Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China 2015

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua)

 

Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China

(Adopted at the 7th Session of the 11th Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on February 28, 2009 and revised at the 14th Session of the 12th Standing Committee of the

National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on April 24, 2015)

 

 

Table of Content

Chapter 1: General Principles

 

Chapter 2: Food Safety Risk Surveillance and Assessment

 

Chapter 3: Food Safety Standards

 

Chapter 4: Food Production and Trading

 

Section 1: General Provisions

 

Section 2: Process Control of Production and Trading

 

Section 3: Label, Product Description and Advertisement

 

Section 4: Special Foods

 

Chapter 5: Food Testing

 

Chapter 6: Food Import and Export

 

Chapter 7: Handling of Food Safety Incidents

 

Chapter 8 Supervision and Administration

 

Chapter 9: Legal Liabilities

 

Chapter 10: Supplementary Provisions

 

Chapter 1: General Principles

 

Article 1 This Law is formulated to assure food safety and safeguard people’s health and life.

 

Article 2  The following  business activities  carried out  within the  territory of the  People’s Republic  of China shall abide by this Law:

 

1)  Food  production  and processing  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  “food  production”); food  sales  and  catering service (hereinafter referred to as “trading”);

 

2) Production and trading of food additives;

3) Production  and trading of  packing materials,  containers, detergents/disinfectants for  foods, as well  as tools and equipment used in food production and trading (hereafter referred to as “food-related products”);

4) Food additives and food-related products used by food producers and traders;

5) Food storage and transportation;

6) Safety management of food, food additives and food-related products.

The quality and safety management  of primary agricultural products for consumption (hereinafter referred to  as“edible agricultural products”) shall  abide by the Law of  the People’s Republic of China  on Quality and Safety of  Agricultural Products.  However, the  marketing  and sales  of  edible agricultural  products, development  of relevant quality safety  standards and publishing of relevant  safety information as well as  the quality and safety
management of agricultural inputs covered by this Law shall abide by this Law.
Article  3 Food  safety  work shall  follow  the principles  of  “putting prevention  first,  risk-based management,whole-process control,  and making  efforts by  the whole  society”, aiming  to establish  the scientific  and strict supervision and administration system.

Article 4 Food producers and traders shall take responsibilities for food produced and traded.

Food producers and traders shall follow  laws, regulations and food safety standards in their  operation. They are required to ensure the  food safety, be honest and  self-disciplined, be responsible for the  society and the public,accept supervision and administration be the public, and bear the social responsibilities.

Article  5  The   State  Council  establishes  the  Food   Safety  Committee,  and  assigns   responsibilities  to  the Committee.

The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) under the State Council, in accordance with this Law and the responsibilities  identified by  the State  Council,  supervision and  administrations food  production  and trading activities.

The  State Council  health administrative  department  (the National  Health and  Family  Planning Commission,NHFPC), in  accordance with  this Law and  the responsibilities  identified by  the State Council,  conducts food safety risk surveillance, risk  assessment, and develops and publishes national food  safety standards jointly with the CFDA.

Other ministries under the State  Council shall undertake relevant food safety work in  accordance with this Law and responsibilities identified by the State Council.

Article  6  County  and  above  level  governments  shall   be  responsible  for  the  food  safety  supervision  and management  in the  region; it  shall lead,  organize  and coordinate  food safety  supervision  and administration work, as well as respond  to food safety incidents, establish/improve the whole process food  safety management mechanism and the information sharing mechanism.

County  and  above  level  governments,  in  accordance  with  this  Law  and  provisions  of  the  State  Council,determines the  responsibilities of  the food  and drug  administration, the  health administrative  department and other  relevant  departments  of  the  same  levels;  relevant  departments   shall  be  responsible  for  food  safety supervision and administration accordingly.

The county-level food and drug administration could establish resident agencies in towns or certain districts.

Article 7 The  county and above level  governments shall enforce  the food safety accountability  system. Higher level  government evaluates  and appraises  the food  safety  supervision and  administration work  by  the lower level governments.  County and  above  level governments  shall evaluate  and appraise  food safety  supervision and administration work by the food and drug administration and other departments of the same level.

