Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/30/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** CH4026

CH4026

**China, Peoples Republic of**

**FAIRS Product Specific**

**GB7718-2003 Food Labeling Standard G/TBT/N/CHN/33**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Ralph Gifford

U.S. Embassy, Beijing

**Prepared by:**

Wu Bugang and Adam Branson

**Report Highlights:**

This report contains an UNOFFICIAL translation of China\'s drafted
National Standard for Labeling of Pre-Packaged Foods (GB7718). It also
includes China\'s related notification to the World Trade Organization
(G/TBT/N/CHN/33) dated November 17, 2003. News reports indicate the
regulation has been adopted and will be put into gradual implementation
with a grace period until October 1, 2005. Note: final approved language
is not yet available.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Beijing \[CH1\]

\[CH\]

Table of Contents

[**Disclaimer 3**](#disclaimer)

[Background 3](#background)

[Begin Translation 4](#begin-translation)

[Preamble 4](#preamble)

[GB7718-2003 General Standard of Pre-packaged Food Labeling
5](#gb7718-2003-general-standard-of-pre-packaged-food-labeling)

[1. Scope 5](#scope)

[2. Referenced Standards 5](#referenced-standards)

[3. Terminology and Definitions 5](#terminology-and-definitions)

[4. General Requirements 6](#general-requirements)

[5. Labeling Content 7](#labeling-contents)

[Appendix A 12](#appendix-a)

[End Translation 12](#end-translation)

[WTO/TBT/N/CHN/33 13](#wtotbtnchn33)

# Disclaimer

Information in this translated report may not be completely accurate
either because policies may change when the regulation is adopted, or
because clear and consistent information about these policies was not
available. Therefore, U.S. exporters should try to verify all import
requirements with their foreign customers, who are normally best
informed, before any goods are shipped. Final import approval of any
product is subject to the importing country's rules and regulations as
interpreted by border officials at the time of product entry. In the
event of any errors or omissions in this translation, the original
Chinese version shall prevail.

# Background

On November 17, 2003 China notified G/TBT/N/CHN/33 to the World Trade
Organization. The notified document, the *General Standard of Labeling
for Pre-Packaged Foods* (GB7718-2003), revised China's previous National
Standard for Food Labeling from 1994 (CH1043). The WTO notification
allowed for 60 days of comments. The U.S. delivered comments on January
12, 2004 and received a response from China on February 19, 2004.

News reports indicate the Standard is adopted and products will be
granted a grace period until October 1, 2005. Final approved language is
not yet available.

# Begin Translation

# Preamble

This standard is mandatory except for Article 5.3 that is voluntary.

This standard is adopted from, but not equivalent to, (CAC) CODEX STAN
1-1985 the General Standard of Labeling for Pre-packaged Food (revised
in 1991, 1999). It also referenced U.S. Federal Law Section 101- Food
Labeling.

This standard replaces GB7718-1994 The General Standard of Labeling for
Food

This standard has been modified as follows in comparison with GB
7718-1994 as follows:

\- Standard title has been changed to the General Standard of Labeling
for Pre-packed Food;

\- Combines Articles 4 General Principles and Article 8 General
Requirements of GB 7718-1994 into Article 4 General Requirements and
makes subsequent revisions and supplements;

\- Adds "characters, symbols, and numbers of mandatory labeling should
not stand lower than 1.8 mm" (Article 4.8);

\- Adds "category names may be used in the ingredient list" (5.1.2.2.2);

\- Adds "labeling requirements for net content measurements" (5.1.4.3)
and "requirement for minimum character height of labeling for net
content" (5.1.4.4);

\- Adds requirements for labeling of name, address of group company,
subsidiary, production base, or entrusted company that produced the
pre-packed food;

\- Adds food categories that may be exempted from labeling of shelf
life;

\- Adds "calculation of maximum surface area of packing material or
container (Appendix A);

GB7718-2003 is one of the national standards for food labeling.

Other relevant standards include:

GB10344-2003 The General Standard of Labeling for Pre-packaged Drink
Wine (replacing GB 10344-1989);

GB13432-2003 The General Standard of Labeling for Pre-packaged Special
Dietary Food (replacing GB13432-1992)

Appendix A of this standard is a standardized appendix.

This standard is proposed and managed by the National Technical
Committee for Standard of Food Industry.

The standard-drafting team organized by the National Technical Committee
for Standard of Food Industry drafts this standard.

