When overseas manufacturers want to export food to China, they often confused the food category in China. Usually, except for the HS codes we are familiar with, we can refer to the definitions in some standards to determine, or combine the raw materials, processes, and eating methods of the product to determine. However, Chinese food category system is formulated based on the needs of different professional fields. Same food in different food category systems may be determined as different food, which we should pay attention to during distinguishing. The following is an introduction to food category systems in China for your reference.

1. HS

Customs HS code query, provide HS code query of import and export commodities. HS code "coordination" covers two major classification coding systems, "Customs Co-operation Council Nomenclature" (CCCN) and the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), and is a systematic and multi-purpose international trade commodity classification system.

2. GB

2.1 The food classification in the "National Food Safety Standard, Standards for Uses of Food Additives" (GB 2760-2014) standard adopts a grading system, which divides food into 16 categories. The food category system is a tool for defining the scope of food additive use in this standard, and only applies in this standard. If an additive is applied to a general category, it can be used in all its sub-categories, unless otherwise stated. On the contrary, food additives permitted to use in subordinate foods cannot be applicable to its superior Food. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the subordinate relationship of the food category when checking the scope of food additives.

2.2 The Appendix A.1 Food category (name) description of "National Food Safety Standard, Maximum Residue Limits of Fungaltoxins in Food" (GB 2761-2017) involves 10 major categories of food, each category is divided into several subcategories. The Food Category (Name) Description (Annex A) is used to define the applicable scope of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of fungaltoxins and only applies to this Standard. When the MRLs of a certain kind of fungaltoxins is applied to a certain kind of food category (name), then all types of food within this food category (name) are applicable, except special provisions.

2.3 The Appendix A Food category (name) description of "National Food Safety Standard, Maximum Residue Limits of Contaminants in Food" (GB 2762-2017) involves 22 categories of food, each category is divided into several subcategories. The Food Category (Name) Description (Annex A) is used to define the applicable scope of the MRLs of contaminants and only applies to this standard. When the MRLs of a certain kind of contaminant is applied to a certain kind of food category (name), then all types of food within this food category (name) are applicable, except special provisions.

2.4 In the Appendix A (Normative appendix) Food categories and determination parts of "National Food Safety Standard, Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food" (GB 2763-2019), the food is divided into 11 categories according to the source of raw materials. The food categories and determination parts (Appendix A) is used to define the application scope of the pesticides’ MRLs, which only applies to this standard. For instance, the MRLs of a pesticide is applicable for a certain food category, all the food in this category will be applicable to this MRLs, except special provisions.

2.5 In the Appendix D Food category (name) description of "National Food Safety Standard, The Use of Food Nutrition Fortifiers" (GB 14880-2012), the food is divided into 16 categories. The information in Appendix D is only applicable to this standard and used to define the usage scopes of food nutrition fortifiers. If a certain nutrition fortifier is permitted to be applied to a certain category of food, it can be applied to all foods under the category, except special provisions.

3. Sampling inspection

In accordance with the basic standards (GB 2760, GB 2761, GB 2762, GB 2763, GB 29921, GB 31650, etc.), the food category system, which is in "Detailed Rules for the Implementation of National Food Safety Supervision and Sampling Inspection", shall judge foods according to the basic standard food category system. If there are other provisions in the various food rules, the provisions shall be implemented.

4. SC

"The Categorization Catalogue of Food Production Licenses" divides food into 32 major categories and specifies the subcategories and the category details to which they belong. The "Food Production License Variety List" in the "Food Production License" is filled out in accordance with "the Categorization Catalogue of Food Production Licenses". This catalog applies to food production licenses.

5.Progress in the revision of Chinese food category systems

In 2014, The former National Health and Family Planning Commission initiated the standard formulation of "Food Safety Terms and Food Classification”. In 2017, The China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment and The China National Food Industry Association drafted a category system that includes 25 categories of food. In 2018, The National Food Safety Standards Review Committee solicited opinions on the "Food Classification System Used in National Food Safety Standards" internally. However, the "Food Classification System Used in National Food Safety Standards" is only used as a reference for food safety risk management and will not replace the current classification methods in the food industry. Moreover, it will not replace the classification methods used in the food safety general standards and food safety supervision. Therefore, practitioners in the food industry should master the above food category systems.

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