ICS 55.020  
A 80  
GB  
National Standard of the People's 
Republic of China  
  GB XXXX — 2008  
 
Requirements for Restricting the Excessive 
Packag ing of  Foods and Cosmetics  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published : xx-xx-xxxx                  Implemented : xx-xx-xxxx  
 
 
Published by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection 
and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of ChinaGB XXXX -2008  
Foreword  
 
Article s 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 in this Standard are compulsory , while the remainder are recommended.  
Appendi ces A, B  and C of this Standard are normative  appendices.  
This Standard has been propos ed by the China National Institute of Standardization.  
This Standard is under the jurisdiction of  the National Packag ing Standardization Technical 
Committee.  
Bodies responsible for drafting this Standard : China National Institute of Standardization, China 
Packagi ng Federation, China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology, China Packaging 
Research & Testing Centre , China National Export Commodities Packaging Research Institut e, China 
National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries and Shiseido Liyuan Cosmetics  
Co.,Ltd.  
This Standard was  drafted by : Yang Yuexiang, Tang Wanjin, Wang Li, Huang Xue, Xian Kuitong, 
Niu Shumei, Wang Yuande, Chen Yan and Guo Xinguang.   
GB XXXX -2008  
Requirements for Restricting the Excessive Packag ing of Foods 
and Cosmetics  
 
1 Scope  
 
This Standard defines the requirements for restricting excessive packag ing of foods and cosmetics and 
the calculation methods for the limitation ind ices. 
This Standard is applicable to the sales packaging for foods and cosmetics.  
 
2 Normative reference documents  
 
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this Standard , constitute 
provisions of this Standard . With regard to dated r eference s, subsequent amendments ( not to include 
corrections) or revisions to any of these publications shall not be applicable , however, all parties 
which reach an agreement with regard to this Standard are encouraged to investigate whether the latest 
edition of these documents can be applied. With regard to undated references, the latest edition of the 
document referred to shall apply. 
 
GB/T 4122.1   Package terms    Basic  
GB 19855   Moon cake  
 
3 Terms  and definition s 
The terms and definitions established in GB/T 4122.1 and subsequent documents shall be applicable 
in this Standard.  
3.1 Excessive packag ing 
Packaging which e xceed s reasonable requirement s for packag ing function s in terms of interspace ratio, 
packag ing layers and packag ing cost which exceed nec essary packag ing levels.  
3.2 Original packag ing 
Packag ing which  comes into direct contact with the product . 
3.3 Packag ing layers  
Layers of packag ing required to completely pack age the product . 
Note: Complete pack aging refers to a packaging method which  will not allow  the product to be scattered.  
3.4 Interspace ratio  
The ratio of unnecessary space volume within the sales packag ing to the volume of the sales package s. 
4 Requirement sGB XXXX -2008  
4.1 Basic requirement s 
4.1.1 The packag ing design shall be scien tific and reasonable. On the premise that it satisf ies the 
requirement s for normal packag ing functions, the material, structure and cost of the packaging shall 
match the quality and specification of the contents so as to effectively utili se resource s and minimise 
the use of pack aging material.  
4.1.2 Appropriate pack aging material shall be selected according to the features and nature of the 
relevant food or cosmetic. The packaging shall employ a single kind of material or , if different 
materials are selecte d, separate these from each other . The use of recyclable pack aging material is 
encouraged . 
4.1.3 The structure and functions of the packaging shall be simplified as appropriate . Complex form s 
and structure s are prohibited . Excessive layers of packag ing, excessive interspace ratio and excess 
costs shall be avoided wherever possible . 
4.1.4  The cost of the packaging over its entire lifetime shall be considered so as to implement  effective 
measures to control direct packag ing cost s. The effect on the environmen t when recycling or 
abandoning the packag ing as well as the rel evant costs shall also be taken into consideration .  
4.1.5 With regard to packag ing which can be used for other functions upon completion of its 
packaging functions, all economic and practical factors shall be fully taken into consideration so as to 
avoid increasing the packag ing cost for other functions.  
4.2 Limitation requirement s 
4.2.1 The interspace ratio and layers of packag ing for food and cosmetics sh all adhere to the 
requirement s in Tabl e 1.  
Table 1  
 
