欧盟企业在中国建议书（2024-2025）农业、食品和饮料工作组（英文）

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EuropeanBusinessinChinaPositionPaper欧盟企业在中国建议书

Agriculture,FoodandBeverageWorkingGroup

KeyRecommendations

1.ClarifytheRequirementsforImplementingNewNationalFoodSafety

StandardsforImportedFoods

•Clarifywhenthenewnationalstandardsbasedonthedateofproductionwillbeappliedtocustomsinspectionandmarketsupervision.

•Allowproductsproducedandimportedbeforetheimplementationdateofthenewnationalstandardstocontinuetobeimportedandsoldwithintheirshelflife,providedtheycomplywiththeoriginalnationalstandards.

2.AllowRecycledMaterialsinFoodContactApplicationsandEstablish

SectionThree:Goods

ApprovalProcessesandStandardsasSoonasPossibletoEncouragetheRecyclingofRecycledPolytheneTerephthalate(rPET)Materials

•EstablishanassessmentsystemandcorrespondingregulatorystandardsfortheuseofrPETasafood-contactmaterial.

•Encouragetheimplementationofprimaryrecyclingoffood-graderPETbottlestoreducetheuseofrawplastics.

•StrengthenpubliceducationonthesafetyofrPETmaterials.

3.RemoveRestrictionsintheForeignInvestmentNegativeListRelating

totheSeedIndustrytoLevelthePlayingField

•Removetherestrictionsonforeigninvestmentingeneticmodificationtechnologiesandgeneticallymodified(GM)seed(seedling)production.

•Relaxrestrictionsonforeigninvestmentinthebreedingandproductionofnewwheatandcornvarieties.

4.GuaranteeaTransparent,ScientificandEfficientReviewandApprovalProcedureforBio-technologyProductsandAcceleratetheApprovalProcedureforGeneticallyModifiedMicroorganism(GMM)Food,GMMFeedAdditivesandGeneticallyModified(GM)AgriculturalProducts

4.1OptimiseBio-safetyEvaluationProceduresforGMMFoodAdditives

(includingNutrientFortifiers)andFoodIngredients,EstablishandPublishTechnicalGuidanceonKeyInformationRequiredinSubmissionsandReviews

•EstablishandpublishthesubmissionrequirementsandtechnicalguidelinesforreviewsofGMMfoodadditivesandfoodingredients.

•Refrainfromrepetitivereviews.

•Optimisetheapprovalprocedurebyacceleratingthereviewprocessforfoodadditivesandfoodingredients,andbyrefiningandhomogenisingtechnicalrequirements.

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4.2AcceleratetheApprovalProcedureforGMMFeedAdditivesandGMAgricultural

Products

•Establishnewapprovalproceduresbasedontheproductsafetyrisklevel,andfacilitatemarketaccessforimportedGMMagriculturalproducts.

•SimplifytheapprovalrequirementsandacceleratetheapprovalprocessforGMMfeedadditivesandacceptplasmidorrecombinantdeoxyribonucleicacid(DNA)samplesforsafetyassessments.

•AdopttheEuropeanUnion’s(EU’s)practiceofacknowledgingthird-partytestreportsordelegatingsafetyassessmentstoindependentculturecollectionorganisations.

5.StrengthenCommunicationwiththeOrganisationforEconomicCo-

operationandDevelopment(OECD)toSupportChina'sAccessiontotheOECD’sFrameworkAgreementonPesticides

•StrengthencommunicationwiththeOECDanditsmemberstosupportChina’saccessiontotheOECDframeworkagreementonpesticides.

SectionThree:Goods

6.OptimiseImplementationofthe14thFive-yearNationalHealthPlanin

ConjunctionwiththeUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoalstoEducateConsumersonMakingHealthierChoices

6.1ContinuetoEncouragethe‘ThreeReductionsandThreeHealth’InitiativeBased

onScientificAssessment

•Conductcomprehensivemarketandconsumerresearchtoestablishafront-of-package(FOP)labellingsystemthatfitsChinesedietarycharacteristicsandnutritionalneedsandtakesothercountries’requirementsintoconsideration.

•CoordinateamongdifferentstakeholderstoadoptaunifiedFOPlabellingframework.

•EnhanceconsumereducationandimprovepublicawarenessoftheFOPlabellingsystemtohelppeoplemakehealthyandinformedchoices.

6.2IncreasePublicAwarenessofResponsibleDrinking

•Continuetopromoteresponsiblealcoholconsumption,andthehealthyandsustainabledevelopmentofthealcoholicbeverageindustrybyhostingnationwideawarenesscampaigns.

