Imported food products in China must comply with a comprehensive set of labeling requirements under GB 7718-2011 (General Standard for Food Labeling), GB 28050-2011 (Nutrition Labeling Standard), and the 2025–2026 GB 7718 revision, which collectively mandate Chinese-language labels with 11 compulsory labeling elements. Failure to comply is one of the top three reasons for customs detention of imported food products, resulting in product seizure, fines of RMB 10,000–50,000, and potential revocation of the importing company’s food business license. This guide covers every required label element, format specifications, and practical compliance strategies for foreign food manufacturers.
The 11 Compulsory Labeling Elements Under GB 7718
GB 7718-2011 (食品安全国家标准 预包装食品标签通则, shípǐn ānquán guójiā biāozhǔn yù bāozhuāng shípǐn biāoqiān tōngzé) requires that all prepackaged food labels include the following 11 elements. The 2025–2026 revision (currently in final approval stage as of mid-2026) adds digital traceability requirements and extends allergen declarations to mandatory status for all prepackaged foods:
- Product name (食品名称, shípǐn míngchēng): Must clearly and accurately reflect the true nature of the food. Standardized names from GB standards take precedence. If the product has a registered trademark name that differs from the standardized name, the standardized name must appear in the same field of view at the same or larger font size.
- Ingredients list (配料表, pèiliào biǎo): All ingredients listed in descending order by weight. Compound ingredients must be accompanied by their constituent ingredients in parentheses. Food additives must be listed with their GB 2760 functional category and specific name or INS number.
- Net content and spec (净含量和规格, jìng hánliàng hé guīgé): Net content expressed in the legal unit of measurement (g, mL, kg, L). Draining weight must be stated for solid-liquid mixtures.
- Manufacturer and distributor information (生产者/经销者的名称,地址和联系方式): Name, address, and contact information for the manufacturer AND the distributor/importer in China. For imported products, the foreign manufacturer’s name and address must appear alongside the Chinese responsible party’s details.
- Date of manufacture and shelf life (生产日期和保质期, shēngchǎn rìqī hé bǎozhì qī): Both dates required in the format DD.MM.YYYY or YYYY.MM.DD. The date of manufacture must be indelibly marked on the package. This is one of the most frequently inspected elements during customs checks.
- Storage conditions (贮存条件, zhùcún tiáojiàn): Specific storage instructions (temperature range, humidity conditions, light exposure warnings) appropriate for the product. General statements like “store at room temperature” are insufficient for products requiring controlled storage.
- Country of origin (原产国, yuán chǎn guó): Clear statement of the country where the product was manufactured, processed, or underwent substantial transformation. For products assembled or processed in multiple countries, the country of last substantial transformation must be declared.
- Nutrition facts table (营养成分表, yíngyǎng chéngfèn biǎo): Mandatory under GB 28050-2011. Must display energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium per 100g/mL and per serving. Additional nutrients (sugar, dietary fiber, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, vitamins, minerals) are required if the product makes related claims. The format must follow the standardized table layout specified in GB 28050.
- Food production license number (食品生产许可证编号, shípǐn shēngchǎn xǔkězhèng biānhào): Required for domestically produced foods. For imported products, the GACC registration number of the foreign manufacturer must appear on the label under the 2025–2026 requirements.
- Product standard code (产品标准代号, chǎnpǐn biāozhǔn dàihào): The applicable GB, GB/T, or enterprise standard number. For imported products without a directly applicable Chinese standard, this may reference the exporting country’s standard or a registered enterprise standard filed with the local Market Supervision Administration.
- Allergen Information (致敏物质信息, zhìmǐn wùzhì xìnxī): Under the 2025–2026 GB 7718 revision, allergen declarations become mandatory for all prepackaged foods. The eight common allergens are: crustaceans, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts, and wheat. Cross-contamination warnings (“May contain traces of…”) are recommended where applicable.
Chinese Language Requirements and Label Format
All labeling elements must be in Chinese. Under GB 7718, foreign language text may appear alongside the Chinese text, but the Chinese text must be of the same or larger font size and must convey exactly the same information. Bilingual labels (Chinese + English) are the most common format for imported products. The Chinese text must use simplified Chinese characters (简体中文, jiǎntǐ zhōngwén) — traditional Chinese characters used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are not accepted on labels for mainland China distribution.
The label format must follow the standardized Chinese food label layout. Key format requirements include: minimum font size of 1.8mm for compulsory labeling elements on packages with a net content exceeding 200mL or 200g; Chinese characters must be in a legible, standard font (sans-serif recommended); the nutrition facts table must follow the exact column and row format specified in GB 28050, with the title “营养成分表” centered above the table; the date format must use Chinese-style date notation (either DD.MM.YYYY or YYYY.MM.DD).
For small packages with a total surface area less than 100cm², the product name, net content, manufacturer date, and shelf life must still appear on the package, but other elements may be provided on an accompanying leaflet or through a quick-response (QR) code linked to a Chinese-language information page. The 2025–2026 GB 7718 revision expands the scope of permitted digital labeling, allowing QR code-linked nutrition information and allergen declarations for packages under 50cm².
