What are the labeling requirements for retail products in China?

Yes — every retail product sold in China must bear a Chinese-language label, and non-compliance can result in fines of up to 30% of the product value or even criminal liability under the PRC Product Quality Law. The Chinese market imposes some of the most comprehensive labeling requirements in the world, governed by a complex web of national standards (GB, 国家标准 guójiā biāozhǔn), industry-specific regulations, and provincial-level enforcement guidelines. Whether you are importing food, electronics, textiles, cosmetics, or general consumer goods, understanding the mandatory label elements is not optional — it is a legal prerequisite for market entry. This FAQ breaks down every labeling requirement foreign brands must meet before placing products on retail shelves in China.

Direct Answer: Chinese Language Is Mandatory on All Product Labels

The single most important rule for foreign brands entering China is that all product labels must be in Chinese. Under the PRC Product Quality Law (产品质量法, chǎnpǐn zhìliàng fǎ) Article 27, all products sold within the People’s Republic of China must have labels written in standard Chinese characters (简体中文, jiǎntǐ zhōngwén). No exception is made for imported goods. Even products manufactured abroad and sold in China — whether through cross-border e-commerce, physical retail, or duty-free channels — must carry a Chinese label.

According to data from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR, 国家市场监督管理总局 guójiā shìchǎng jiāndū guǎnlǐ zǒngjú), product label violations were among the top three categories of administrative penalties in 2024, accounting for over 12,000 enforcement actions nationwide. For imported products specifically, approximately 8% of all detained or rejected shipments at Chinese ports in 2024 involved labeling non-compliance rather than product safety defects — a figure that underscores how seriously Chinese Customs (GACC) and SAMR treat labeling violations.

The Chinese label may be provided as a physical sticker affixed to the product packaging, a separate insert sheet, or a printed label directly on the packaging itself. However, the label must be securely attached, clearly legible, and durable enough to survive the product’s shelf life. Peelable stickers used simply to bypass customs inspection are not considered compliant.

General Labeling Law: PRC Product Quality Law and PRC Advertising Law

Two overarching pieces of legislation govern all product labeling in China, regardless of product category:

PRC Product Quality Law (产品质量法)

The PRC Product Quality Law (last revised in 2018) establishes the foundational labeling requirements for all products sold in China. Article 27 of the law mandates that product labels or instructions must include:

• The product name, manufacturer name, and manufacturer address
• The product’s main technical specifications and performance characteristics
• The production date, shelf life (保质期, bǎozhì qī), or expiration date where applicable
• The product standard code (the GB, GB/T, or QB standard under which it is manufactured)
• Safety warnings, handling instructions, and storage conditions where applicable
• The manufacturer’s inspection certification or quality mark

Products that fail to meet these labeling requirements are deemed non-conforming (不合格, bù hégé) and cannot be sold, distributed, or displayed for retail. Moreover, Article 50 imposes fines of 50% to 300% of the product value for products sold with false or misleading labels, while Article 53 specifically forbids the sale of products without Chinese-language labels.

PRC Advertising Law (广告法)

The PRC Advertising Law (广告法, guǎnggào fǎ), effective from 2015 and substantially revised in 2021, imposes strict rules on what can and cannot be stated on product packaging — which is legally considered a form of advertising. Key restrictions include:

• No use of superlative claims such as “best” (最好, zuì hǎo), “first” (第一, dì yī), or “national-level” (国家级, guójiā jí) without verifiable evidence
• No claims of medical efficacy for non-medical products (e.g., cosmetics or food cannot claim to treat disease)
• No false or misleading comparisons with competitors’ products
• All claims must be supported by verifiable data or third-party certifications

The Advertising Law also requires that any nutritional or functional claim on a food or cosmetic label must be substantiated by scientific evidence and filed with the relevant regulatory authority. Violations can result in fines of up to RMB 1,000,000 (approximately USD 140,000) for serious cases.

Food Labeling: GB 7718 and GB 28050

Food products face the most stringent labeling requirements in China. Two mandatory national standards govern food labeling:

GB 7718-2011: General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods

GB 7718 (食品安全国家标准 预包装食品标签通则, shípǐn ānquán guójiā biāozhǔn yùbāozhuāng shípǐn biāoqiān tōngzé) is the foundational food labeling standard. It requires all prepackaged foods sold in China to carry a Chinese-language label containing at minimum:

• The food product name (反映食品真实属性的专用名称, fǎnyìng shípǐn zhēnshí shǔxìng de zhuānyòng míngchēng)
• A list of all ingredients and additives, listed in descending order by weight
• The net content and draining weight (for solid-in-liquid products)
• The manufacturer’s name, address, and production license number (食品生产许可证编号, shípǐn shēngchǎn xǔkězhèng biānhào)
• The production date and shelf life (保质期, bǎozhì qī) with clear date format
• Storage conditions
• The food production license number (SC code, replacing the old QS mark since 2018)
• The country of origin (原产国, yuán chǎn guó) for imported foods
• Allergen information as specified in GB 7718 Annex B

For imported prepackaged foods, the Chinese label must include the name and address of the importer or distributor registered in China, who assumes joint liability for the product’s compliance. The original foreign-language label is not sufficient — a Chinese label must be affixed before the product enters domestic circulation.