Limitation index  Commodities  
Interspace ratio  Layers of packag ing 
Beverage  55%  3 layers or under  
Cake  55%  3 layers or under  
Graina 10%  2 layers or under  
Health food  50%  3 layers or under  
Cosmetics  50%  3 layers or under  
Othe r food  45%  3 layers or under  
Note 1: If the net volume or weight of all single items within the contents does not exceed 30ml or 30g, the packag ing 
ratio shall be no more than 75% ; if the net volume or weight of all single items within the contents exceeds 30ml or 
30g but  does  not exceed 50ml or 50g, the packag ing ratio shall no t exceed 60%.  
a Grain refers to raw grain or primary processed product s. 
 
4.2.2 Except for the original packag ing, the sum of all packag ing costs s hall be no more than 
15% of th e sales price of the commodity.   
5 Limitation index calculation method  
5.1 For interspace ratio  calculation method , see Appendix A.  
5.2 For packaging layer calculation method, see Appendix B.  
5.3 For calculation method for ratio  of package cost to sale pr ice, see Appendix C.  Appendix A  
(Normative appendix)  
Interspace ratio calculation metho d 
 
A.1 Interspace ratio  calculation formula : 
  
Where ,  
 
X—— interspace ratio;  
 
Vn—— volume of sales packag ing, the volume of the smallest externally -tangent cuboid for  the 
sales package (not including fittings like handle, fastener and rope), unit cm3; 
 
V0—— total volume of the original package, the sum of original package volumes  o all 
commodities . Original package volume means to the volume of the smallest externally -tangent cuboid 
for the original package, unit cm3; 
 
k—— necessary space coefficient. Necessary space volume means to the space which is used to 
protect or fix the original package. In this part , k is 0.6.  
 
A.2 Where 2 or more commodities are included in the sales packag ing, the volume or original 
packag ing volume (if the commodity also includes original packag ing) of the commoditie s in the list 
shall be added to the total volume of the original packag ing. 
 
The volume of the attached articles  intended to fulfi l the normal functions of the commodity  shall be 
added to the total volume of the original packag ing – these shall include special opening tool s for the 
commodity, specification user manual and other attach ments . 
 
A.3 Where the sales packaging contains  2 or more commodities, and interspace ratio requirements 
apply for 2 or more commodities, the interspace ratio shall be calculated according to the commodities 
listed; if interspace ratio requirements apply for 2 or more commodities in the list, the larger 
interspace ratio shall be considered.  Appendix B  
(Normative appendix)  
Packaging layer calculation method  
 
 
B.1 Packaging which completely pack s a commodity shall be considered a layer.  
 
B.2 The original packaging within the sales  packag ing shall be consid ered the 0th layer, the complete 
packag ing which comes into contact with the original packag ing the 1st layer , and so forth . The  
outer most layer of the sales packag ing shall be considered the Nth layer, with N being the number of 
layers of packag ing. 
 
B.3 Where commodities with different layers of packag ing are included  in one sales packag ing, the 
layers of packag ing shall be calculated only for the commodity for which there are limitation 
requirement in terms of package layers, according to which the confo rmance of the layers of 
commodity packag ing shall be determined . Appendix C  
(Normative appendix)  
Calculation method for ratio of packag ing cost to sale price  
 
 
C.1 Calculation formula for the ratio of packaging cost to sale price:  
 
 
Where , 
Y—— ratio of packag ing cost to sale price  
C—— packag ing cost 
P—— product sale price  
 
C.2 Packaging cost  calculation method  
C.2.1 The calculation of the packag ing cost shall be determined from the point of view of the 
product manufacturer.  
C.2.2 Packag ing cost refers to t he sum of all packag ing costs from the 1st to Nth layer s. 
C.3 Sale price  calculation method  
The c ommodity sales price shall be determined according to the contract ual sale price agreed by 
the manufacturer  and distributor or the normal market sale  price of the commodity.