New China Food Labeling Standards for Imported Food: 12 Key Requirements F&B Importers Must Know in 2025
On April 15, 2025, China’s National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委员会, National Health Commission, guójiā wèishēng jiànkāng wěiyuánhuì) published the revised GB 7718-2025, the mandatory national standard for food labeling, introducing 12 major changes that directly affect all imported food products sold in China. This update replaces the previous GB 7718-2011 standard—the first comprehensive revision in 14 years—and impacts over 30,000 food import companies operating in China, covering roughly 90% of all pre-packaged imported food categories. Importers have a 6-month transition period until October 15, 2025, after which non-compliant products may be rejected at customs or face administrative penalties of up to RMB 30,000 per SKU.
Why GB 7718-2025 Matters for Imported Food
GB 7718 is China’s foundational food labeling regulation, setting rules for everything from ingredient declarations to net quantity and date marking. The 2025 revision introduces stricter requirements specifically targeting imported food, including mandatory Chinese-language formatting standards, expanded allergen labeling, and new font size and legibility rules. Previously, an estimated 15% of imported food consignments were delayed at Chinese customs annually due to labeling errors. The new standard aims to reduce that figure, but importers must adapt within the 6-month window.
Foreign companies exporting to China through a 外商独资企业 (WFOE, wholly foreign-owned enterprise, wàishāng dúzī qǐyè) or via a Chinese distributor need to update their label artwork, nutritional panels, and ingredient lists. The cost of re-labeling a single SKU can range from RMB 5,000 to RMB 20,000 depending on complexity, and many international brands carry 50–200 SKUs, making upfront planning critical.
12 Key Requirements Under the New Standard
Below is a summary of the most impactful changes that imported food products must comply with under GB 7718-2025.
| # | Requirement | Details for Imported Food | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinese language must dominate | All mandatory text must be in Chinese; foreign language permitted only if smaller, same size, or below the Chinese text. Imports often fail when foreign text is larger. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 2 | Date format fixed | DD-MM-YYYY is no longer accepted. Only YYYY-MM-DD format allowed. EU-style date labels must be reprinted. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 3 | Minimum font size for mandatory text | Mandatory text (product name, net content, ingredients, allergen info, producer) must be at least 1.8mm tall. Smaller font = automatic rejection. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 4 | Allergen labeling expanded | 8 major allergens must be listed in a dedicated “allergen” section: crustaceans, fish, milk, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts, wheat/gluten. Previously only 5 were mandatory. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 5 | “Importer” information mandatory | Must include name, address, and phone number of the Chinese importer (WFOE or distributor). Overseas manufacturer address alone is insufficient. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 6 | Ingredient list in descending order | All ingredients must be listed by weight in descending order. Composite ingredients must show their own sub-ingredients in full. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 7 | Nutritional information panel standardized | Must follow GB 28050-2025 format. Energy, protein, fat, carbs, sodium, and added sugar required. Previously added sugar was optional. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 8 | Net content must be in metric | Imported products using fluid ounces, pints, or pounds must convert to grams (g), milliliters (ml), or liters (L). Dual-labeling with imperial units is allowed but metric must be primary. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 9 | Shelf-life statement must be clear | “Best Before” or “Use By” must match the original product language and be translated consistently. No ambiguous terms like “enjoy by”. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 10 | Country of origin mandatory | Must state “原产国: [country]” (country of origin, yuánchǎnguó). “Made in” alone is not accepted. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 11 | “May contain” statements regulated | Voluntary “may contain traces of” statements must be factual, not disclaimers. Unsubstantiated claims lead to re-labeling orders. | Oct 15, 2025 |
| 12 | Label inspection intensified | Customs will scan labels for font, format, and allergen compliance at port. Non-compliant labels trigger RMB 10,000–30,000 fines + re-labeling at importer’s expense. | Oct 15, 2025 |
Timeline and Enforcement for Imported Food
The 6-month transition period means importers can continue using old labels until October 14, 2025, but any product produced after October 15, 2025, must comply with GB 7718-2025. Products already in the supply chain with old labels can still be sold through to their expiry date, but Customs will reject new arrivals with non-compliant labels starting October 15.
China Customs (海关总署, General Administration of Customs, hǎiguān zǒngshǔ) announced that 100% of imported food consignments will be inspected for labeling compliance during the first 3 months after enforcement, dropping to random sampling of 20% after six months if defect rates remain below 2%. In Q1 2025, prior to the new standard, customs rejected approximately 1,200 imported food shipments due to labeling issues—a 14% increase from 2024—highlighting the growing scrutiny.
Immediate Implications for F&B Companies
Foreign food and beverage brands that export to China must update their label artwork, nutritional panels, and packaging files within the transition window. For companies already operating a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) in China, the importer information (requirement #5) will reference that entity. For brands using a third-party distributor, the distributor’s details must replace the overseas manufacturer’s address.
For example, a European snack maker with 120 SKUs exported to China previously used a single overseas address for all labels. Under GB 7718-2025, each SKU must now display the Chinese distributor’s name, address, and phone number. Re-labeling all 120 SKUs at RMB 10,000 per SKU (including artwork, printing, and customs re-registration) would cost RMB 1.2 million—a significant investment that must be budgeted before October 2025.
Three Common Pitfalls When Updating Labels
Strategic Recommendations for 2025
F&B companies should treat the new labeling standard as a compliance milestone that can also be leveraged for brand clarity. Clean, Chinese-dominant labels with clear allergen and nutritional information improve consumer trust—a factor that drives repeat purchases in China’s increasingly health-conscious market.
Importers who act early—completing label audits by July 2025—can avoid the October rush when demand for re-labeling services spikes. Chinese translation and legalization firms typically charge RMB 8,000–15,000 per SKU for full label review and customs registration. Budgeting RMB 10,000 per SKU across your entire China product portfolio is a safe estimate.
Next Steps for Your Label Compliance
- Audit your entire China SKU portfolio against the 12 requirements above. Use our China Food Labeling Compliance Checklist to flag non-compliant labels within 30 minutes.
- Engage a certified Chinese label reviewer before July 2025 to avoid the autumn bottleneck. Read our guide on Selecting a Chinese Food Label Review Service for vetted providers.
- Set up a WFOE or distributor agreement that includes importer information requirements. Our article Setting Up a WFOE for Food Import in China walks through entity registration and label ownership.
— China Gateway 360 —
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