The National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) of China have recently released a new National Food Safety Standard for Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB 2762-2022). This standard officially came into effect on June 30, 2023.

The new standard revises the maximum levels of various contaminants in foods, including lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, chromium, benzo[a]pyrene, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in foods. Following this, foods are now subject to stricter limits of contaminants.

 Main changes to the indicators specified in the new National Food Safety Standard (GB 2762-2022):

• Lead: The lead limits have been adjusted for infant food, commonly consumed foods by children (such as liquid milk, fruit juice, honey, etc.), and certain food products (such as vegetable products and fruit products).
• Cadmium: The cadmium limit has been revised for edible fungi and their products, aquatic animals and their products. Additionally, a cadmium limit has been introduced for foods intended for special dietary uses.
• Mercury: The mercury limit indicators have been revised for aquatic animals and their products, as well as edible fungi and their products.
• Arsenic: The arsenic limit indicators have been revised for cereals and their products, edible fungi and their products, oils and fats and their products, and condiments.
• Benzo[a]pyrene: The limit requirements for benzo[a]pyrene in certain foods have been revised. The category names of cereals and their products have been modified, with a limit value of 2.0 μg/kg. The classification of cream, butter, and anhydrous butter has been adjusted to milk and dairy products, while the limit index of benzo[a]pyrene remains unchanged at 10 μg/kg.
• PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls): The limit requirements for PCBs in food have been revised. The limit value for PCBs in aquatic products and their products has been revised to 20 μg/kg. Additionally, aquatic animal fats and oils have been included in the PCBs limit.
• Inspection Method: The inspection method for limited reference of pollutants in packaged drinking water has been modified. The limit detection method for pollutants in packaged drinking water is now specified as GB 8538, which refers to the “National Food Safety Standard Test Method for Drinking Natural Mineral Water.”

The full list and details are available at: China: China Releases the Standard for Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods.

After the implementation of this standard, any other relevant provision that are inconsistent with this standard should be implemented in accordance with this standard. In other words, the National Food Safety Standard for Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB 2762-2017) and its first amendment have been invalidated. However, any food produced prior to the implementation of the new standard can still be sold until the expiration of its product warranty period.

Reference:

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. (2023). China: China Releases the Standard for Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods. National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. (2023). National Food Safety Standard for Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB 2762-2022).