Main drafters of this standard include: Hao Yi, Wang Yijun, Wang
Meiling, Bai Demei, Tian Xijing, Tian Mingfu, Xu Hongmin, Yang Guizhi,
Yang Xiaoming, Zhang Lijun, Chen Yaojun, Zheng Xin, Zhao Xuejun, Dong
Hongyan, Ji Chao, Jain Huiwei, and Li Linan.

# GB7718-2003 General Standard of Pre-packaged Food Labeling 

## 1. Scope

This standard stipulates:

\--General requirements of pre-packaged food (Article 4);

\--Mandatory labeling content of pre-packaged food (see 5.1);

\--Exemption of mandatory labeling content for pre-packaged food;

\--Voluntary labeling content of pre-packaged food (see 5.3).

This standard applies to the labeling of all consumer-ready pre-packaged
foods.

## 2. Referenced Standards

The clauses in the following documents that have been cited by this
standard become clauses of this standards. For referenced documents with
a date, their consequent modifications (not including errata) or revised
versions do not apply to this standard. However, parties having reached
an agreement based on this standard are encouraged to study whether the
latest versions of these documents are applicable. For the referenced
documents without a date, their most recent versions apply to this
standard.

GB2760 The Hygienic Standard for the Use of Food Additives

GB/T12493 The Classifications and Codes of Food Additives

GB13432 - 2003 The General Standard of Labeling for Special Dietary Food

## 3. Terminology and Definitions

The following terminologies and definitions apply to this standard.

3.1 Prepackaged foods

Foods that are pre-packaged in certain quantity, placed (poured) in
containers and directly served to consumers.

3.2 Food label

Languages, designs, graphics, and all instructions on food packages.

3.3 Ingredient

Any material, including food additive, that is used to produce or
process food and that exists (including existence in a modified form) in
the final product.

3.4 Processing aid

Materials or substances (not including mechanical equipment and
apparatus) used solely to achieve the purpose of a technique, rather
than used as ingredients, during processing, blending, or handling.

3.5 Date of manufacture

Date on which a food has become a final product

3.6 Date of packaging

Date on which a food has been placed (poured) into a packing material or
container and become ready for ultimate sale

3.7 Date of minimum durability, best before

Expected ultimate time of food consumption given the pre-packaged food
is stored under conditions as stipulated on the label. During this time
frame, the product is absolutely suitable for sale and maintains
adequate quality that does not need to be or has been stated on the
label. Food may still be edible within a given length of time beyond
this limit.

3.8 Use-by date, recommended last consumption date, expiration date

Anticipated final date of consumption for pre-packaged food under the
storage conditions stipulated on the label. Beyond this date, the
pre-packaged food may not maintain the quality and features as consumers
expect and therefore is not suitable for sale.

3.9 Principle display panel

The most noticeable panel to consumers while pre-packaged food is being
sold

## 4. General Requirements

4.1 All contents of pre-packaged food labels shall comply with state
laws and regulations as well as relevant product standards.

4.2 All contents of pre-packaged food labels shall be clear, obvious,
durable, and easy for consumers to identify or recognize at purchase.

4.3 All contents of pre-packaged food labels shall be easily
understandable, accurate, and science-based. They shall not bear
contents of superstition, bad taste, pornography, depictions of other
foods, or violations of scientific and nutritional sense.

4.4 All contents of pre-packaged food labels shall neither introduce
foods by using erroneous, misleading, or deceptive languages or
graphics, nor use distinguished size or color for the characters that
may lead to misconception among consumers.

4.5 All contents of pre-packaged food labels shall not use languages,
graphics, and designs that may confuse consumers, directly or
implicitly, from the purchased food product or its function to another.

4.6 A pre-packaged label shall not be separable from the packing
material (container).

4.7 Contents of pre-packaged food labels shall use standardized
languages except for trademarks.

4.7.1 May use Pinyin at the same time, but the size shall not be greater
than that of the corresponding Chinese characters.

4.7.2 May use foreign or ethnic minority languages, but shall have
corresponding relations with the Chinese language (except for name,
address of imported food producer, and name, address, web site of its
overseas agent). The letter size of all foreign languages shall not be
greater than that of the corresponding Chinese (except for foreign
trademarks).

4.8 The Chinese characters, symbols, and numbers in mandatory labels
shall not stand lower than 1.8 mm when the surface area of the packing
material or container is greater than 20 cm².

