Sean Moloughney05.13.08
China’s labelling guidelines for pre-packaged foods, which went into effect on May 1, may pave the way for self-regulation within the industry.
While the guidelines are mandatory for companies using nutrition labels or claims on their products, others may be well-advised to consider voluntary compliance, pre-empting further legislation.
According to the new guidelines, the amounts of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates and sodium should be expressed on the product label (in that specific order) per 100 grams or 100 ml, or per serving as quantified on the label. Labelling the amount of fat acids, sugar and vitamins and minerals in the product remains optional. The guidelines also require companies to label their products’ nutrient contents as a percentage of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV).
“China has introduced this for a number of reasons: to guide consumer choices towards a more balanced diet, to promote nutrition-related education, and to standardize food labelling to facilitate trade,” said EAS Asia adviser Jie Hu. “Industry self-regulation, such as voluntary compliance with the guidelines, could play a huge role in ensuring that the authorities do not decide in the future that there is a need for further legislation.”
The Ministry of Health may set further mandatory nutrition labelling for certain types of food in accordance with the needs of the consumers, the regulations state.
Additionally, the guidelines set labelling requirements for claims that are made on products—with a few exemptions—including restrictions on font size and the positioning of certain claims on the package.
“Of course nutrition labels must be written in Chinese,” Ms. Hu said. “If a foreign language is used in addition, the font size of the foreign language should not exceed the font size of the Chinese on the label.”
Companies that market products in China using nutrition labels, nutrition claims or health claims on their products, have a two-year grace period to comply with the guidelines.
While the guidelines are mandatory for companies using nutrition labels or claims on their products, others may be well-advised to consider voluntary compliance, pre-empting further legislation.
According to the new guidelines, the amounts of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates and sodium should be expressed on the product label (in that specific order) per 100 grams or 100 ml, or per serving as quantified on the label. Labelling the amount of fat acids, sugar and vitamins and minerals in the product remains optional. The guidelines also require companies to label their products’ nutrient contents as a percentage of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV).
“China has introduced this for a number of reasons: to guide consumer choices towards a more balanced diet, to promote nutrition-related education, and to standardize food labelling to facilitate trade,” said EAS Asia adviser Jie Hu. “Industry self-regulation, such as voluntary compliance with the guidelines, could play a huge role in ensuring that the authorities do not decide in the future that there is a need for further legislation.”
The Ministry of Health may set further mandatory nutrition labelling for certain types of food in accordance with the needs of the consumers, the regulations state.
Additionally, the guidelines set labelling requirements for claims that are made on products—with a few exemptions—including restrictions on font size and the positioning of certain claims on the package.
“Of course nutrition labels must be written in Chinese,” Ms. Hu said. “If a foreign language is used in addition, the font size of the foreign language should not exceed the font size of the Chinese on the label.”
Companies that market products in China using nutrition labels, nutrition claims or health claims on their products, have a two-year grace period to comply with the guidelines.