Article 8  The county and above  level governments shall  incorporate food safety  work into the local  economic and social development  plan, include the  expenses for food  safety work into the  government financial budget,reinforce capacity  building for  food safety  supervision and  administration, and provide  necessary supports  to safeguard food safety works.

The  county  and above  level  food  and  drug  administration and  other  relevant  departments  shall  strengthen communication and coordination, exercise the rights and bear the responsibilities.

Article 9  Food industry associations shall  play multiple roles,  such as reinforce  self-discipline of the industry,establish  the industry  rules and  the awarding/penalty  mechanism  pursuant to  their charters,  provide  services such as food  safety information and  technologies, guide and  motivate food producers and  traders to engage  in production  and trading  according  to  laws,  promote the  credit  building  of  industry, publish/popularize  food safety information, etc.

Consumer  associations  or other  consumer  organizations  are  the  social powers  that  oversight  activities  that violate this Law and harm the consumers’ lawful rights.

Article 10  The  governments at  all levels  shall strengthen  public  education of  food safety,  encourages social organizations, community  groups and  food producers/traders  to conduct  educational activities  regarding food safety laws and  regulations, standards and  knowledge, to advocate healthy  diets, and to  raise consumers’ food safety awareness and self-protection.

The media  shall launch publicity  for the  food safety laws,  regulations, standards and  knowledge, and  provide public oversight on acts that violate the Law. Publicity and reports of food safety issues shall be truthful and fair.

Article 11 China encourages and  supports basic and applied research related to food  safety; food producers and traders are  encouraged  and supported  to adopt  advanced technologies  and management  practices  to improve food safety.

China puts  in practice  strict management  systems on the  use of  pesticides, expedites  the obsolete  of extreme poisonous  pesticides,  highly  toxic pesticides  and  high-persistent  pesticides,  promotes  the  development and application  of  alternative  products  and  encourages  the  use  of  high-effective,  low-toxic  and  less-persistent pesticides.

Article 12 Any  organization or individual has the  right to report violations to  food safety; they have the  lawful right  to  inquire   food  safety  information  from  relevant  government   agencies  and  provide  comments  and suggestions about food safety supervision and administration work.

Article 13 Any entity and individual that  have made outstanding contributions in the work of guaranteeing food safety shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with the relevant national provisions.

Chapter 2: Food Safety Risk Surveillance and Assessment

Article 14 China establishes the  food safety risk surveillance system, which monitors food-borne diseases,  food contamination and other food-related hazards.

NHFPC, CFDA and AQSIQ jointly develop and enforce the national food safety risk surveillance plan.

CFDA  and   other  ministries,   obtaining  information   of  food   safety  risks,   shall  verify   such  information immediately and notify the NHFPC. The NHFPC, receiving notifies of food safety risks, food-borne diseases by the medical  institutes,  etc., will  work with  relevant  ministries and  carry out  research and  analysis.  If deems necessary, the national food safety risk surveillance plan will be adjusted.

Based   on   the   national   surveillance   plan,  the   provincial,   autonomous   regional   and   municipal   health administrative department, jointly with the food and drug  administration and the quality supervision department at  the same  level,  shall  formulate and  adjust  the regional  food  safety  risk surveillance  plan  that  takes into account the regional particularities, file the surveillance plan to the NHFPC for record and execute the plan.

Article  15  The  technical  institute  shall  carry   out  the  food  safety  risk  surveillance  work  pursuant  to  the surveillance  plan  and  work  program  to  guarantee  truthfulness  and  accuracy  of  the  surveillance  data;  the surveillance data and analysis results shall be reported pursuant to the surveillance plan and the work program.

Food safety  risk surveillance  officials have  right to  enter farms  growing/breeding edible  agriculture products and food production/trading facilities to  collect data and samples.  The collected sample  shall be paid at market price.