4.9 There is no need to label the outer package if all or part of the
mandatory labeling content on inner packing material or container can be
clearly identified through the outer package.

4.10 If inner packaging is covered by outer packaging (larger packaging)
that is ready for consumer delivery, mandatory labeling can be placed
only on outer (larger) packaging.

## 5. Labeling Contents

5.1 Mandatory labeling content

5.1.1 Food name

5.1.1.1 The specific name reflecting genuine features of food should be
placed at a noticeable position on the label.

5.1.1.1.1 When national or industry standards have stipulated one or
more names for one food, should select one of them or its equivalent.

5.1.1.1.2 In the absence of the afore-mentioned names, a common name
that will cause no misunderstanding or confusion among consumers should
be adopted.

5.1.1.2 When an \"innovative name\", \"fancy name\", \"transliteration
name\", \"brand name\", \"slang name\", or \"trademark name\" is used, a
food name stipulated in Article 5.1.1.1 should be placed next to it.

5.1.1.2.1 When an \"innovative name\", \"fancy name\", \"transliteration
name\", \"brand name\", \"slang name\", or \"trademark name\" contains
likely misconception languages or terms (words), a specific name
reflecting the true features of the food should be placed next to the
demonstrated name.

5.1.1.2.2 If different sizes of the characters in specific food name
lead to misconception about food features, uniform-sized characters
shall be applied. For example, "orange juice" and "drink" in "orange
juice drink", "chocolate" and "sandwich cookies" in "chocolate sandwich
cookies", they shall all use one-sized characters.

5.1.1.3 In order to avoid misunderstanding or confusion among consumers
about the true features of food, physical state, or processing methods,
words or phrases may be attached to the beginning or end of the food
name. For instances, dried, condensed, reconstituted, smoked, fried,
powdered, granulated, etc.

5.1.2 List of ingredients

5.1.2.1 Pre-packaged food labels, except for single-ingredient food,
should contain a list of ingredients.

5.1.2.1.1 Ingredient list should be entitled "ingredients" or "list of
ingredients".

5.1.2.1.2 All ingredients should be listed in a descending order based
on the input level in the course of food manufacturing or processing.
Ingredient input of no more than 2% may not be listed in descending
orders.

5.1.2.1.3 If a compound ingredient consists of two or more other
ingredients, the name of the compound ingredient should be identified in
the \"ingredient list\" followed by parenthetical information that lists
the original ingredients in a descending order based on input levels.
When national or industry standards for the compound ingredient exist,
there is no need to list the original ingredients of the compound
ingredient if it accounts for less than 25 percent, inclusive, of the
total food weight. However, food additives playing a regulatory role in
the final product should be identified.

5.1.2.1.4 Water used during food manufacturing or processing shall be
indicated in the ingredient list unless the water has volatilized, and
the rule applies to other volatile ingredients.

5.1.2.1.5 Edible packaging materials shall be included in the ingredient
list with their original ingredients being identified, such as edible
capsules, and sticky-rice paper for candies.

5.1.2.2 All ingredients shall be identified with their names in
accordance with Article 5.1.1 except in the following situations:

5.1.2.2.1 Sweeteners, preservatives, colorings shall be identified with
specific names. Other food additives may be indicated with specific
names or category names in line with GB 2760. When two or more coloring
agents have been added to a foodstuff and it is difficult to list all
ingredients due to limited labeling space, they may be indicated with
category names (coloring) followed by their codes as stipulated in
GB2760 in parenthesis. For example, if one food has turmeric yellow,
coreopsis yellow, tempt red, michx brown, and roselle, they can be
labeled as \"coloring (102, 113, 012, 131, 125)\".

5.1.2.2.2 The following food ingredients may be identified with category
names as stipulated in Table 1.

Table 1

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  Ingredient                          Category name

  Vegetable oils or refined oils,     \"Vegetable oil\" or \"refined
  excluding olive oil                 vegetable oil\"; in case of having
                                      been hydrogenated, \"hydrogenated\"
                                      or \"partially hydrogenated\"
                                      should be indicated

  Starches, excluding chemically      \"Starch\"
  modified starches                   

  Condiments or their extracts,       \"Condiment\", \"of condiment\", or
  accounting for no more than 2% of   \"compound condiment\"
  the food total weight, regardless   
  of individual or combined weight    

  Basic gum agents in chewing candies \"Gum basic agents\"

  Preserved fruits, accounting for no \"Preserved fruit\"
  more than 10% of the food total     
  weight                              
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Note: animal fat (oil) should be identified with the name of specific
nature, for example pig fat, beef fat, and sheep fat.

