Guide on the Registration and Notification of Food Supplements in China

1. Supervision and Administration of Food Supplements in China

With regard to the National Standard for Food Safety GB 16740, food supplements are the food the purpose of which is to supplement vitamins and minerals or with certain nutritional effects. Food supplements are intended to correct nutritional deficiencies, maintain an adequate intake of certain nutrients, or support specific psychological functions. They are not medicinal products and as such cannot exert pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic action. Therefore, their use is not intended to treat or prevent diseases in humans or modify psychological functions. Additionally, their use shall not pose any risk to human health. 

In China, food supplements are under the supervision and administration of the Food Safety Laws of the People’s Republic of China and the Measures for the Registration and Notification of Food Supplements. Food supplements imported to the Chinese market shall be registered or notified with State Administration for Market Regulation, and they can be placed on the market only after obtaining certificates. 

‘Food supplements imported for the first time into the Chinese market’ refers to food supplements registered or notified to be placed within the territory of China not from the same countries, the same enterprises and the same formulas.

 

2. Registration of Food Supplements

2.1 Eligibility to Apply for Registration

• Applicants for registration of food supplements imported into China shall be food business operators.
• The application shall be handled by the representative office of the food business operators or other agencies in China.  

 

2.2 Registration Process

 

3. Notification of Food Supplements

3.1 Eligibility to Apply for Notification

Applicants for notification of food supplements imported into China shall be food business operators.

 

3.2 Notification Process

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