Imported Food Go back »
2023-07-10 | All chapters
Before new national food safety standards take effect, a grace period is granted, so that food producers can adjust and sell products under the old standards. In the past decade or so, the reference date for implementing new standards for food produced in China and imported food has been different. This results in a shorter grace period for overseas food producers which causes trade barriers.
The European Chamber’s Agriculture, Food and Beverage Working Group and its sub-working groups have carried out long-term advocacy on this issue. On 30th December 2022, the General Administration of Customs of China issued Notice No. 136. It clarifies for the first time that the imported food covered by it enjoys the same reference date for new standard implementation as the domestic counterparts, ensuring a consistent grace period and eliminating previous trade barriers.
Learn more about the Agriculture, Food and Beverage Working Group, Dairy Industry (Sub-working Group), FSMP Advisory Committee (Sub-working Group), and Paediatric Nutrition (Sub-working Group).