5.1.2.3 In case raw materials are altered to other materials in the
course of processing

(i.e. fermented products, such as wine, soy sauce, vinegar), \"raw
materials\" or \"raw and adjuvant materials\" can be used to replace
\"ingredients\", \"ingredient list\", and the raw and adjuvant
materials, and food additives shall be listed in accordance with Article
5.1.2.1.2.

Processing aids used in the course of food manufacturing or processing
do not require labeling in the ingredients.

5.1.3 Labeling of ingredient amount

5.1.3.1 If values or special features of one or more ingredients have
been emphasized on the pre-packaged food label or instruction, the
volume of the emphasized ingredient should be indicated.

5.1.3.2 Identically, if emphasizing low content level of one or more
ingredients, ingredient content levels in the final product shall be
indicated.

5.1.3.3 An ingredient mentioned in food name but not emphasized in the
labeling, there is no need to indicate content level of the ingredient
in the final product. Condiment ingredients with little input levels and
no emphasis in the label do not require labeling of content levels in
the final product.

5.1.4 Net content and drip-dried material (solid) content

5.1.4.1 Indication of net content shall consist of net content, numbers,
and official measurements,

for example, \"net content 450g\".

5.1.4.2 The following methods should be adopted to indicate net content
of food in packing

material (container) based on official measurements:

A. Liquid food, measured in volume- L (liter), mL (ml);

B. Solid food, measured in weight- g (gram), kg;

C. Semi-solid food or viscous food, measured in volume or weight.

5.1.4.3 Net content measurements should be indicated as in Table 2.

Table 2

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Measuring method      | Scope of net content  | Measurement           |
|                       | (Q)                   |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Volume                | Q \< 1,000 mL         | mL (ml)               |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | Q ≥1,000 mL           | L (l)                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Quantity              | Q \< 1,000 g          | g                     |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | Q ≥ 1,000 g           | kg                    |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

5.1.4.4 Minimum character height of net content shall comply with
stipulations in Table 3.

Table 3

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Net content (Q)                   | Minimum height of characters (mm) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 5ml \< Q ≤ 50ml                   | 2                                 |
|                                   |                                   |
| 5g \< Q ≤ 50g                     | 2                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 50ml \< Q ≤ 200ml                 | 3                                 |
|                                   |                                   |
| 50g\< Q ≤ 200g                    | 3                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 200ml\< Q ≤ 1L                    | 4                                 |
|                                   |                                   |
| 200g \< Q ≤1 kg                   | 4                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Q \> 1 kg                         | 6                                 |
|                                   |                                   |
| Q \> 1L                           | 6                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

5.1.4.5 Net content should be placed in the same display panel on
packing material or container along with the food name.

5.1.4.6 If a container contains both solid and liquid materials (e.g.
canned pear in sweetened water), aside from indication of net content,
the content of drip-dried material should also be indicated by weight or
weight percentage.

For example:

Canned Pear in Sweet Water

Net content 425g

Drip-dried material (or solid, pear pieces): no less than 255 g, or no
less than 60%

If, in the same container, several independent foods are packed
together, in addition to indication of net content, the quantities or
pieces of food shall also be identified, not including small packages
inside a larger package that are not sold in pieces, e.g. small pieces
of candies.

5.1.5 Name and address of manufacturer and distributor

5.1.5.1 The name and address of any legally registered entity
responsible for food manufacturing, packaging, or distribution shall be
indicated. In case of the following situations, (name and address) shall
be indicated accordingly.

5.1.5.1.1 Names and addresses of group companies and its subsidiaries
that undertake independent legal liabilities shall be indicated
respectively.

5.1.5.1.2 For group company subsidiaries or manufacturing bases that do
not undertake independent liabilities, the names and addresses of the
group company, its subsidiaries (manufacturing bases) can be indicated,
or simply that of the group company.

5.1.5.1.3 In case that an entrusted company processes pre-packaged food
for its client but does not undertake marketing, the name and address of
the client shall be indicated.

5.1.5.2 In addition to the name and address of its legally registered
agent, importer, or distributor in China, an imported pre-packaged food
should be indicated with the name of origin country or region (refers to
Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan).

5.1.6 Indication of date and storage instructions

5.1.6.1 The manufacturing date (or date of packaging) and date of
minimum durability should be identified with indication of use-by date
being optional. If indication of date is in the form of \"see\...on the
package\", it should specify the position on the package.