GB 28050-2011: General Standard for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods

GB 28050 (预包装食品营养标签通则, yùbāozhuāng shípǐn yíngyǎng biāoqiān tōngzé) mandates the Nutrition Facts Panel (营养成分表, yíngyǎng chéngfèn biǎo) on all prepackaged foods. This standard requires a standardized table format displaying:

The Nutrition Facts Panel must express all nutrient values as both absolute amounts per 100 g / 100 mL and as a percentage of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV%, 营养素参考值 yíngyǎng sù cānkǎo zhí). The format and ordering of the table are strictly prescribed — deviations in layout, font size, or ordering can result in rejection during label review.

Special labeling rules apply to infant formula, health foods (保健食品, bǎojiàn shípǐn), alcoholic beverages, and foods for special medical purposes. Health foods additionally require the “Blue Hat” registration mark (蓝帽子, lán màozi) and a mandatory disclaimer: “This product is not a substitute for medicine” (本品不能代替药物, běn pǐn bùnéng dàitì yàowù).

General Product Labeling: GB/T 5296 Series — Textiles, Electronics, and Cosmetics

For non-food consumer goods, the GB/T 5296 series of standards provides category-specific labeling requirements:

GB/T 5296.1: General Rules

GB/T 5296.1 (消费品使用说明 总则, xiāofèi pǐn shǐyòng shuōmíng zǒngzé) establishes the general framework for all consumer product instructions and labels. It requires that instructions be provided in Chinese, be accurate and complete, and cover safe use, assembly, maintenance, and disposal. The standard applies to all consumer goods sold through retail channels.

GB/T 5296.4: Textiles and Apparel

GB/T 5296.4 (纺织品和服装使用说明, fǎngzhī pǐn hé fúzhuāng shǐyòng shuōmíng) mandates specific labeling elements for textiles and clothing:

• Fiber content expressed as percentage by mass, in Chinese (e.g., 100% 棉 for 100% cotton)
• Care instructions using standardized international symbols alongside Chinese text
• Product size or dimensions using Chinese sizing standards (not US or EU sizing alone)
• Manufacturer name and address
• Product standard code and quality grade
• Safety classification (A, B, or C class under GB 18401-2010 for textile safety): Class A for infant products, Class B for direct skin contact, Class C for non-direct skin contact

Imported apparel often fails on two key points: (1) using EU or US sizes without the Chinese equivalent, and (2) omitting the GB 18401 safety class designation. Both are common causes of customs detention for fashion brands.

GB/T 5296.3: Cosmetics

Cosmetics (化妆品, huàzhuāng pǐn) face an additional layer of regulation under the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR, 化妆品监督管理条例) effective 2021. Labeling requirements include:

• Full ingredient list in Chinese, using the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) names translated to Chinese
• Net content declared in metric units
• Manufacturing date and shelf life or Period After Opening (PAO, 开封后保质期, kāifēng hòu bǎozhì qī)
• Special cosmetics registration number (特殊化妆品注册证书编号, tèshū huàzhuāng pǐn zhùcè zhèngshū biānhào) for sunscreen, whitening, anti-hair-loss, and other regulated categories
• Whole-product filing number (备案编号, bèi’àn biānhào) for general cosmetics
• The mandatory warning: “Keep out of reach of children” and any relevant usage precautions

Effective 2024, imported cosmetics must also include the name and address of the Chinese responsible person (境内责任人, jìng nèi zérèn rén) who holds the product filing or registration. Cosmetic labels are also prohibited from claiming medical efficacy — terms like “anti-inflammatory” or “therapeutic” are not permitted unless the product is registered as a medical device or drug.

GB/T 5296.2: Electrical and Electronic Products

Electronics require labeling under GB/T 5296.2, plus additional certifications under the China Compulsory Certification (CCC, 中国强制性产品认证, zhōngguó qiángzhìxìng chǎnpǐn rènzhèng) system. CCC-marked products must display the CCC logo prominently on the label or product body, along with the manufacturer’s name, model number, rated voltage, frequency, power consumption, and safety warnings.

Mandatory Label Elements: Complete Requirements Table

The following table consolidates all mandatory labeling elements across product categories. Foreign brands should treat this as a checklist for compliance review:

This table is not exhaustive — specific product subcategories may carry additional requirements under vertical regulations (e.g., GB 13432 for foods for special dietary uses, GB 23350 for restriction of excessive packaging, or the Cosmetic Labeling Management Regulations). Always cross-reference the applicable GB or GB/T standard for your exact product category.