•Collaboratewithrelevantstakeholders,includingthosewithintheindustry,whendraftinganyguidanceorpolicyonalcoholcontrols.

6.3OptimisetheRegulationofPlant-basedFoods

•Developcomprehensivefoodsafetystandardsfor,andaspecificdefinitionof,plant-basedfoods,andencourageindustryinnovationandtechnologicaladvancement.

•Establisharegulatoryframeworkforplant-basedfoodstooverseebusinessactivitiesandprotectconsumerrights.

DairyIndustrySub-workingGroup

1.ImproveDairy-relatedNationalFoodSafetyStandards

•Alignthedevelopmentandrevisionofdairy-relatedstandardsmoreeffectivelywithinternationalstandardsandpractices,aswellastherealityofdomesticandinternationaldairymarketsandsupplychains.

•Optimisetheformulationandrevisionofnationalfoodsafetystandardsbyprovidingamore

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transparentandopenchannelforbothdomesticandinternationalindustryplayers.

2.OptimisetheRegulationofCulturesAppliedinDairyProduction

•Simplifythesafetyreviewproceduresforculturesthathavealonghistoryofsafeusageasattestedtobyinternationalorganisationsandtheirauthoritativelists.

FoodsforSpecialMedicalPurposesSub-workingGroupandPaediatricNutritionSub-workingGroup

1.OptimisetheRegistrationSystemforSpecialFood

1.1AccelerateOverseasOnsiteInspectionsforManufacturersthathavePassedtheDocumentation

ReviewProcesstoGuaranteeInspectionTimelinesaretheSameforOverseasandDomesticManufacturers

SectionThree:Goods

•Clarifytheprinciplesofexemptionfromonsiteinspections,andformulateandpublishanannualoverseasonsiteinspectionschedulebasedontheneedsofoverseasenterprises.

•Createanimplementationplanforoverseasonsiteinspectionsbasedontheprogressofregistrationreviewstoensureseamlessinspectionandregistrationofproductsthatarenearingcompletionoftheirevaluationand/orhavenosubstantialsafetyrisks.

•ExtendMemorandaofUnderstanding(MoU)asacooperativemechanismunderpinningoverseas,onsiteinspectionsofbothinfantformulaandfoodsforspecialmedicalpurposes(FSMP)productionfacilities,andapplythemtomorecountriesandregionsintheeventofforcemajeure.

1.2OptimisetheRequirementsforStabilityTesting

•Exemptenterprisesfromstabilitytestingwhentheysubmitmodificationandderegistrationinformationwithnewapplicationsforformulasthatusetechniquesandpackingmaterialsthatareidenticaltoformulasthathavealreadybeenapprovedundernewstandards.

2.ContinuetoImproveAllSafetyStandardsRelevanttoSpecialFoods,aswell

astheSupportingDocumentationRequiredfortheirRegistration

•Introduceneworupdatedstandardsforinfantfoodsforspecialmedicalpurposes(iFSMP)andFSMPtotheindustrybeforetheyarepublished,allowingenterprisessufficienttransitiontimebeforetheycomeintoforce.

•SetatransitionperiodofatleastthreeyearsforiFSMPstandardstoensurebothasmoothregistrationprocessandstablemarketsupply.

•Allowenterprisestodecidethenumberofcommercialtrialsfornewformulasindependentlyfromthosewithbothapprovedformulasandwhosestabilityanduniformityhavebeenverified,whentheproductiontechniquesoftheformulasremainthesame.

•Simplifytheresearchanddevelopment(R&D)demonstrationmaterialsrequiredforformulaadjustmentssothatonlythechangestothenewformulaneedtobeintroducedwithoutaone-to-onecomparisonwiththeoriginalformula.

•Optimisethetechnicalguidanceforclinicaltrialsofspecificnutrient-completeFSMPsassoonaspossiblebyofferingdifferentiatedmanagementwhensuchtrialsaredeemed

unnecessary.

•Giveenterprisesmoreflexibilityinthedesignofclinicaltrials,byallowingthemtouse

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productsinforeignmarketsascontrolgroups,andshareclinicaltrialdataforsimilarformulas.

•Reverttothepreviouspracticeforthedegreeofhydrolysisandosmoticpressurethatneedstobeindicatedduringregistration.

•Coordinatethesimultaneousreleaseofrelevanthorizontalstandardstoallowenterprisestocomplywiththemmoreeasilyandavoidunnecessarywasteofresources.