Indication of date should not apply in the forms of sticker, reprint, or
tempering.

5.1.6.1.1 Date should be indicated in a sequence of year, month, and
date, e.g. 2004 01 15 (with spaces in between), 20040115 (without
spaces), 2004-01-15 (with hyphen in between), January 15, 2004.

5.1.6.1.2 One of the following forms should be adopted in identification
of date of minimum durability or use-by date:

A. Applies to date minimum durability

"Recommended to eat before\...\" or \"recommended to drink before\...\";

\"Best before\...", \"best eat before\...\" or \"best drink
before\...\";

\"Best before this date\...\", \"best eat before this date\...\"or
\"best drink before this date\...\";

\"Date of minimum durability ends on\...\";

\"Date of minimum durability is for xx months\" (xx days, x years).

B. Applies to use-by date

\"Eat before\...\", or \"drink before\...\";

\"Eat before this date\...\", or \"drink before this date\...\";

\"Use-by date ends on \...\";

\"Use-by date is for xx months (xx days, x years).

5.1.6.2 If the date of minimum durability or use-by date is associated
with storage conditions, the particular storage conditions for the food
should be indicated.

5.1.7 Product standard coding

Domestically produced and pre-packaged food (not including imported
pre-packaged food) shall be indicated with national standards, industry
standards, local standards that the enterprise adopts, or registered
enterprise standard codes and serial numbers.

5.1.8 Quality grade

Food quality grade shall be indicated if product standards that the
enterprise adopts have specified the quality grade of the food.

5.1.9 Other mandatory labeling content

5.1.9.1 Food processed with ionization

5.1.9.1.1 Any food processed with ionized radioactivity or ionized
energy shall be indicated along with the food name as \"food processed
with ionization\".

5.1.9.1.2 Genetically modified food

Labeling of genetically modified food shall comply with the
administrative regulations of the

State Council.

5.2 Exemption of mandatory labeling content

5.2.1 The following prepackaged foods can be exempted from indicating
minimum durability

date:

Drink wines with alcohol content of 10% or above; vinegar; grade salt,
solid sugar.

When the maximum surface area of the packing material or container is
less than 10 cm², only product name, net content, and the manufacturer
(or distributor) name should be indicated.

Imported pre-packaged foods shall be labeled with origin country or
region (refers to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), and name and address of
its registered agent, importer, or distributor in China. There is no
need to label the name and address of the manufacturer.

5.3 Voluntary labeling

5.3.1 Batch number

Batch number can be indicated if necessary.

5.3.2 Serving instruction

If necessary, instructions that are helpful to consumers can be
indicated, such as container opening method, serving preferences, daily
(per meal) intake, cooking methods, and re-heating method, etc.

5.3.3 Calorie and nutrient

If labeling of caloric value, nutrient content, claims of nutrient
content levels, comparison of nutrient content, and nutrient functions
is in place, it should comply with stipulations of GB13432-2003.

## Appendix A

(Standardized appendix)

Calculation of the Maximum Surface Area of Packing Material or Container

A.1 Calculation of rectangular prism packing material or container

Height (cm) of the largest rectangle of the rectangular prism-shaped
packing material or container multiplies its width (cm).

A.2 Calculation of cylindrical (or similar) packing material or
container

Height (cm) of packing material or container multiplies 40% of the
perimeter (cm)

A.3 Calculation of packing material or container of other shapes

40% of the total surface area of the packing material or container

If a packing material or container has an obvious principle display
panel, the panel area should be considered the maximum surface area.

Note: In case of bottle or jar, the calculation of surface area should
not include flanges of shoulder, neck, top or bottom.

# End Translation

# WTO/TBT/N/CHN/33

+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| **[World Trade]{.smallcaps}**                    |                   |
|                                                  |                   |
| **[Organization]{.smallcaps}**                   |                   |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
|                                                  |                   |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
|                                                  | *                 |
|                                                  | *G/TBT/N/CHN/33** |
|                                                  |                   |
|                                                  | 17 November 2003  |
|                                                  |                   |
|                                                  | (03-6147)         |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| **Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade**     | Original: English |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+

NOTIFICATION

The following notification is being circulated in accordance with
Article 10.6.

