Food additives refer to synthetic or natural substances added to food for the purpose of improving the quality, color, fragrance and taste of food, as well as for the needs of preservation, preservation and processing technology. Nutritional fortifiers, food spices, basic agent materials in gum based candy, and processing aids for food industry are also included. Compound food additive refers to the food additive that is made of two or more single food additives, with or without auxiliary materials, and physically mixed.
1、 Only products that meet one of the following conditions can be imported as food additives:
1 There are national stards f food safety in China;
2 having been approved released by the health administrative department under the State Council to be listed in the catalogue of food additives permitted to be used in China;
3 Those listed in the Hygienic Standards for the Use of Food Additives (GB2760) the Hygienic Standards for the Use of Food Nutrition Fortifiers (GB14880);
IV. Listed in the "Catalogue of Food Additives with Import Records but no National Food Safety Standards before the Implementation of the Food Safety Law" (see the appendix of AQSIQ Announcement No. 52 in 2011 for the catalogue).
2、 Requirements for Chinese labels and instructions of imported food additives
1. The mandatory contents of the Chinese labels of food additives include:
1. Name (common name in relevant standards), specification, net content;
2. Composition (table) or ingredients (table), using the common name in relevant standards;
3. Name, address and contact information of the country (place) of origin and domestic agent;
4. Production date (batch number) and shelf life;
5. Storage conditions;
6. The words "food additive";
7. The label of compound food additives shall also comply with the relevant provisions of the National Food Safety Standard General Principles for Compound Food Additives (GB26687-2011).
8. If the scope, dosage and method of use cannot be clearly marked in the label, they can be listed in the Chinese manual.
II Requirements for Chinese instructions of food additives
1. If there are any unmentioned items in the label (limited to the contents in point 8 above and other contents that are not required to be marked on the Chinese label above), they can be listed through the instruction manual;
2. The instruction manual shall also contain all other quality and safety information in the label except the batch number, production date/shelf life date, and other contents to guide the safe and reasonable use of food additives;
3. The instructions of food additives shall not be separated from the package and shall not be in direct contact with the contents.
3. The Chinese labels and instructions of imported edible essences should comply with the General Requirements for Labels of Edible Essences (QB/T4003-2010).
3、 Inspection requirements for imported food additives
Food additive import enterprises (hereinafter referred to as import enterprises) shall apply for inspection to the inspection and quarantine authorities at the customs declaration place according to the following requirements:
1. Imported food additives should not be prohibited from importing animals, plants and their products that have been announced to be prohibited from entry from countries or regions where animal and plant epidemics are prevalent (relevant information can be found on the website:, in the biosafety section of the Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine column).
For food additives (such as gelatin) that should be licensed for entry animal and plant quarantine, the entry animal and plant quarantine license should also be obtained.
II. Requirements for the name of the declared product
1. The name of a single food additive should be the general name of the food additive, and comply with the requirements of GB 2760 Hygienic Standard for the Use of Food Additives, GB 14880 Hygienic Standard for the Use of Food Nutrition Fortifiers, or the specification name listed in the announcement of the Ministry of Health.
2. The name of the compound food additive shall comply with the relevant provisions of the National Food Safety Standard General Principles for Compound Food Additives (GB26687-2011).
3. The product name of edible essence should comply with the relevant provisions in the General Requirements for the Label of Edible Essence (QB/T4003-2010).
3 In addition to providing invoices, bills of lading/waybills, packing lists, the inspection applicants shall also provide the following materials:
1. The trade contract indicating the use of the product, or the use statement issued by the buyer and the seller in the trade contract; Enterprises importing food additives for their own use shall clearly state that if the importing enterprise is not an actual production and processing enterprise, an import entrustment contract shall be issued at the same time;
2. Sample sheets of Chinese labels and instructions of food additives, and the contents of the sample sheets shall contain complete descriptions of ingredients;
3. If the import enterprise is an operating enterprise, it shall provide a copy of the industrial and commercial business license or business license affixed with the official seal of the import enterprise; If the import enterprise is a food production enterprise, it shall provide a copy of the food production license stamped with the official seal of the import enterprise;
4. In special cases, the following materials shall also be provided:
(1) If entry quarantine approval is required, the entry animal and plant quarantine license shall be provided.
⑵ For the first time to import new varieties of food additives, the relevant certification documents approved by the Ministry of Health and the text of product quality standards and inspection methods approved or recognized by the Ministry of Health shall be provided.
5. Other data required by the inspection and quarantine authority.
5、 Safety, health and quality requirements for imported food additives
Import enterprises should specify the applicable Chinese product standards for imported food additives (including national standards, standards designated by the Ministry of Health, or industry standards), or the announcement of the Ministry of Health (the announcement should specify the product quality and safety requirements), and ensure that the safety, health and quality of imported products meet the relevant requirements.
6、 The import enterprise shall establish a food additive quality information file and truthfully record the following contents:
1 The inspection application number, product name, quantity/weight, package, country or region of production and export, date of production, shelf life, etc. declared to the inspection and quarantine institution at the time of import;
2 The names of the feign exporters, feign production enterprises the number of their qualification certificates obtained in their countries regions;
3 Chinese labels samples of impted food additives, Chinese manuals samples;
4 The inspection quarantine certificate issued by the inspection quarantine gan;
5. Information on the flow direction of imported food additives.
The retention period of archives shall not be less than 2 years and shall not be less than the warranty period.
7、 For the import of new varieties of food additives and the import of food additives that expand the scope of use or the amount of use, the enterprise shall file an application in accordance with the provisions of the Measures for the Administration of New Varieties of Food Additives issued by the Ministry of Health.
8、 Import enterprises should pay attention to the update of relevant standards in China. If there are new standards and regulations, they should take the initiative to comply with the new requirements.
Provided by Shanghai Food Import Agency/
