Labeling requirements differ depending on the type of product, and there are various governmental bodies that have issued labeling requirements for specific sectors or product groups.  U.S. exporters should understand the labeling requirements that are applicable for their products to ensure a smooth import process.  PRC import inspection authorities point to labeling as one of the major reasons for noncompliance reports.  All products sold in the PRC must be marked in the Chinese language.  

Many products imported to China must receive a China Compulsory Certification (CCC) marking before sale. Products requiring the CCC mark, in addition to undergoing an application and testing process, must have the mark physically applied on products before entering or being sold in China. Many electronic products require the CCC mark.  For more information on the CCC mark, please see the below “Standards for Trade” section. 

The General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2011) requires imported foods to have clear markings that indicate the country of origin, name, address, and contact information of the registered agency, importer, or distributor. It is important to note that these labeling standards vary depending on the type of imported food. GACC Decree 249, which entered into force on January 1, 2022, outlines the various labeling standards and requirements. In addition, GACC Decree 248, which also entered into force on January 1, 2022, requires registered producers to mark the Chinese registration number or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the country/region on the inner and outer packaging of foods exported to China. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) summarized Decree 248 and 249 in its annual Food and Agricultural Import Regulation and Standard Country Report (FAIRS Country Report).  

Labeling of food products is mainly regulated by the Food Safety Law, the Measures on Supervision and Management of Food Labeling, and relevant national food safety standards. Import inspection authorities identify labeling as one of the major reasons for noncompliance and has been the focus of a significant volume of consumer complaints. The PRC’s 2015 Food Safety Law (revised on December 29, 2018, and April 29, 2021) requires pre-packaged food labels to include the following information: 

• Name, specification, net content, and date of production  
• Table of ingredients or formulation  
• Producer name, address and contact information  
• Shelf life 
• Code of product standard(s)  
• Storage requirements  
• Generic name of the food additives as used in the national standard  
• Production license number (Note: for imports, the facility registration number)
• Other information that must be indicated in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and food safety standards 

The labels of staple and supplementary foods for infant consumption and other specific populations must also list ingredients.  

On March 27, 2025, the National Health Commission (NHC) and SAMR jointly released the General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2025) and the General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB28050-2025). These standards set mandatory labeling requirements for all categories of domestic and imported prepackaged foods while also providing nutrition labeling rules for prepackaged foods offered directly to consumers. China has announced two years transition period for the enforcement of the newly updated standards, which will enter into force on March 16, 2027.

The following table provides the four National Food Safety Standards for Labeling, which provide the unique requirements for labeling based on the product.  

In addition, in December 2016, the China Food and Drug Administration (whose responsibilities have now been incorporated into the State Administration for Market Regulation) began requiring infant formula powder producers to review their infant formula labels and ensure that labels comply with the relevant laws, regulations, rules, and standards. More specific information is provided in the Infant Formula section of the FAS FAIRS Country Report. 

The PRC’s Administrative Measure on Labeling of Agriculture GMOs requires mandatory labeling of products that are produced from or contain GE materials. The FAS Annual Report on Biotechnology 2024 provides further information on the PRC’s biotechnology regulations.