3.IncreaseMarketAccessforandImprovePublicAwarenessofFSMP

•OptimisetheHospitalInformationSystembylistingFSMPproductswithchargecodestogivemedicalinstitutionseasieraccesstoFSMPproducts.

•FormulateclinicalapplicationandmanagementguidelinesforFSMPtoguidestandardisedproceduresinmedicalinstitutions,improvethedevelopmentofclinicalnutritiondepartmentsandclinicalnutritionteams,andraiseprofessionalandpublicawareness.

SectionThree:Goods

•RevisetheMeasuresfortheInvestigationandPunishmentofIllegalActsRelatedtoFoodSafetyintheDigitalMarkettoallowtheonlinesaleofspecificnutrient-completeformulasundertheguidanceofphysiciansorclinicalnutritionists.

4.EstablishaLegalFrameworktoRegulatetheRetailMarketingof0–12-Months

InfantFormulaandProvideaDetailedPlantoEffectivelyEncourageBreastfeeding

•ReviseandissuetheAdministrativeMeasuresontheSaleofBreastMilkSubstitutesthroughtheNationalHealthCommissionandrelevantministriestoregulatethemarketingof0–6-monthsinfantformulainretailchannels.

•ConfirmtheStateAdministrationforMarketRegulation(SAMR)astheregulatoryauthoritytooverseethepromotionof0–6-monthsinfantformulainsupermarkets,maternitystoresandotherretailoutletstostrengthensupervisionoftheBreastfeedingPromotionActionPlan(2021–2025).

•Establishalegalframeworktoregulateandsupervisethemarketingof0–12-monthsinfantformulainretailchannelstoeliminatethenegativeimpactofinappropriatemarketingactivitiesonbreastfeedinginthelongterm.

RecentDevelopments

In2023,EuropeanUnion(EU)foodexportstoChinadeclinedfromeuro(EUR)15.8billiontoEUR14.6billion,aneightpercentyear-on-yeardecrease.Thisdropcanbeprimarilyattributedtoreducedimportsofbothporkproducts,duetoAfricanswinefever,andgrainproducts,asaresultofrisingglobalprices.1

On6thSeptember2023,theStateAdministration

1MonitoringEUAgri-foodTrade:Developmentsin2023,Directorate-GeneralforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,March2024,viewed21stApril2024,p.4,<

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/document/download/b2e5ee02-4a25-4a6b-

9663-92dbee9eb211_en?filename=monitoring-agri-food-trade_dec2023_en.pdf

>

forMarketRegulation(SAMR)andtheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralAffairs(MARA)issuedthe

ImplementationOpinionsonCarryingoutCropSeedCertification.2Subsequently,on8thDecember2023,theSAMRandtheMARAissuedtheCropSeedCertificationCatalogue(Batch1)andtheImplementationRulesforCropSeedCertification

2ImplementationOpinionsonCarryingoutCropSeedCertification,SAMR,6thSeptember2023,viewed21stApril2024,<

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(Pilot).3On23rdJanuary2024,theMARAissuedtheTechnicalSpecificationsforCropSeedCertification(Pilot).4Thesepoliciesandregulationsareaimedatprotectinggermplasmresources;ensuringfoodsecurityandsustainableagriculturaldevelopment;andpromotingboththeresearchanddevelopmentofnewvarieties,andthetransformationandupgradingoftheseedindustryoverall.Theworkinggroupwelcomesthepromulgationofthesepolicies.Atthesametime,itrecommendsthatChinaremoverestrictionsonforeigninvestmentinthebreedingofgeneticallymodified(GM)varietiesandtheproductionofGMseeds(seedlings),andrelaxforeigninvestmentrestrictionsonthebreedingandproductionofnewwheatandcornvarieties.

On21stMarch2024,theSAMRissuedtheAnnouncementonEncouragingFoodEnterprisestoOptimisetheProductionDateandShelf-lifeLabellingofPrepackagedFoods.5Thisannouncementencouragesfoodenterprisestoputprominentlabelsshowingtheproductiondateandshelf-lifeofpre-packagedfoodonthemaindisplayareasoftheminimum-salespackaging;iftheminimumsalespackaginghasmultiplelayers,thelabelshouldbeplacedontheoutermostpackaging;iftheproductiondateandshelflifearelabelledintheformof‘seeacertainlocationonthepackaging’,thelocationshouldbeclearandobvious,accuratelydescribedandeasytofind.