Article 16  In the  event that  surveillance result  reveals possible  food safety  risks, the  county and  above level health  administrative   department  shall  notify   the  information   to  the  food   and  drug   administration,  the government  of  the  same  level,  and the  higher  level  health  administrative  department.  The  food  and  drug administration shall conduct further investigation.

Article 17  China establishes  the food  safety risk  assessment mechanism;  by adopting  science based  methods and referring to food  safety risk surveillance information, scientific  data and related information, carry  out risk assessment into  biological, chemical and  physical hazardous factors  in foods, food  additives, and food  related products.

NHFPC is responsible for  organizing food safety risk assessments. NHFPC  establishes an expert committee on food  safety risk  assessment,  which is  composed  of  experts on  medical  science, agriculture,  food,  nutrition, biology  and environment,  etc.  to  conduct the  food  safety risk  assessment.  The  food safety  risk  assessment results shall be published by the NHFPC.

The safety  assessment of pesticides, fertilizers,  vet drugs, feed  and feed additives  shall be attended by  experts from the expert committee.

(Government)  shall not  charge fees  from food  producer  and trader  for food  safety  risk assessment;  samples collected shall be paid at market price.

Article 18 Food safety risk assessment shall be conducted in following situations:

1. Food, food  additives, and food related  products have safety  problems through food safety  risk through food safety risk surveillance or through a tip-off;

2. To provide science basis for developing or revising national food safety standards;

3. To identify prioritized areas or varieties in supervision and administration work;

4. New factors that may cause harm to food safety are discovered;

5. To determine whether a factor constitutes food safety risk;

6.  Other situations the NHFPC deems necessary to conduct risk assessment.

Article  19 CFDA,  AQSIQ  and  MOA, finding  it  is  necessary to  conduct  food  safety risk  assessment,  shall propose to  NHFPC to  conduct food  safety risk  assessment, and  provide necessary  information and  materials (including source  and  nature of  the risk,  relevant  testing data  and conclusions).  Upon  the occurrence  of the situations specified in Article  18 hereof, NHFPC shall conduct  food safety risk assessment in  a timely manner,and report the assessment results to the relevant departments of the State Council.

Article 20 The provincial and above  level health and agriculture administrative departments shall timely inform each other the safety risk assessment information for food and edible agricultural products.

The  NHFPC and  MOA  shall timely  inform  each other  the  safety risk  assessment  information for  food  and edible agricultural products.

Article 21 Food safety risk assessment results shall be  the scientific basis for developing, modifying food safety standards and implementing food safety supervision and administration work.

In case  the food safety  risk assessment conclusion  shows a food,  a food additive,  or a  food related product  is unsafe,  CFDA   and   AQSIQ  shall   immediately  announce   to  the   public  and   inform  consumers   to  stop consumption or  usage of  the product,  and take  actions to  terminate production  and trading  of the  food, food additive  and  food-related   products;  if  necessary,  NHFPC   shall  in  conjunction  with  CFDA,   immediately formulate or modify the relevant national food safety standards.

Article  22 CFDA  shall  work with  relevant ministries  to  conduct comprehensive  analysis  of the  food  safety situation based on  food safety risk assessment results  and the food safety supervision  and administration work. For foods present high risks  in the comprehensive analysis, CFDA shall issue  food safety risk alerts in a timely manner, and announce the alert to the public.

Article 23 The county and above level food  and drug administration, along with other government agencies, the food safety risk assessment expert  committee and its technical institutes, shall organize food producers/  traders, food  testing  institutions,  certification  organizations,  food  industry  associations,  consumer  associations  and media  to exchange  information on  food  safety risk  assessment  information and  food safety  supervision  and
administration information.    The exchange  and communication  shall be  science based,  objective,  timely and open.

Chapter 3: Food Safety Standards

Article 24  Safeguarding the  public health  shall be  the objective  of developing  the food  safety standards;  the standards shall be science-based, reasonable, safe and reliable.

Article 25  Food safety  standards are mandatory.  In addition to  the food  safety standards, no  other mandatory food standards shall be developed.