Label Approval and Registration Process: SAMR, CNCA, and CCC

Navigating the Chinese label compliance process requires engaging with multiple government agencies. The general sequence for foreign brands is as follows:

1. Determine applicable standards. Identify all GB, GB/T, or sector-specific standards (QB, SN, etc.) that apply to your product category. This step often requires a compliance consultant or a Chinese third-party testing lab such as SGS, Intertek, or TÜV Rheinland.
2. Design label content. Prepare a Chinese-language label draft that includes all mandatory elements identified in Step 1. All measurements must use metric units (gram, kilogram, milliliter, liter, centimeter, etc.). Dates must follow Chinese date format (YYYY-MM-DD, or 生产日期: 见包装).
3. Submit for pre-market filing or registration. For general products (non-food, non-cosmetics, non-CCC), no pre-approval of the label is required, but the product must comply with the relevant GB standard at the point of sale. SAMR conducts post-market surveillance and can issue penalties if non-compliance is found during inspections. For foods, the label must be filed with the local SAMR bureau. For cosmetics, the product label is submitted as part of the whole-product filing (备案, bèi’àn) or registration (注册, zhùcè) process through the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, 国家药品监督管理局 guójiā yàopǐn jiāndū guǎnlǐ jú). For CCC-listed products (covering 17 categories including consumer electronics, automotive parts, fire-fighting equipment, and safety products), the product — including its label — must be certified by a CNCA-accredited certification body before being sold.
4. Engage a Chinese responsible person. Imported products must have a legally registered entity in China — the importer or a designated agent — who is listed on the label and bears joint legal responsibility for compliance. This entity must be registered with SAMR and, for foods and cosmetics, with the relevant product authority.
5. Conduct label testing and evaluation. Many brands commission third-party label compliance audits from accredited labs (CNAS/CMA-certified). These audits verify that all mandatory elements are present, formatted correctly, and consistent with the product’s actual composition. For food and cosmetic products, ingredient database cross-checks are also performed to ensure no banned substances are listed.
6. Print and affix labels. Once compliance is verified, the Chinese labels are printed. For imported products, the label can be pre-printed on the packaging by the overseas manufacturer, or applied post-import at a bonded warehouse or customs-supervised facility before the product enters domestic distribution. The latter approach — post-import labeling — is common for brands importing in bulk from multiple source countries.
7. Register for the Article Tracing and Recall System. As of 2025, SAMR requires certain product categories (infant formula, health foods, medical devices, and select electronics) to have traceability codes integrated into the label. Food products must comply with the food safety traceability system (食品安全追溯体系, shípǐn ānquán zhuīsù tǐxì) under the PRC Food Safety Law.

The timeline for label compliance varies widely: general consumer goods can be ready in 2–4 weeks, food labels typically take 4–8 weeks including nutrition testing, and cosmetic label registration can take 3–9 months due to NMPA review queues.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The financial and operational risks of non-compliant labeling in China are substantial. Enforcement is carried out by SAMR, local market regulation bureaus (市场监管局, shìchǎng jiāndū guǎnlí jú), and GACC at the border. Penalties escalate by severity:

Beyond monetary penalties, the reputational cost of a public recall or SAMR enforcement notice can be devastating for a foreign brand entering China. Chinese consumers are increasingly label-conscious and share product compliance information rapidly through social commerce platforms like Xiaohongshu (小红书) and Douyin (抖音). A single labeling violation can trigger a cascade of distribution losses as retailers delist non-compliant inventory.

Repeat offenders face escalated consequences: SAMR maintains a public credit record system (信用记录, xìnyòng jìlù) where labeling violations are recorded and shared across government databases. A negative record can delay or prevent future import permits, license renewals, and even the ability to register new products.

Special Considerations for Cross-Border E-Commerce

Products sold through cross-border e-commerce (跨境电商, kuàjìng diànshāng) channels — such as Tmall Global, JD Worldwide, Kaola, or Douyin Global — technically enjoy a partial labeling exemption under the cross-border e-commerce retail import (CBEC, 跨境电商零售进口) policy framework. Under these rules, products sold directly from overseas warehouses to Chinese consumers for personal use do not need a full Chinese label at the point of sale, provided that electronic labeling information is displayed on the product listing page in Chinese. However, this exemption has important caveats:

• The exemption applies only to the CBEC channel, not to general trade (一般贸易, yībān màoyì). Once a product moves from CBEC into domestic retail (e.g., through bonded-area storefronts or offline displays), it must bear the full Chinese label.
• Food products sold through CBEC must still comply with GB 7718 Nutrition Facts requirements, though these can be displayed electronically on the listing page rather than physically on the package.
• The exemption does not apply to the first batch of products imported under the CBEC pilot — many local customs offices still require physical labels for inspection sampling.
• If any consumer complaint is filed with SAMR regarding labeling deficiencies, the CBEC exemption may not protect the seller from enforcement action.

Foreign brands planning to enter China through both CBEC and general trade should standardize on a single compliant label design to avoid maintaining two packaging SKUs.

For most foreign brands, the safest and most cost-effective approach is to work with a China-focused regulatory affairs consultancy and a CNAS-accredited testing laboratory early in the product development cycle. The cost of a comprehensive label compliance review — typically RMB 5,000–15,000 per SKU — is negligible compared with the cost of a customs detention (which averages RMB 30,000–100,000 in storage, demurrage, and legal fees per incident) or a full product recall (which can exceed RMB 1,000,000 for a mid-sized brand).

Where to Go From Here

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