Atpresent,horizontalstandardsandadministrativemeasures,includingtheNationalFoodSafetyStandardGeneralRulesforLabellingofPre-packagedFoods(GB7718),theNationalFoodSafetyStandardGeneralRulesforNutritionalLabellingofPre-packagedFoods(GB28050),theNationalFoodSafetyStandardLabellingofPre-packagedSpecialDietaryFoods(GB13432)andtheMeasuresfortheSupervisionandAdministrationofFoodLabels,areunderrevision.Theserevisionswillhaveasignificantimpactonthefoodandbeverageindustry.Hence,itisessentialthattheircontentandissuance,andthetransitionperiod,bewellcoordinated,toallowasmoothshiftfromoldtonewstandards.

3CropSeedCertificationCatalogue(Batch1)andtheImplementationRulesforCropSeedCertification(Pilot),SAMR,23rdDecember2023,viewed21stApril2024,<

/zwxx/gg/lhfb/art/2023/art_5998fb3800354ba88c

d555f38dcb0e6d.html

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4AnnouncementNo.755oftheMARAofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,SAMR,23rdJanuary2024,viewed21stApril2024,<

/govpublic/

nybzzj1/202402/t20240206_6448415.htm

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5AnnouncementonEncouragingFoodEnterprisestoOptimisetheProductionDateandShelf-lifeLabellingofPrepackagedFoods,SAMR,21stMarch2024,viewed6thApril2024,<

/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/

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KeyRecommendations

1.ClarifytheRequirementsforImplementing

NewNationalFoodSafetyStandardsforImportedFoods

Concern

Theunclearrequirementsandtheinconsistentimplementationofnewnationalstandardsforimportedfoodsresultsinoverseasmanufacturersfacingshortertransitionperiodsandincreasedcomplianceriskscomparedtodomesticmanufacturers,whichisnotconducivetofaircompetitionandmarketstability.

Assessment

Inordertoprovideenterpriseswithsufficienttimetotransitionbetweentheoldandnewnationalfoodsafetystandards(nationalstandards),itisessentialtoestablishaspecificandreasonabletransitionperiodbeforetheirofficialimplementation.Fordomesticallyproducedproducts,theauthoritiesenforcecustomsinspectionandmarketsupervisionbasedonthenewnationalstandardsandtheproductiondate.However,whenimplementingthenewnationalstandardsforimportedfoodandtestingmethods,differentdepartmentstakeadiscretionaryapproachtoimplementingstandards.Thisdiscrepancycreatesuncertaintyforforeignenterprises.Becausethetransportationandcustomsclearancetimerequiredforimportedfoodistypicallytwotothreemonths,ifthenewnationalstandardscannotbeappliedbasedontheproductiondate,itnecessitatesproducingimportedfoodinaccordancewiththenewnationalstandardstwoto

threemonthspriortotheimplementationdate,toensurecompliancewiththenewstandardsuponentryintotheChinesemarket.ImportedfoodproducedinlinewiththeoriginalnationalstandardsbeforetheimplementationdateofthenewnationalstandardswillbeunabletoentertheChinesemarketorriskbeingremovedfromshelves.Consequently,thisincreasesoperationalpressureandcostsforforeignfoodmanufacturersandimpactsinternationaltrade.

On8thNovember2017,theSAMRreleasedtheStandardisationLaw,Article25ofwhichstipulatesthat“productsandservicesthatdonotmeetthemandatorystandardsshallnotbeproduced,sold,importedorprovided.”6Atpresent,thereisambiguityinthe

6StandardisationLawofthePeople’sRepublicofChina,SAMR,8thNovember2017,viewed18thApril2024,<

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SectionThree:Goods

SectionThree:Goods

Europeanchamber中国欧盟商会

interpretationofthisprovision.Asmentionedabove,iftheterm‘mandatorystandards’inthisclausereferstothenewnationalstandards,importedfoodproducedinaccordancewiththeoriginalnationalstandardsbeforetheimplementationdateofthenewnationalstandardswillnotbeabletobeimportedandsoldnormally.