Article 26 Food safety standards shall include the following standards

1) Limits  of pathogenic microorganisms,  pesticide residues,  veterinary drug  residues, biotoxins, contaminants (heavy metals,  etc.), and other  substances hazardous to  human health in  food, food additives  and food-related products;

2) Varieties, scope of application, and dose of food additive use;

3)  Requirements for  nutritional  ingredients in  staple and  supplementary  food dedicated  to  infants and  other specific populations;

4) Requirements for label, mark  and instructions relevant to food safety requirements  such as food hygiene and nutrition, etc.;

5) Hygienic requirements related to food production and trading;

6) Quality requirements related to food safety;

7) Methods and procedures for food testing that relate to food safety; and

8) Other items necessary for developing food safety standards.

Article 27  NHFPC shall in  conjunction with CFDA, develop  and publicize national  food safety standards;  the standardization administrative department of the State Council shall provide the national standard number.

The limits  of pesticide  residue and veterinary  drug residue  in foods,  testing methods and  procedures shall  be jointly developed by NHFPC, MOA and CFDA.

The testing procedures  for livestock and  poultry slaughtering shall be  developed by MOA  in conjunction with the NHFPC.

Article 28  The development of  national food safety  standards shall refer  to the results  of risk  assessments for food safety  and take  full account  of the  safety risk  assessments for edible  agricultural products;  the standard development shall also refer to relevant international standards and  the international food safety risk assessment results.  Draft  national food safety  standards shall be  announced to the public,  and consider the  opinions from food producers, traders, consumers, and relevant agencies.

The national food  safety standards shall  pass review by  the NHFPC organized  National Food Safety  Standard Evaluation Committee.  The Committee,  made up  of experts  in medicine,  agriculture, food,  nutrition, biology and  environment, etc.,  as  well  as  representatives from  relevant  departments  of the  State  Council,  the food industry  associations,  and  consumer   associations,  is  responsible  for  review   of  the  scientific  aspects  and practicality of the national food safety standard drafts.

Article 29  In the  absence of a  national food  safety standard  for local specialities,  the provincial,  autonomous regional and municipal health administrative  department could develop and publish local food safety  standards, which shall  be  filed to  the NHFPC  for  record. Once  a national  food  safety standard  is developed,  the local standard would be eliminated.

Article 30 China encourages  food producers to develop enterprise standards  more stringent than the national or local food safety  standards, which are applicable  to the enterprise; the  enterprise standards shall be reported  to the provincial, autonomous regional and municipal health administrative department for record.

Article 31  The  provincial and  above level  health administrative  department  shall publish,  in its  website, the national food safety standards, local standards and enterprise standards developed or filed for record, and ensure that they are publicly available, and could be downloaded for free.

For problems emerged in food safety standard implementation, the county and above level  health administrative department shall work with relevant government agencies to provide guidance and answers.

Article  32  The  provincial  and  above  level health  administrative  department,  together  with  food  and  drug administration,  quality supervision  department,  and agriculture administrative  department of  the same  level, shall track  and evaluate  the implementation  of national  and local  food safety  standards; based  on which,  the food safety standards shall be modified in a timely manner.

The provincial and  above level food and  drug administration, together with  the quality supervision department and   agriculture   administrative   department,   shall    collect   problems   occurred   in   food   safety   standard implementation, and inform the problems to the health administrative department of the same level.

Food  producers,   traders,  and  food   industry  association,  upon  finding   problems  in  food   safety  standard implementation, shall report the problems to the health administrative department.

Chapter 4: Food Production and Trading

Section 1: General Provisions

Article 33 Any food production or  trading activities shall comply with food safety standards, and shall  meet the following requirements:

1) Have  appropriate places for  raw material treatment  and food processing/packaging/storage  that are suitable for the  variety  and quantity  of the  food being  produced or  traded, make  the environment  tidy,  and keep  the required distance away from toxic/ hazardous places and other contamination sources.

2) Have appropriate production or trading equipment or facilities that are suitable  for the variety and quantity of the food  being produced or  traded, have appropriate equipment  or facilities for  disinfection, changing clothes, cleansing, lighting, ventilation,  anticorrosion, dust-proofing, fly-proofing, rat-proofing, pest-proofing,  washing, wastewater drainage, and deposit of garbage and wastes.