Nutrition Facts Table: Mandatory Format Under GB 28050
GB 28050-2011 (食品安全国家标准 预包装食品营养标签通则, shípǐn ānquán guójiā biāozhǔn yù bāozhuāng shípǐn yíngyǎng biāoqiān tōngzé) mandates a specific table format that differs materially from the Nutrition Facts panel used in the US or the EU. The mandatory table format is:
| 项目 (Items) | 每100克(g)或100毫升(mL) [Per 100g or 100mL] | 营养素参考值% (NRV%) |
|---|---|---|
| 能量 (Energy) | ___ kJ | ___% |
| 蛋白质 (Protein) | ___ g | ___% |
| 脂肪 (Fat) | ___ g | ___% |
| 碳水化合物 (Carbohydrate) | ___ g | ___% |
| 钠 (Sodium) | ___ mg | ___% |
Energy must be expressed in kilojoules (kJ), not calories. This is a common compliance gap for US and EU manufacturers whose labels use calories or kilocalories. NRV% (营养素参考值百分比, yíngyǎng sù cānkǎo zhí bǎifēnbǐ) is China’s equivalent of the US “% Daily Value” — it compares the nutrient content to the Chinese Nutrient Reference Values, which differ from US DRIs for several nutrients. For example, China’s NRV for protein is 60g (vs. 50g in the US), and for dietary fiber it is 25g (vs. 28g in the US). Using US reference values instead of Chinese NRVs is a leading cause of label non-compliance.
Voluntary nutritional claims — such as “low fat,” “high fiber,” or “reduced sodium” — are permitted only if the product meets the specific thresholds defined in GB 28050 Appendix C. For example, “low fat” requires ≤3g fat per 100g for solid foods and ≤1.5g per 100mL for liquids. Foreign manufacturers must verify that their products meet the specific Chinese thresholds, which may differ from those in their home markets.
Special Labeling Requirements by Product Category
Certain food categories carry additional labeling requirements beyond the general GB 7718 and GB 28050 standards:
- Infant formula (GB 10765-2021, GB 10767-2021): Must include specific nutritional content declarations, a warning that “inappropriate preparation may cause harm to infants,” and a statement about the superiority of breast milk. Cannot include images of infants or idealized claims about the product’s benefits.
- Health food (保健食品, bǎojiàn shípǐn): Requires the “Blue Hat” certification mark (蓝帽子标志, lán màozi biāozhì) at the top of the principal display panel, the SAMR approval number, and mandatory disclaimer text: “本品不能代替药物” (This product cannot replace medication). Health food claims must be limited to those specifically approved in the SAMR registration certificate.
- Alcoholic beverages: Must include alcohol content (% vol), “excessive drinking is harmful to health” warning, and, for imported beverages, the country of origin. Wine and spirits meeting specific standards may qualify for additional origin labeling.
- Genetically modified foods: Products containing GM ingredients must carry the label “转基因食品” (transgenic food) or “加工原料为转基因” (processing raw materials are genetically modified) as applicable under the Regulations on the Administration of Genetically Modified Organisms in Food.
- Irradiated foods: Products treated with ionizing radiation must carry the international irradiation symbol and the statement “辐照食品” (irradiated food) or “辐照处理” (irradiation treatment).
- Organic foods: Products labeled as organic must carry the China Organic Product Certification mark (中国有机产品认证标志) and the certification body’s code number. Foreign organic certifications (USDA Organic, EU Organic) are not acceptable substitutes without Chinese organic certification.
Label Compliance Process for Imported Foods
The label compliance verification process occurs at two points: pre-import document review and customs inspection upon arrival. Before import, the Chinese importer must submit the product labels to GACC or a designated label review authority. The GACC label review process takes 5–10 working days and costs approximately RMB 1,000–3,000 per label SKU. The review covers compliance with GB 7718, GB 28050, and any product-specific labeling standards.
Upon arrival at the Chinese port, customs inspectors conduct label compliance checks as part of the standard inspection process. The inspection rate for imported food labels is approximately 15–25% of all shipments, with higher rates for high-risk categories (infant formula: 50–100%, health food: 30–50%, dairy: 25–40%). Products with labels that fail inspection are subject to: (a) corrective action — the importer is given 10–30 days to supply corrected labels that can be physically affixed in a bonded warehouse; (b) if corrective action is not feasible, the product is rejected and must be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s cost; and (c) a fine of RMB 10,000–50,000 under the Food Safety Law.
Common label compliance failures seen in customs inspections include: energy expressed in calories instead of kilojoules (30% of failures), Chinese font size below the 1.8mm minimum (25% of failures), missing Chinese responsible party contact information (20% of failures), allergen declarations not aligned with the new mandatory requirements (15% of failures), and NRV% calculated using US or EU reference values instead of Chinese NRVs (10% of failures). Professional label pre-approval services are available from multiple Chinese regulatory consulting firms for RMB 2,000–8,000 per label and are strongly recommended before the first commercial shipment.
Practical Label Preparation Checklist
- Product name check: Verify that the standardized Chinese name matches the GB product classification. If no GB standard exists, register an enterprise standard with the local Market Supervision Administration before label printing.
- Translation accuracy review: Have the entire Chinese label reviewed by a native Chinese speaker with food regulatory knowledge. Technical ingredient terminology and nutrition claim language are common translation failure points.
- Nutrition facts conversion: Convert all energy values from kcal to kJ. Recalculate NRV% using Chinese NRV values from GB 28050 Appendix A. Verify that voluntary claims meet Chinese thresholds.
- Allergen audit: Conduct a full ingredient supply chain audit to identify and declare all eight mandatory allergens. Include cross-contamination warnings where shared equipment is used.
- Format compliance: Verify the Chinese font size (minimum 1.8mm for main elements), simplified character usage, and the standardized nutrition facts table layout.
- Pre-import label review: Submit labels to GACC or a professional label review service before printing to identify issues before they cause customs delays.
Where to Go From Here
Based on what you just read:
- Ready to act? Read [guide: CG360-FOOD-GUID-007]
- Still comparing? See [comparison: CG360-FOOD-CMP-005]
- Need numbers? Try [tool: CG360-FOOD-TOOL-005]
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