On1stDecember2022,theworkinggroupsentanadvocacylettertotheGeneralAdministrationofCustomsofChina(GACC),recommendingthattheproductiondateofimportedfoodbetakenastheimplementationdatefornewnationalstandardsinordertomitigatemarketaccessbarriers.On30thDecember2022,theGACCissuedNoticeNo.136,clarifyingtherelevantrequirementsfortheimplementationofstandardsforfiveproducts,includinginfantformulaandprocessedcheese.Thenoticestatesthat“productsproducedandimportedbeforetheimplementationdateofthenewnationalstandardsthatcomplywiththeprovisionsoftheoriginalnationalstandardscancontinuetobeimportedandsoldwithintheirshelflifeinaccordancewiththeregulationsontheimplementationofdomesticstandardsandtherulesoftheWorldTradeOrganization.”7Theworkinggroupwelcomesthisclarificationandlooksforwardtofurtherclarificationoftheimplementationrequirementsforadditionalimportedfood-relatedstandards.

Recommendations

•Clarifywhenthenewnationalstandardsbasedonthedateofproductionwillbeappliedtocustomsinspectionandmarketsupervision.

•Allowproductsproducedandimportedbeforetheimplementationdateofthenewnationalstandardstocontinuetobeimportedandsoldwithintheirshelflife,providedtheycomplywiththeoriginalnationalstandards.

2.AllowRecycledMaterialstobeUsedinFoodContactApplications,andEstablishApprovalProcessesandStandardsasSoonasPossibletoEncouragetheRecyclingofFood-graderPETMaterials

Concern

Thelackofaproperlydevelopedregulatoryregime

7NoticeNo.136onInspectionRequirementsfortheImplementationofNationalFoodSafetyStandardsforInfantFormula,ProcessedCheeseandOtherImportedFoods,GACC,30thDecember2022,viewed18thApril2024,<

http://

/customs/302249/302266/302267/4767851/index.html

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andapprovalprocessesfortheuseofrecycledfood

contactmaterialsisresultinginahugewasteofnaturalresources.

Assessment

TheNationalDevelopmentandReformCommissionandtheMinistryofEcologyandEnvironmentjointlyissuedthe14thFive-yearActionPlanforPlasticPollutionControlin2021,whichprioritisesincreasingtherecyclingandreuseofplasticwaste,improvingrelatedstandardsandencouragingthehomogenisationandhighvalue-addedutilisationofplasticwaste.8However,thelackofclearstandardsishinderingenterprisesfromtakingrelevantaction,despitetheavailabilityoftechnologyfortheprimaryrecyclingoffood-graderecycledpolytheneterephthalate(rPET)bottles.

Theoverallrecyclingrateoffood-gradePETbottlesinChinaisashighas94percent,butthebottlesarenotcurrentlyrecycledforuseasfood-graderPETbottles.Iftheyweretobe,itcouldconservetensofmillionsoftonnesofrawmaterialsrefinedfrompetroleumperyear,reducinggreenhousegasemissionsby63percent(includingmorethan50milliontonnesofcarbonemissions)andcuttingenergyconsumptionby79percent.9InEurope,regulatoryframeworksandapprovalprocessesforrPETrecyclinghavealreadybeenestablishedandfood-graderPETmaterialsarewidelyused.However,Chinaisstillintheprocessofconductingriskassessmentsofsuchmaterials.Issuingrelevantpolicies,regulationsandstandardsassoonaspossibletoencouragetheuseofrPETmaterialswouldhelptoestablishtheiruseasasignificantdriverofcarbonneutralityinthefoodandbeverageindustryandfacilitatesustainabledevelopment,promotingacirculareconomy.Inaddition,theworkinggrouprecommendsfurtherstrengtheningpubliceducationonrPET,tomakeclearthatitposesarelativelylowrisk.TheEU,theUnitedStates,ThailandandothercountrieshavealreadyallowedrPETtobeusedasafoodcontactmaterialandhavereceivedpositivemarketfeedback.

814thFive-yearPlanActionforPlasticPollutionControl,NDRC,8thSeptember2021,viewed25thApril2024,<

/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202109/

t20210915_1296580.html?state=123&code=&state=123

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9Dong,Y,andSocci,E,StudyofFood-gradeRecycledPolyesterBottlesforAchievingChina's‘CarbonNeutrality’Goal,ChinaPackaging,15thJuly2021,viewed20thApril2024,<

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Recommendations

•EstablishanassessmentsystemandcorrespondingregulatorystandardsfortheuseofrPETasafood-contactmaterial.

•Encouragetheimplementationofprimaryrecyclingoffood-graderPETbottlestoreducetheuseofrawplastics.

•StrengthenpubliceducationonthesafetyofrPETmaterials.