3) Have  full-time or part-time  technical staff,  food safety management  personnel, and  the rules/regulations to ensure food safety;

4)  Have reasonable  equipment layout  and  work flow  that  prevent cross-contamination  between unprocessed foods and direct consumption foods, between  raw materials and finished products, and to avoid food contacting with toxic or dirty items;

5) Wash  and sterilize the  tableware, kitchenware, and  containers holding  direct consumption food  before use; after use, they shall be washed and maintain in clean condition;

6)   Use   safe    and   harmless   containers,   tools,   and    equipment   for   food   storage,   transportation,    and loading/unloading, keep  them clean and avoid  food contamination, comply  with special requirements  (such as temperature  and humidity,  etc.  for  food safety  purposes),  and  never store  and  transport food  with  toxic  or harmful items ;

7)  Use nontoxic  and  clean  packaging materials,  tableware,  kitchenware  and containers  for  foods  for  direct consumption;

8) Food  producers and  traders shall maintain  personal hygiene,  clean their hands,  and dress  in clean clothing and  cap, etc.;  use sterilized  and  clean containers,  vending tools  and  equipment for  direct  consumption food without package;

9) Use water that complies with the national hygienic standard for drinking water;

10) Use detergents and disinfectors that are safe and harmless to human health;

11) Other requirements stipulated by laws and regulations.

Producers and traders of  non-food products shall meet requirements  in item 1 to 6 of  this article if they engage in food storage, transportation, loading/unloading.

Article  34  Production  and   trading  of  the  following   foods,  food  additives  and  food-related   products  are prohibited:

1) Foods that are produced from  non-edible materials, or from chemical substances or harmful substances  other than food additives, or foods produced from recalled foods;

2) Foods, food  additives and food-related products that  contain pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide  residues, veterinary drug residues, biotoxins, contaminants (heavy metals, etc.), and other substances hazardous to  human health the contents of which exceed the foods safety limits;
 
3) Foods and food additives produced from materials/additives that have passed the shelf life;

4) Food with food additives beyond allowed scope or excessive amount;

5) Nutrition  content fails to  comply with food  safety standards for  staple and supplementary  foods for infants and particular group of people;

6) Foods  and  food additives  that are  rotten,  have rancid  fat, contain  mold or  insects,  dirty or  contaminated, contain foreign matters, have been adulterated, or display abnormal appearance;

7)  Meat or  meat  products made  from  poultry,  livestock, animals,  or  aquatic animals  that  die from  disease, poison, or any unidentified causes;

8) Meat or meat products that have  not been inspected and quarantined according to relevant regulations, or fail to pass such inspection and quarantine;

9) Food and food additives contaminated by packaging materials, containers, transportation vehicles;

10) Foods and food additives labeled with fake production date, shelf life or have passed the shelf life;

11) Prepackaged foods and food additives without label;

12) Food prohibited by the State from production and trading for special purposes, such as disease prevention;

13) Other foods,  food additives and  food-related products that fail  to comply with  laws, regulations and foods safety standards.

Article 35 China implements a licensing system for food production and trading. Any organization or individual shall  obtain a  food  production  and  trading license  before  engaging  in  food production,  sales,  and  catering services. It does not need to obtain the license for selling edible agricultural products.

In accordance with  the Law of the People’s  Republic of China on Administrative  Licensing, county and above level food  and drug  administration shall review  applicants’ documents  as required by  Article 33.1.1-4  of this Law, and shall inspect  the applicant’s production or trading place  if necessary. For applicants that comply with the requirements, grant the license; for those fail to comply with the requirements, a license shall not be granted, and the rejection shall be accompanied with written explanations.

Article 36  Small food workshops and  food vendors that  engage in food  production and trading  activities shall meet requirements for  appropriate size and condition  of production or trading,  ensure the food being  produced or traded are  clean, nontoxic and  harmless. The food and  drug administration shall  strengthen supervision and administration of these individuals.

