What are the changes in GB 7718 for public consultation?

On June 27, 2024, the Secretariat of the National Committee for the Review of Food Safety Standards issued the National Standard for Food Safety General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (Draft for Public Comment) (hereinafter referred to as the opinion draft), with a deadline of July 10, 2024 for comments. In order to enable the majority of food enterprises to understand the revision of GB 7718 as soon as possible, FoodPartner.com has made a compendium of the changes between this opinion draft and the current effective version for the industry’s reference.

Modified terms and definitions

Adjusted the definition of prepackaged food, added prepackaged or made in packaging materials and containers to be sold by measurement; modified the definition of shelf life and specifications; added the definition of numerical labeling; deleted the definition of main display layout.

Adjusted the basic requirements for food labeling

Deleted the specific requirements on font, font size and multi-packaged food labeling; adjusted the text expression of “health effects” to “health functions (efficacy)”.

Modified the labeling content requirements

Modified the requirements of food name: adjusted the definition of the original attribute name to the specific requirements of food name; deleted the requirements of font, font height, color of food name and descriptive terms such as processing technology and production method in food name.

Modified the labeling requirements of the ingredient list: deleted the specific requirements for the use of guiding words in the ingredient list, which shall be separately stipulated by the Market Supervision and Administration Department under the State Council; adjusted the exemptions of quantitative labeling to the appendix of the standard.

Deleted the producer-operator information, the net content of the specific labeling requirements, market supervision and management department under the State Council to specify.

Modified the date labeling requirements: for the shelf life of more than 1 year and the maximum surface area of the package is not greater than 20cm ² when the prepackaged food, you can only indicate the shelf life and the expiration date of the shelf life; in order to avoid the term “shelf life” for the consumer and the market regulatory authorities to cause confusion, the “shelf life” adjusted to “shelf life”. In order to avoid the confusion of the term “shelf-life” for consumers and market regulators, the term “shelf-life” has been adjusted to “consumption shelf-life” as an optional labeling content, which guides consumers to consume food reasonably after purchasing food to avoid food wastage.

The labeling of food containing allergenic substances is made mandatory. And digital labeling requirement is added.

Increased labeling requirements for imported prepackaged food

Opinion draft separately regulate the general requirements of imported prepackaged food, ingredient list, producer, operator’s name, address and contact information, country or region of origin, date labeling, suitable for the population, serving size or method of consumption and so on.

Modified the exempted labeling content

Provides that under the premise of batch number, wines and liquors with alcohol content greater than or equal to 10% may not be labeled with the date of production; in accordance with the requirements of the market regulatory authorities, the labeling requirements for prepackaged foods with a maximum surface area of less than 20cm² are unified, and no longer differentiate between prepackaged foods in the form of rationing or measurement.

FoodPartner.com found after comparison that the opinion draft compared with the current GB 7718 and the previous three versions of the draft for comment have undergone major changes. The revised content of the draft can better guide the production and design of enterprises, more convenient for consumers to read and understand, and also provide convenience for the enforcement and inspection of the regulatory authorities. FoodPartner.com reminds everyone to submit timely feedback as required within the stipulated time and prepare for the adjustment of labeling and marking.