to testing procedures and documentation.

To avoid costly border delays or import rejections, overseas manufacturers and raw material suppliers must benchmark their product portfolios against the updated mandates well ahead of enforcement.

What the New Standards Mean for Foreign Manufacturers

The impact of these regulatory updates will vary depending on your product portfolio, but manufacturers should evaluate four critical risk areas:

1. Divergent Product Classifications and Formulas

Differences between Chinese regulations and foreign standards mean that existing overseas market approvals will not guarantee compliance in China.

Key Action: Re-verify product classifications under Chinese rules and benchmark current formulations directly against the updated national standards.

2. Outdated Testing Methods and Technical Files

Updated product specifications and testing protocols mean that existing documentation may no longer be accepted during customs clearance.

Key Action: Audit current files to spot testing gaps early, arrange any required lab re-testing, and update Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) alongside technical records.

3. Insufficient Plant Food Safety Controls

Tighter contaminant limits or updated safety criteria can make standard plant control measures insufficient under Chinese law.

Key Action: Adjust HACCP plans and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs)—particularly regarding controls for substances like acrylamide, lead, and tin—and ensure plant records reflect these updates.

4. Tight Transition Deadlines and Supply Chain Risks

Leaving compliance reviews to the last-minute risks shipment delays, customs holds, non-compliant labeling, and wasted stock.

Key Action: Confirm the exact enforcement dates for each standard affecting your products and coordinate early with Chinese importers to align production, inventory, and labeling updates.

Note: GB 31668-2026 and GB 22570-2026 take effect on August 18, 2027. Other standards in the package may have different implementation dates, so verify the timeline for each relevant standard. 

Final Thoughts

With transition periods for major standards like GB 31668-2026 and GB 22570-2026 already ticking down, early preparation is the single best way to avoid supply chain friction, custom holds, and inventory write-offs.

Translating updated standards into actionable changes requires specialized technical knowledge. Cisema helps foreign food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers stay ahead of regulatory shifts through:

• Regulatory interpretation and product applicability assessments
• Technical reviews of product formulations, specifications, and compliance
• Testing strategy development and laboratory coordination

To assess how the revised standards affect your products and prepare for implementation, contact Cisema today.

References

• National Health Commission Releases 50 New Food Safety National Standards and Amendments 国家卫生健康委发布50项新食品安全国家标准和修改单
• Announcement on the Release of 50 Food Safety National Standards and Amendments, Including "National Food Safety Standard: Milk Protein" (GB 31668-2026) (2026 No. 6) 关于发布《食品安全国家标准 牛乳蛋白》（GB 31668-2026）等50项食品安全国家标准和修改单的公告（2026年 第6号）