County and  above  level government  shall be  responsible  for the  comprehensive oversight  of the  small  food workshops   and    food   vendors    by   means    of   strengthening    service   and    planning,   improving   their production/trading  environment, encouraging  and supporting  them  to improve  production/trading conditions, and entering  into  the consolidated  trading markets/shops,  or trading  in an  designated  temporary area  or at  a
specified period of time.

Detailed  management  measures  on  small  food   workshops  and  food  vendors,  etc.  shall  be  developed   by governments at provincial, autonomous regional and municipal level.

Article  37  For  production  of  novel  foods,  new  food  additive varieties,  or  new  food-related  products,  the producer  shall submit  the  safety  assessment materials  relative  to the  product  to  the NHFPC.  NHFPC  shall organize the review of the materials  within sixty (60) days upon receipt of the application.  For applications that comply with food  safety requirements, a license  shall be granted and  made public. For applications  that fail to comply with the safety requirements, a license shall not be granted with an explanatory note in writing.

Article  38  It   is  prohibited  to  add  medicine   to  food  produced  or  traded,   unless  the  added  substance  is traditionally considered as both food and Chinese medicine. The catalogue of  substance traditionally considered as both food and Chinese medicine is developed and published jointly by the NHFPC and CFDA.

Article 39 The  State adopts a licensing  system for the production  of food additives. Food  additives production shall  have venue,  equipment/facilities,  professionals and  management  system that  match  the  produced food additive variety,  the producer  shall, in  accordance with  the procedure of  Article 35.2  of this  Law, obtain  the food additive producing license.

The production of food additives shall comply with laws, regulations and national food safety standards.
 
Article 40  A  food additives  can be  incorporated into  the  scope permitted  for use  only  after it  is technically required and proven to  be safe and reliable through the  risk assessment; relevant national food  safety standards shall be timely revised in accordance with technical necessity and the results of food safety assessments.

Food producers and traders shall use food additives pursuant to national food safety standards.

Article  41  Food  related product  production  shall  comply  with  provisions  of  laws,  regulation and  relevant national food safety  standards. Food related  products of higher risks,  such as packaging  materials that directly contact  foods,  are  subject  to  production  licensing  of  relevant  industrial  products.  The  quality supervision authorities shall strengthen regulatory work over production activities of food related products.

Article 42 China establishes the food safety traceability systems that cover the whole process.

Food producers and traders shall establish the food  safety traceability system pursuant to provisions of this Law to  guarantee  traceability  of  foods.  China  encourages  the  food  prodders   and  traders  to  adopt  information technology measures in collecting, retaining production and trading information and establishing the food safety traceability system.

CFDA will work  with MOA and relevant departments  to establish the coordinated  traceability system for food safety that covers the whole process.

Article  43   Local  governments  at   all  levels   shall  encourage  scale   production,  and  chain   operation  and distribution of food.

China encourages the food producers and traders to participate in the food safety responsibility insurance. Section 2: Process Control of Production and Trading

Article 44  Food  producers and  traders shall  establish and  improve  its own  food safety  management system, provide training of food safety to staffs, strengthen inspection of the foods, and conduct the food production and trading according to law.

The  person  chiefly  in  charge  of  food  production  and  trading  enterprises  shall implement  the  food  safety management system and is fully responsible for the food safety work in the enterprise.

Food producers  and traders  shall have  food safety  management staffs  and strengthen trainings  and review  of such staffs.  If the food safety  management staffs fail  to pass the  review for food safety  management capacity, they shall not take the  positions. The food and drug administration shall  conduct random evaluation to the food safety management  staffs  in the  food producers  and  traders, and  publish the  evaluation results.  The  random evaluation shall not charge any fees.

Article 45  Food producers and traders  shall establish and  implement an employee  health management system. People having diseases listed by the NHFPC as diseases hindering food safety must not engage in work in direct contact with food for consumption.

People that engage in work in direct contact with food for consumption shall take a medical check- up each year, and can engage in such work only after they have obtained a health certificate.