3.RemoveRestrictionsintheForeignInvestmentNegativeListRelatedtotheSeedIndustrytoLevelthePlayingField

Concern

TheSpecialAdministrativeMeasuresforForeignInvestment(2021NegativeList)removedsomerestrictionsintheseedindustry,butstillprohibitsorrestrictsforeigninvestmentinseedselection,breedingandproduction,includingthebreedingoftransgenicvarietiesandtheproductionoftransgenicseeds(seedlings).

Assessment

China’sGMseedmanagementpolicyhasundergonesignificantchangesinrecentyears,with37GMcornvarietiesapprovedatthefourthmeetingoftheFifthNationalCropVarietyApprovalCommittee.However,foreign-fundedenterprisesarecurrentlyunabletoparticipate.10The2021NegativeListstillrestrictsforeigninvestmentintheselectionandproductionofGMcropvarieties,andstillrequiresthatthecontrollingentityforthebreedingandproductionofcornvarietiesbeaChineseentity.Thisnotonlyincreasesunfaircompetitioninthemarketbetweendomesticandforeign-investedenterprisesinthisfield,butalsohindersChina’sgoalsforinnovationinandmodernisationoftheagriculturalsector.

Recommendations

•RemovetherestrictionsonforeigninvestmentingeneticmodificationtechnologiesandGMseed(seedling)production.

•Relaxrestrictionsonforeigninvestmentinthebreedingandproductionofnewwheatandcornvarieties.

10AnnouncementNo.732oftheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralAffairsofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,MARA,7thDecember2023,viewed25thApril2024,<

/govpublic/nybzzj1/202312/t20231207_6442285.htm

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4.EstablishaTransparent,Scientificand

EfficientReviewandApprovalProcedureforBio-technologyProductsandAcceleratetheApprovalProcedureforGMMFood,GMMFeedAdditivesandGMAgriculturalProducts

4.1OptimiseBio-safetyEvaluationProcedures

forGMMFoodAdditives(includingNutrientFortifiers)andFoodIngredients,andPublishTechnicalGuidanceonKeyInformationRequiredforSubmissionsandReviews

Concern

Thesubmissionrequirementsandtechnicalguidanceforgeneticallymodifiedmicroorganism(GMM)foodadditivesandfoodingredientshavenotbeenpublished,andthereviewprocedureisnottransparent.

Assessment

AccordingtotheFoodSafetyLaw,whenusingnewfoodingredientstoproducefood,producingnewvarietiesoffoodadditivesornewvarietiesoffood-relatedproducts,relevantsafetyassessmentmaterialsfortheproductsmustbesubmittedtotheNationalHealthCommission(NHC).11However,thesafetyassessmentismorecomplexiftheproductionprocessinvolvesGMtechnology.Atpresent,theNHChasestablishedapplicationplatformsforGMMfoodadditives(includingnutrientfortifiers)andapprovednewvarietiesrepresentedbyenzymepreparations

andhumanmilkoligosaccharides,whichhaspromotedindustryinnovationanddevelopment.However,newGMMfoodingredientsstillcannotberegistered.

Currently,thesubmissionofGMfoodadditivesmustbeevaluatedorapprovedbytworegulatorydepartments.TheMARAisresponsibleforthebio-safetyassessmentofGMMs,whiletheNHCisresponsibleforthereviewandapprovalofthefinalproductsproducedfromGMMs,namelyfoodadditives.However,theregulatoryauthoritieshavenotyetestablishedandpublishedapplicationrequirementsandtechnicalguidelinesforreviewingGMMs,andtheMARAmeetingsforreviewingGMMsareonlyheldonceeverysixmonths,leadingtoseveralproblems.First,thereviewcriteriaareambiguous,meaningthatenterpriseshavenoclearindicationofwhatthereviewresultsmaybe.Second,

11People’sRepublicofChinaFoodSafetyLaw,NationalPeople’sCongress,29thApril2021,viewed25thApril2024,<

/detail2.html?ZmY4MDg

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SectionThree:Goods

SectionThree:Goods

Europeanchamber中国欧盟商会

incaseswhenGMMsarerejected,enterpriseshavenoopportunitytoappealorhavetheirproductre-assessed.Third,thelimitationonthenumberofreviewmeetingseachyear,incombinationwithunpredictablemeetingtimes,affectsbusinessplanning.

Atthesametime,thetechnicalrequirementsforthefoodadditivesafetyreview,forwhichtheNHCisresponsible,arenotclear.Theindustryunderstandsandsupportstherandomselectionofexpertstoensurefairness,buttheconsistencyoftechnicalreviewrequirementsalsoneedstobeensured.Becauseexp