Imported Food Label Requirements for China: A Practical Guide for Exporters

3 August 2026 | Shanghai, China

China has revised GB 7718-2025 and GB 28050-2025. Both become mandatory on 16 March 2027. Non-compliant goods will be returned or destroyed — no second chance.

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For food exporters targeting China, the label is not a formality — it is a regulatory gatekeeper. And the consequence of getting it wrong is more serious than many exporters expect: non-compliant goods are typically returned or destroyed, not sent back for correction.

China has revised its labelling framework through two linked standards, with a transition period running to March 2027. Here is what you need to know.

Two Standards, One Deadline

Both key standards were published on 27 March 2025 by the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, and both become mandatory on 16 March 2027.

GB 7718-2025 — General Rules for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. Three changes matter most:

• Date labelling. Production and expiry dates must appear together in a clearly defined, independent area with high colour contrast.
• "Zero additive" claims banned. Terms such as 零添加 (zero added), 不添加 (no added), and 未添加 (not added) are prohibited — including equivalent claims in foreign languages.
• Digital labelling. QR codes are encouraged, but all mandatory information must remain on the physical package.

GB 28050-2025 — General Rules for Nutrition Labelling. This standard has been substantially revised:

• Mandatory nutrients expand from "1+4" to "1+6." Saturated fat and sugar join energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and sodium.
• NRV values and NRV% calculation methods have changed. This directly affects the percentages printed on labels and may downgrade existing nutrient content claims.
• "Zero" threshold values have been revised. A product that legitimately declared "0" under the old standard may no longer qualify.

Exporters who update only their general label and overlook the nutrition panel will still be non-compliant.

What Must Appear on a Chinese Food Label

Item	Requirement
Food name	Must reflect the food's true nature
Ingredient list	Descending order by weight
Net content and specifications	Same display panel as the product name
Importer / distributor name and address	Required for imported goods
Country of origin	For example, "Product of …"
Production and expiry dates	YYYY-MM-DD, in an independent high-contrast area
Storage conditions	Where special storage applies
Allergen information	Eight categories now mandatory
Nutrition information	Must comply with GB 28050-2025

Imported goods must carry a Chinese label, printed directly or applied as a sticker.

Allergen labelling is now mandatory — previously only recommended. The eight categories are: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, fish, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, milk, and nuts. Allergens must be emphasised in the ingredient list or listed separately.

Why the Deadline Deserves Your Attention Now

This is where exporters underestimate the risk. When Chinese customs identifies a non-compliant label on arrival, the practical outcome is return to origin or destruction — there is no mechanism to correct the label and re-present the shipment.

The scale is not theoretical. China Customs returned or destroyed thousands of batches of non-compliant food and agricultural imports in recent reporting periods, and hundreds of batches are refused entry in a typical month.

That means the cost of a labelling error is not a fine and a reprint. It is the full value of the container, the freight both ways, the lost listing window, and a buyer left without stock.

Practical Compliance Steps

• Start now. Packaging redesign, nutrition retesting, and reprinting take months — not weeks.
• Audit both standards together. General label and nutrition panel.
• Retest nutrition data. New NRV values and revised "0" thresholds may change your declarations and invalidate existing claims.
• Remove every "zero additive" claim, in all languages.
• Redesign the date area and highlight allergens.
• Check font sizes. Minimum character heights apply and vary by package size.
• Brief production, marketing, and export teams — labelling errors often originate in marketing copy.

Takeaway

China's revised labelling requirements are stricter and more detailed, but also clearer than before. The transition period gives you time — provided you use it.

Three priorities stand out: eliminate all "zero additive" claims, revalidate your nutrition data against GB 28050-2025, and meet the new allergen requirements. Labels compliant only with the old standards may be rejected at customs after 16 March 2027 — and rejection generally means return or destruction, not a second chance. Japan's labelling requirements add another layer — the Food Labelling Act mandates Japanese-language labels with specific format rules that translation alone cannot satisfy. In Vietnam, label enforcement varies by port— what passes in one city may be delayed in another

Preparing to export food to China? Read our guide on protecting your GACC registration.

Need help preparing compliant labels across Asian markets? See our Labelling & Regulatory Requirements service.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Disclaimer: This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Labelling requirements are subject to interpretation and change, and enforcement practice may vary by port. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant Chinese authority or a qualified regulatory consultant before printing labels.