. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CHN/178 
23 November 2009  
 (09-5833) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CHINA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health (MOH) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Various types of food 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  National Standard of the People's Republic of China:  
Determination of Moisture in Foods  Language:  Chinese  Number of pages:  9   
6. Description of content:  This standard specifies the tes ting methods for determination of 
moisture in foods.  In this standard, the dir ect drying method applies to determination of 
moisture in grain and it related products, a quatic products, soy produc ts, dairy products, 
meat and Lu Cai products, etc. while it does not  apply to determination of moisture in 
samples whose moisture content is less than 0.5 g/100 g.  Vacuum drying method applies to 
determination of moisture in foods which ar e easy to decompose, like sugars, monosodium 
glutamate, etc. and it does not apply to dete rmination of moisture in candies which add 
other materials, e.g. toffee, soft candy, etc.  It does not apply to samples whose moisture 
content is less than 0.5 mg/100 g, either.  Distillation method applies to determination in 
more volatile substances, e.g. oils, spices,  etc., while does not apply to samples whose 
moisture content is less than 1 g/100 g.  Ka rl Fischer method applies to determination of 
moisture in various types of food.  Karl Fischer volumetric method applies to samples 
whose moisture content is more than 1.0×10-3 g/100 g, while Karl Fischer method-
Coulometric procedure applies to samples w hose moisture content is more than 1.0×10-5 
g/100 g. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   G/SPS/N/CHN/178 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:      
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  1 January 2010 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body: