GB 7718-2025 English PDF

GB 7718-2025: National food safety standard - General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods
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GB 7718-2025
GB
NATIONAL STANDARD OF THE
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
National food safety standard -- General Standard for the
Labeling of Prepackaged Foods
ISSUED ON. MARCH 16, 2025
IMPLEMENTED ON. MARCH 16, 2027
Issued by. National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China;
State Administration for Market Regulation.
Table of Contents
Foreword... 3
1 Scope... 4
2 Terms and definitions... 4
3 Basic requirements... 5
4 Labelling content of pre-packaged food provided directly to consumers... 5
5 Label information for pre-packaged foods not directly provided to consumers... 11
6 Special foods... 11
7 Food claims... 11
8 Imported foods... 11
9 Requirements for digital labels... 13
10 Exemption from labeling... 14
Annex A (informative) Labeling format of some label items in pre-packaged food labels
... 15
Annex B Labeling format of food additives in the ingredient list... 19
Annex C Calculation method of the maximum surface area of packaging or packaging
container... 21
Annex D Labeling format of allergens in food labels... 22
National food safety standard -- General Standard for the
Labeling of Prepackaged Foods
1 Scope
This Standard applies to the labels of pre-packaged foods provided directly to
consumers and the labels of pre-packaged foods not provided directly to consumers.
This Standard does not apply to food storage and transportation packaging labels that
provide protection for food during storage and transportation, or the labels of bulk food
and ready-to-eat food.
2 Terms and definitions
2.1 Pre-packaged foods
Foods pre-packaged or made in packaging materials or containers. This includes foods
that are pre-packaged or made in packaging materials or containers in a certain quantity
and have a uniform mass, volume or length mark within a certain quantity limit. It also
includes foods that are pre-packaged or made in packaging materials or containers and
sold in a measured manner.
2.2 Food labels
The text, graphics, symbols and all other explanatory materials on food packaging.
2.3 Digital labels
Food labels displayed on food packaging using information technology such as QR
codes.
2.4 Ingredients
Any substance used in the manufacture or processing of food and present in food
(including in a modified form), including food additives (including food nutrient
fortifiers).
2.5 Production date (manufacturing date)
The date when the food becomes the final product, including the packaging or filling
date.
information of the producer and/or operator, production date and shelf life expiration
date, storage conditions, food production license number, product standard code,
allergen warning and other information required to be indicated by laws, regulations
and national food safety standards, except for the information exempted from food
product labeling in laws, regulations and national food safety standards.
4.2 Food name
4.2.1 The name reflecting the true attributes of the food shall be marked in a prominent
position on the food label. Attribute name refers to a special name that can reflect the
inherent characteristics of the food itself that does not need to be explained or has been
explained, including descriptions of one or more food-specific characteristics such as
food or ingredient characteristics, process characteristics, food category, etc.
4.2.1.1 When one or more names of a food have been specified or adopted in national
standards, industry standards, local standards, regulations issued by relevant
departments of the State Council and announcements related to food naming, one of the
names or a name that is essentially the same as the above names shall be selected as the
attribute name.
4.2.1.2 When there is no name specified or used in national standards, industry
standards, local standards, regulations issued by relevant departments of the State
Council, or announcements related to food naming, a name that can fully explain the
true attributes of the food and is not likely to mislead or confuse consumers shall be
used as the attribute name.
4.2.2 On the same display page as the food attribute name, the food’s "new name",
"unique name", "transliterated name", "regional slang name" or "trademark name" etc.
can be displayed at the same time. When the above names contain words or phrases that
may easily mislead or confuse consumers about the food attribute, they shall be
displayed in an adjacent position on the same display page with a font height no greater
than the attribute name and in the same font and color as the attribute name.
4.3 Ingredients
4.3.1 The label of prepackaged food (including single-ingredient food) shall indicate
the ingredient list. The ingredient list shall indicate the guide words. The various
ingredients in the ingredient list shall be named in accordance with the requirements of
4.2.Food additives shall be named in accordance with the requirements of 4.3.4.The
ingredients listed in A.4 of Annex A may be indicated by their specific names or by the
classification method in Table A.1, unless otherwise specified by national standards,
industry standards or local standards.
4.3.2 Various ingredients shall be listed in descending order according to the amount
(by mass) added during the manufacture or processing of food. Ingredients added in an
amount not exceeding 2% may not be listed in descending order. Ingredients that have
been volatilized or removed during processing may not be indicated in the ingredient
list.
4.3.3 If an ingredient directly added to food is a composite ingredient made of two or
more other ingredients or raw materials (excluding composite food additives), the name
of the composite ingredient shall be indicated in the ingredient list. The original
ingredients of the composite ingredient shall then be indicated in brackets according to
the requirements of 4.3.2.If there are national, industry or local standards for composite
ingredients and the amount added is less than 25% of the total amount of food, the
original ingredients may not be indicated. The composite ingredients added to the
composite ingredients may not be indicated in their original form.
4.3.4 Food additives shall be labeled with their common names in GB 2760, GB 14880
or the announcements of the health administrative departments of the State Council and
the national food safety standards. The name of a food additive does not include its
preparation method. If there are other provisions in the national food safety standards
or announcements issued by the administrative departments of the State Council, they
shall prevail. Food additives that can be used as food additives or food nutrition
fortifiers and other ingredients shall be labeled according to their role in the final
product.