Article 46  Food producers  shall  develop and  implement the  control requirements  for the  following issues  to guarantee products produced comply with food safety standards:

1) Raw material control, which covers raw material purchase, acceptance and feeding;

2) Critical point control, including production procedure, equipment, storage and packaging;

3) Inspection control, including inspection of the raw materials, half-finished products and finished products;

4) Control over transportation and product delivery.

Article  47 Food  producers  and  traders  shall establish  a  food  safety self-examination  system,  and  regularly examine their  own food  safety situation.  If the  production and trading  condition changes  and does  no longer comply with food safety requirements,  the producer and trader shall immediately take  rectification measures; if potential food safety  incident risk exists, the producer/trader  shall immediately terminate production  and trade, and report to the county level food and drug administration where it locates.

Article 48  The State encourages  food producers and  traders to comply  with good manufacturing  practice, and implement advanced food safety management systems in order to improve food safety management level.

For  food  enterprises  having been  passed  the  good  manufacturing  practice  and  certified  with HACCP,  the certification institutions shall conduct the follow-up  investigations according to law; for those failing to comply with the certification requirements, the  certification institutions shall cancel the certificate according to  law and report in a timely manner to the county and above level food and drug administration, and notify the public. The certification institution shall not charge any fees for the follow-up investigation.

Article  49  The producers  of  edible  agricultural  products shall  apply  agricultural  inputs  such  as pesticides, fertilizers, veterinary drugs, feed, and feed  additives in accordance with food safety standards and relevant state regulations. They  shall follow  the provisions  on safe interval  and the  withdrawal period  of agriculture inputs and cannot use agricultural input banned by national regulations. It is  prohibited to apply the extreme poisonous pesticides and highly  toxic pesticides on  vegetables, fruits, tea, Chinese  medicinal herbs and other agricultural
crops prescribed by the State.

Enterprises and specialized farmer cooperatives that produce edible agricultural products shall establish a record for use of the agricultural inputs.

The county and above level agriculture department shall enhance the  supervision, management and guidance on the application of agricultural inputs and establish and improve a safe application system for agricultural inputs. Article 50 Food producers shall check the license of the supplier and compliance certificate  of the product when purchasing  food  raw  materials,  food  additives,  and food  related  product.  In  the  absence  of  a  compliance certificate, the food raw  material shall be tested in accordance with  food safety standards. Food producers shall
not purchase  or use raw materials,  food additives, and  food-related products that  do not comply with  the food safety standards.

Food  producers  shall  establish  a  purchase  inspection  and  recording  system  for   food  raw  materials,  food additives, and  food related products;  they shall truly  record information such  as name, specification,  quantity, production date  or batch number,  shelf life, purchase  date of the purchased  raw materials, food  additives, and food  related  products,  as well  as  name,  address  and  contact  information of  the  supplier.  The  records  and documents shall  be  kept at  least till  six months  after the  product’s shelf-  life ends,  or at  least  two years  for
products that do not have a definite shelf life.

Article  51  Food producers  shall  establish  and  maintain  an inspection  record  for  outgoing  food  and  verify inspection certificates  and safety  status of  the outgoing  food. It  shall truly  record information  such as  name, specification, quantity,  production date or batch  number, shelf life,  inspection certificate number,  date of sale, as well as name, address,  and contact information of the purchaser. The  records and documents shall be kept in compliance with provisions in Article 50.2 of the Law.

Article 52 Producers  of food raw materials,  food additives, or food-related  products shall inspect the  food raw materials, food additives, or food-related products being  produced in accordance with food safety standards and the products can exit the factory or be sold only after they have passed the inspections.

Article 53 Food  traders, in purchasing foods,  shall check the suppliers’  license, compliance certificate or  other proving documents (hereinafter referred to as compliance certificates) of the food.

Food traders  shall establish  a  purchase inspection  and recording  system. They  shall truly  record information such as  name,  specification, quantity,  production date  or  batch number,  shelf life,  purchase  date, as  well as name, address and  contact information of the supplier.  The records and documents shall  be kept in compliance with provisions in Article 50.2 of the Law.