+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Member to Agreement     |   |                                 |
| 1. | notifying:** [THE         |   |                                 |
| ** | PEOPLE\'S REPUBLIC OF     |   |                                 |
|    | CHINA]{.underline}        |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | **If applicable, name of  |   |                                 |
|    | local government involved |   |                                 |
|    | (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):** |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Agency responsible:**   |   |                                 |
| 2. | Standardization           |   |                                 |
| ** | Administration of the     |   |                                 |
|    | People\'s Republic of     |   |                                 |
|    | China (SAC)               |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | **Name and address        |   |                                 |
|    | (including telephone and  |   |                                 |
|    | fax numbers, e-mail and   |   |                                 |
|    | web-site addresses, if    |   |                                 |
|    | available) of** **agency  |   |                                 |
|    | or authority designated   |   |                                 |
|    | to handle comments        |   |                                 |
|    | regarding the             |   |                                 |
|    | notification shall be     |   |                                 |
|    | indicated if different    |   |                                 |
|    | from above:**             |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Notified under Article  |   |                                 |
| 3. | 2.9.2 \[** X **\], 2.10.1 |   |                                 |
| ** | \[ **  **\], 5.6.2        |   |                                 |
|    | \[ **  **\], 5.7.1        |   |                                 |
|    | \[ **  **\], other:**     |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Products covered (HS or |   |                                 |
| 4. | CCCN where applicable,    |   |                                 |
| ** | otherwise national tariff |   |                                 |
|    | heading.\                 |   |                                 |
|    | ICS numbers may be        |   |                                 |
|    | provided in addition,     |   |                                 |
|    | where applicable):** All  |   |                                 |
|    | pre-packaged (filled)     |   |                                 |
|    | processed food and        |   |                                 |
|    | unprocessed natural food. |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Title, number of pages  |   |                                 |
| 5. | and language(s) of the    |   |                                 |
| ** | notified document:**      |   |                                 |
|    | General Standard of       |   |                                 |
|    | Labelling for             |   |                                 |
|    | Pre-packaged food (10     |   |                                 |
|    | pages, in Chinese)        |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Description of          |   |                                 |
| 6. | content:** This standard  |   |                                 |
| ** | provides basic            |   |                                 |
|    | requirements as well as   |   |                                 |
|    | contents of mandatory     |   |                                 |
|    | labelling, exemption from |   |                                 |
|    | mandatory labelling, and  |   |                                 |
|    | voluntary contents of     |   |                                 |
|    | labelling for pre-packed  |   |                                 |
|    | food.                     |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | Basic requirements        |   |                                 |
|    | include:                  |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 1\. All contents on the   |   |                                 |
|    | label shall be easy to    |   |                                 |
|    | understand, accurate, and |   |                                 |
|    | on a scientific basis.    |   |                                 |
|    | Contents based on         |   |                                 |
|    | superstition, derogation  |   |                                 |
|    | on other food,            |   |                                 |
|    | vulgar/obscene            |   |                                 |
|    | information as well as    |   |                                 |
|    | those contrary to science |   |                                 |
|    | are not allowed to be     |   |                                 |
|    | described on the label;   |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 2\. label contents of     |   |                                 |
|    | pre-packaged food shall   |   |                                 |
|    | not be described by false |   |                                 |
|    | words, pictures or        |   |                                 |
|    | colours etc., that        |   |                                 |
|    | mislead or deceive        |   |                                 |
|    | consumers;                |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 3\. label contents of     |   |                                 |
|    | pre-packaged food shall   |   |                                 |
|    | not be described by       |   |                                 |
|    | words, pictures or        |   |                                 |
|    | symbols that refer to     |   |                                 |
|    | directly or indirectly    |   |                                 |
|    | any other product or      |   |                                 |
|    | characters of other       |   |                                 |
|    | products with which such  |   |                                 |
|    | food might be confused;   |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 4\. the wording of labels |   |                                 |
|    | shall be in standard      |   |                                 |
|    | Chinese, except           |   |                                 |
|    | registered trademarks;    |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 5\. the minority          |   |                                 |
|    | nationality or foreign    |   |                                 |
|    | languages may be used on  |   |                                 |
|    | the label, but should     |   |                                 |
|    | correspond to the Chinese |   |                                 |
|    | words (except name and    |   |                                 |
|    | address of the            |   |                                 |
|    | manufacturer of imported  |   |                                 |
|    | food, name, address and   |   |                                 |