4.3.4.1 Compound food additives shall be labeled with all food additives that play a
role in the final product. Processing aids and enzyme preparations that have lost their
activity may not be labeled. Food additives contained in compound ingredients that
have national standards, industry standards, and local standards and whose addition
amount is less than 25% of the total amount of food may not be labeled if they meet the
carry-in principle stipulated in GB 2760 and can be introduced into food through food
ingredients (including food additives). Excipients of food additives that do not play a
functional role in the final product may not be labeled. If there are other provisions in
national food safety standards, they shall prevail.
4.3.4.2 Food additives may be directly labeled with their common names. They may
also be classified and labeled with their common names and the functional category
names of the food additives at the same time. See Annex B for the labeling format. Only
one format in Annex B shall be selected for labeling on the label of the same
prepackaged food.
4.3.4.3 When labeling the common name and functional category name of a food
additive at the same time, if the maximum surface area of the packaging material or
packaging container is not greater than 60 cm2 (the calculation method of the maximum
surface area is shown in Annex C), the international code (INS number) listed in GB
2760 may be used to replace the common name of the food additive. If a food additive
does not have a corresponding international code in GB 2760, or if it is necessary to
label allergens, its common name shall be labeled.
4.3.5 Edible substances made from food and having certain packaging functions shall
be indicated in the ingredient list, unless otherwise specified in national standards,
industry standards, local standards or other laws and regulations.
4.3.6 For bacteria directly added during the production process, if they have not been
inactivated or removed, the specific name of the added bacteria shall be indicated. The
corresponding strain number and strain content may be indicated at the same time. If
the above bacteria play a fermentation role in food, they can also be classified and
labeled as "fermentation bacteria" or "microbial fermentation agent". If the above
bacteria are inactivated or removed by filtering or other methods, they do not need to
be labeled. If they are labeled, the sterilization process of the product shall be clearly
stated near the food attribute name or ingredient list, or "inactivated", "non-viable
bacteria type", "sterilized type", "sterilized type" and other words that can fully indicate
that the bacteria are no longer active. If there are other provisions in laws, regulations,
and national food safety standards, they shall prevail.
4.4 Ingredient emphasis and quantitative labeling
4.4.1 If the food label specifically emphasizes the addition or inclusion of one or more
ingredients or components, the amount of the ingredient or component added or the
content in the finished product shall be indicated in the ingredient list or in additional
text. See A.5 for the labeling format.
4.4.1.1 If the ingredients or components of food are mentioned in the food name, the
amount of the relevant ingredients or components added or the content in the finished
product shall be indicated.
4.4.1.2 The images used on food labels to illustrate taste, flavor, source of ingredients,
method of consumption or purpose, etc., are not considered special emphasis. If only
food flavors and spices are used to blend a certain ingredient or food flavor, only images
other than real photos of the relevant ingredients or food may be used, and the words
"Image is for taste reference only" shall be prominently displayed near the image.
4.4.2 When the food label specifically emphasizes that the content of one or more
ingredients or components is low or absent, the content of the emphasized ingredients
or components in the finished product shall be indicated.
4.4.2.1 When using words such as "none" or "does not contain", the content of the
corresponding ingredients or components shall be "0". If there are other provisions in
other laws, regulations or national standards, industry standards or local standards, they
shall prevail. Food additives, contaminants, and substances that are not allowed to be
added to food or shall not be present in food as stipulated in laws, regulations and
standards, shall not be claimed using words such as "none" or "does not contain" or
their synonyms. See A.5 for synonyms of content claims.
4.4.2.2 The words "no addition", "no use" and their synonyms shall not be used. If there
are other provisions in other laws, regulations or national food safety standards, they
shall prevail. For synonyms related to "no addition", see A.5.
4.5 Net content and specifications
The net content shall be indicated on the same display panel of the packaging or
container as the food name.
4.6 Name, address and contact information of the producer and operator
The name, address and contact information of the producer and operator shall be
marked in accordance with laws, regulations and the requirements of the food safety
supervision and management department of the State Council.
4.7 Date labeling
4.7.1 The production date and expiration date of pre-packaged food shall be clearly
marked in the order of year, month and day. See A.2 for the labeling format. If the date
labeling adopts the form of "see a certain part of the packaging", the specific part of the
packaging shall be marked. For products with a shelf life of 6 months or more, only the
shelf life and expiration date may be marked. The date labeling shall be clear, eye-
catching and easy to identify. It shall not be separated from the packaging or container.
It shall not be affixed, reprinted or modified.
4.7.2 When the maximum surface area of the packaging material or packaging container
is not more than 20 cm2, only the shelf life and the expiry date may be indicated.
4.7.3 To guide consumers to consume food properly after purchasing it and avoid food
waste, the shelf life can be marked according to the characteristics and process of the
food, as the last date of consumption of the food under the storage conditions indicated
on the food label. See A.2 for the labeling format.
4.8 Storage conditions
The storage conditions shall be indicated on the label of prepackaged food. See A.3 for
the labeling format.
4.9 Food production license number
The food production license number shall be marked in accordance with relevant
regulations.
4.10 Product standard code
Prepackaged foods produced and sold domestically shall be labeled with the standard
code and serial number implemented by the product.
4.11 Product quality level
If the food standard has clearly specified the quality grade, the quality grade shall be
indicated; otherwise, the quality grade shall not be indicated.
Chinese and foreign languages of the mandatory labeling content. The content
expressed in other foreign languages or traditional Chinese characters visible on the
label shall correspond to the standardized Chinese characters (except for trademarks,
the producer and address o...