In this article, Foodmate will introduce the relevant standards and regulations from the three aspects of products, production and labeling of infants and young children formula foods in China and Canada.


1. Introduction to standards and regulations related to infants and young children formula foods

(1) China

In terms of product standards for infants and young children formula foods, commercially available infant formulas (0-6 months old) should meet the requirements of "National Food Safety Standard, Infant Formula" (GB 10765-2010); Older infant formulas (6-12 months old) and young children formulas (12-36 months old) should meet the requirements of "National Food Safety Standard, Older Infants And Young Children Formula" (GB 10767-2010). In addition, in 2018, the National Health Commission issued the "Letter on Soliciting Opinions on 9 National Food Safety Standards for Infant Formula and 1 Standard Amendment (Draft for Comments)", which further refined the original 2 types of product standards into "National Food Safety Standard, Infant Formula (Draft for Comment)", "National Food Safety Standard, Older Infants Formula (Draft for Comment)" and "National Food Safety Standard, Young Children Formula(Draft for Comment)". These three standards should be referred to at the same time. In addition, according to the "Announcement of the Ministry of Health and 5 Other Departments on the Limit Value of Melamine in Food", the limit value of melamine in infant formula in China is 1mg/kg.

In terms of the production of infants and young children formula foods, production management and staffing should be conducted in accordance with the "National Food Safety Standard, Good Manufacturing Practice for Powdered Infants and young children Formula Foods" (GB 23790-2010) and the "Detailed Rules for the Inspection of Infants and young children Formula Milk Powder Production License (2013 Edition)". On May 12, 2020, the WTO/TBT National Notification and Consultation Center issued the "National Food Safety Standard, Good Manufacturing Practice for Powdered Infants and young children Formula Foods" (Draft for Comments). The amendments mainly include amending the dynamic standard control requirements for clean operation areas in the production of infants and young children formula foods, amending "Enterobacter sakazakii" to "Cronobacterium", and adding technical requirements for sterilization equipment, etc. In 2017, the National Dairy Engineering Technology Research Center solicited public opinions on the "Detailed Rules for the Review of Infants and young children Formula Food Production License". In 2018, in the "Detailed Rules for the Review of Infants and young children Formula Food Production License" for review, the scope of infants and young children formula milk powder was extended to infants and young children formula food.

In terms of the labeling of infants and young children formula foods, it should comply with the "Labeling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses" (GB 13432-2013), "National Food Safety Standard, General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" (GB 7718-2011), “Administrative Measures of Infant Formula Food Registration”, and should also refer to the special requirements for labeling in the product standards of infant formula foods at the same time. Among them, the "National Food Safety Standard, Labeling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses" (GB 13432-2013) stipulates the food name, labeling of energy and nutrients, eating methods, and suitable people for infants and young children formula food. The "National Food Safety Standard, General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" (GB 7718-2011) stipulates the nutrient content and content claims of prepackaged foods that infants and young children formula foods should also be followed, and the labeling method refers to GB 13423.


(2) Canada

In terms of product standards for infants and young children formula foods, it should comply with the provisions on the nutritional content of infant formula in Chapter 25 of "Food and Drug Regulations". In addition, because the contaminants and other adulterated substances in Canadian food are managed in the form of a list, the limits of various contaminants in infant formula products should comply with the “List of Contaminants and Other Adulterants in Food" and “The Maximum Limit of Various Chemical pollutants in Foods”. Among them, “The Maximum Limit of Various Chemical pollutants in Foods” sets the maximum limit of melamine in infant formula at 0.5mg/kg, which is stricter than China's limit of 1mg/kg.

In terms of the production of infants and young children formula foods, in addition to the requirements for the pre-marketing filing of infant formula food in Chapter 25 of the “Food and Drug Regulations”, the production of infant formula food should also comply with the “Good Manufacturing Practice for Infant formula Food”. Among them, the "Good Manufacturing Practice for Infant formula Food" stipulates the control requirements of raw materials, formulas, process parameters, facilities and equipment used in the production of infant formula food in Canada and exported to Canada. When infant formula is imported, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will evaluate the production capacity of infant formula manufacturers exported to Canada in accordance with the “Good Manufacturing Practice for Infant Formula” to ensure the safe entry of products.

In terms of the labeling of infants and young children formula foods, it should comply with the provisions on the nutrient content claims and function claims in the Chapter 1 of the "Food and Drug Regulations", and nutrient content labels, ingredients lists and other mandatory labeling information in Chapter 25. Moreover, it should comply with the general labeling requirements of consumer products stipulated in the “Consumer Product Packaging and Labeling Act” and the “Consumer Product Packaging and Labeling Regulations”, such as the language of the label, the height of the font, the method of labeling the net content, the allowable deviation of the net content, etc. In addition, it should also comply with the relevant regulations on the labeling of infant formula in the "Infant Formula Labeling Requirements of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency".

2. The summary

The above is the introduction of Foodmate on China’s and Canada's infants and young children formula foods standards and regulations. It is not difficult to see that China and Canada have relatively complete standards and regulations on infants and young children formula foods products, production and labeling. However, in terms of the existing and revised standards and regulations, China covers a wider range of monthly ages than Canada and has more precise product standards, which is conducive to ensuring the safety and nutrition of infants and young children formula foods in a more detailed way. Therefore, parents can rest assured to choose domestic infants and young children formula foods for their children.

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Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

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