|    | website of overseas       |   |                                 |
|    | distributors). All        |   |                                 |
|    | characters of foreign     |   |                                 |
|    | languages shall not be    |   |                                 |
|    | bigger than the           |   |                                 |
|    | corresponding Chinese     |   |                                 |
|    | words, except the foreign |   |                                 |
|    | registered trademarks;    |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 6\. in the case where the |   |                                 |
|    | surface area of the       |   |                                 |
|    | packaging or container is |   |                                 |
|    | larger than 20cm^2^, the  |   |                                 |
|    | height of characters,     |   |                                 |
|    | symbols and numbers of    |   |                                 |
|    | mandatory labelling shall |   |                                 |
|    | not be smaller            |   |                                 |
|    | than 1.8mm.               |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | Mandatory requirements on |   |                                 |
|    | labelling include:        |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 1\. The following         |   |                                 |
|    | contents on the label     |   |                                 |
|    | shall be clearly          |   |                                 |
|    | indicated: name,          |   |                                 |
|    | ingredients, net content  |   |                                 |
|    | of food; name and address |   |                                 |
|    | of the manufacturer;      |   |                                 |
|    | manufacturing date; best  |   |                                 |
|    | before; the product       |   |                                 |
|    | standard code and         |   |                                 |
|    | irradiated food or        |   |                                 |
|    | ingredients.              |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 2\. This standard is a    |   |                                 |
|    | revision of General       |   |                                 |
|    | Standard of Food          |   |                                 |
|    | Labelling (1985, 1994) in |   |                                 |
|    | line with CAC CODEX STAN  |   |                                 |
|    | 1-1985 (1991, 1999), Food |   |                                 |
|    | Hygiene Law of the        |   |                                 |
|    | People\'s Republic of     |   |                                 |
|    | China, Product Quality    |   |                                 |
|    | Law of the People\'s      |   |                                 |
|    | Republic of China.        |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | 3\. For pre-packaged food |   |                                 |
|    | sold in China (not        |   |                                 |
|    | including Hong Kong,      |   |                                 |
|    | Macao and Chinese Taipei) |   |                                 |
|    | that does not comply with |   |                                 |
|    | the General Standard of   |   |                                 |
|    | Labelling of Pre‑packaged |   |                                 |
|    | Food, penalty shall be    |   |                                 |
|    | imposed according to the  |   |                                 |
|    | level of seriousness.     |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Objective and           |   |                                 |
| 7. | rationale, including the  |   |                                 |
| ** | nature of urgent problems |   |                                 |
|    | where applicable:** To    |   |                                 |
|    | protect consumers,        |   |                                 |
|    | prevent cheating, and     |   |                                 |
|    | maintain fair trade.      |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Relevant documents:**   |   |                                 |
| 8. | CAC CODEX STAN 1-1985     |   |                                 |
| ** | (1991, 1999)              |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | Food Hygiene Law of the   |   |                                 |
|    | People\'s Republic of     |   |                                 |
|    | China                     |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | Product Quality Law of    |   |                                 |
|    | the People\'s Republic of |   |                                 |
|    | China                     |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | Product Label and         |   |                                 |
|    | Labelling Regulation      |   |                                 |
|    | \[Issued by The State     |   |                                 |
|    | Bureau of Technical       |   |                                 |
|    | Supervision (1997) No.    |   |                                 |
|    | 172\]                     |   |                                 |
|    |                           |   |                                 |
|    | Rules for Measurement     |   |                                 |
|    | Supervision on            |   |                                 |
|    | Pre-packaged Commodities  |   |                                 |
|    | \[No. 43 Ordinance of The |   |                                 |
|    | State Bureau of Technical |   |                                 |
|    | Supervision\]             |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| ** | **Proposed date of        | } | To be determined                |
| 9. | adoption:**               |   |                                 |
| ** |                           |   |                                 |
|    | **Proposed date of entry  |   |                                 |
|    | into force:**             |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| *  | **Final date for          |   |                                 |
| *1 | comments:** 60 days after |   |                                 |
| 0. | the date of notification  |   |                                 |
| ** |                           |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+
| *  | **Texts available from:   |   |                                 |
| *1 | National enquiry point    |   |                                 |
| 1. | \[** X **\] or address,   |   |                                 |
| ** | telephone and fax         |   |                                 |
|    | numbers, e-mail and       |   |                                 |
|    | web-site addresses, if    |   |                                 |
|    | available of the other    |   |                                 |
|    | body:      **             |   |                                 |
+----+---------------------------+---+---------------------------------+