Q&A on the General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2011)

I. Purpose and Basis for Revising the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods

Food labels are a vehicle for conveying product information to consumers. Proper management of prepackaged food labels is not only an effective means of safeguarding consumer rights and promoting the healthy development of the industry, but also a requirement for achieving scientific food safety management. In accordance with the Food Safety Law and its implementing regulations, the Ministry of Health organized the revision of the prepackaged food labeling standard. The new General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2011) fully takes into account the implementation of the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2004), refines the specific requirements for food labels under the Food Safety Law and its implementing regulations, and enhances the scientific basis and operability of the standard.

II. Relationship Between the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2011) and Relevant Departmental Rules and Regulatory Documents

The General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2011) is a national food safety standard. Where the corresponding provisions in relevant regulations or regulatory documents are inconsistent with this standard, this standard shall apply.

This standard specifies general requirements for the labeling of prepackaged foods. Where other national food safety standards contain special provisions, both the general requirements for the labeling of prepackaged foods and such special provisions shall be implemented.

III. Main Process of the Standard Revision

In accordance with the Food Safety Law, its implementing regulations, and the needs of food safety supervision, the Ministry of Health commissioned the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the China National Food Industry Association, and other institutions to establish a standard drafting group to undertake the standard revision task. The drafting group organized expert studies on multiple occasions, held seminars and expert consultation meetings, and fully solicited opinions from relevant departments, industry associations, and enterprises. This standard was publicly solicited for comments on the Ministry of Health website, and more than 700 feedback items and revision suggestions were received. The drafting group analyzed the feedback one by one, promptly held special meetings to study and address them, and further improved the standard text. This standard was reviewed and approved at the fifth directors' meeting of the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee, promulgated on April 20, 2011, and officially implemented on April 20, 2012.

IV. Main Revisions and Improvements to the Standard

(1) Revision of the scope of application of the standard. This standard applies to two categories of prepackaged foods: first, prepackaged foods provided directly to consumers; second, prepackaged foods not provided directly to consumers. It does not apply to the labeling of bulk foods, foods made and sold on site, or food storage and transportation packaging.

(2) In accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Law, the standard revised the definitions of "prepackaged food" and "production date", and added the definition of "specification" and the labeling method for "specification".

(3) In accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Law, the standard added the provision that "content that states or implies a role in preventing or treating diseases shall not be labeled, and non-health foods shall not explicitly or implicitly indicate a health function".

(4) In accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety Law, the standard refined the labeling requirements for food additives and specified that food additives shall be labeled with their generic names as set out in the Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB2760).

(5) With reference to Codex standards, the standard added recommended labeling requirements for food allergens, so as to help consumers make informed food choices according to their individual circumstances.

V. Definition of Prepackaged Food

In accordance with the Food Safety Law and the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of the Measurement of Quantitatively Packaged Commodities, and with reference to past experience in food label management, this standard defines "prepackaged food" as food that is prepackaged or made in packaging materials or containers in predetermined quantities, including food that is prepackaged or made in packaging materials or containers in predetermined quantities and bears a uniform mass or volume indication within a certain quantity limit. Prepackaged food shall first be prepackaged, and in addition, the packaging shall bear a uniform mass or volume indication.

VI. Differences in Labeling Between "Prepackaged Foods Provided Directly to Consumers" and "Prepackaged Foods Not Provided Directly to Consumers"

A: For prepackaged foods provided directly to consumers, all matters shall be indicated on the label. For prepackaged foods not provided directly to consumers, the label must indicate the food name, specification, net content, production date,

— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362090.html