For food trading enterprises that  adopt a centralized distribution model, the headquarters  of the enterprises may centrally check  the license of  the supplier and  compliance certificates of  the food, create  an inspection record for incoming food products.

Food  traders  engaging   in  wholesale  business   shall  establish  food   sales  record  system  and   truly  record information such  as name, specification, quantity,  production date or  batch number, shelf  life, sale date of  the wholesale foods,  as well as  name, address and  contact information  of the buyers.  The records and  documents shall be kept in compliance with provisions in Article 50.2 of the Law.

Article  54 Food  producers  and  traders shall  store,  transport food  in  accordance  with food  safety  assurance requirements,  and regularly  check the  food  in storage  and  remove the  spoiled  or outdated  food  in a  timely manner.

Food  traders shall  indicate  at  the storage  facility  information such  as  food  name, production  date  or batch number, shelf life, as well as name and contact information of the producer when storing food in bulk.

Article  55 Catering  service providers  shall  develop and  implement requirements  for  material purchase;  they shall not  purchase raw materials that  fail to comply  with food safety  standards. Catering service  providers are advocated to make  public the food manufacturing process  and publicize information such as  food raw material and its source, etc.

Catering  service  providers   shall  check  the  foods  and   materials  to  be  processed;  any   food  and  material discovered under the circumstance as prescribed in Article 34.6 of this Law shall not be processed or used.

Article  56  Catering service  providers  shall  maintain  the facilities  for  food  processing,  storage  and display regularly; they shall regularly clean and adjust the thermal insulations, and facilities of refrigerator-freezer.

Catering service  provider shall wash  or sterilize the tableware,  kitchenware as required;  they shall not  use the tableware,  kitchenware that  have  not  been washed  or  sterilized.   Catering  service  providers, if  outsourcing tableware and  kitchenware to  be washing  and sterilized  by another  company, shall  outsource the  business to companies that wash and sterilize kitchenware and meet requirements set by this Law.

Article  57  Cafeteria  of  entities   that  provide  centralized  dinning,  such  as   schools,  kindergartens,  nursing institution for the  aged and construction sites,  shall strictly abide by  relevant laws, regulations and  food safety standards; to ensure food  safety. Entities that order food  from third-party food providers, shall  order food from the enterprises that  have obtained food  production and trade licenses;  they shall also inspect  the food supplied according to set requirements.  The third-party food providers  shall process food at current meal, and ensure the
food is safe and compliant with nutritious requirements.

The competent  authority supervising organizations  that provide  centralized dining shall  enhance education on food safety and routine management, mitigate the food safety risks and diminish potential food safety risks.

Article 58 Organizations who provide kitchenware  sterilization services shall have appropriate working venues, clean and  disinfection equipment  or facilities; the  water, detergents  and disinfectants  used shall be  compliant with relevant national food safety standards, national standards and hygiene regulations.

Entities providing consolidated  kitchenware sterilization services shall  implement batch-to-batch inspection on sterilized kitchenware, only the kitchenware pass the inspection are allowed to exit factory,  with the satisfactory disinfection certificate. The disinfected kitchenware shall  be labelled, on the individual package, of information such as company name, address and contacts, disinfection date, and expiration date.

Article 59 Food additive producers shall establish and maintain an inspection record for outgoing food  additives and  verify  inspection   certificates  and  safety  status  of   the  outgoing  food  additives.   It  shall  truly  record information  such  as  name,  specification,  quantity,  production  date  or  batch  number,  shelf  life, inspection certificate number, date of sale, as well  as name, address, and contact information of the purchaser. The records and documents shall be kept in compliance with provisions in Article 50.2 of the Law.

Article 60  Food additives  traders shall  check the  license and  product compliance  certificate of  the suppliers. They  shall truly  record information  such  as name,  specification, quantity,  production  date or  batch number, shelf life, purchase date of  the food additives, as well as name,  address and contact information of the supplier. The records and documents shall be kept in compliance with provisions in Article 50.2 of the Law.

Article 61 Consolidated trading market operators,  stall leasers, and trade fair organizers shall review the license of  the   admitted  food   traders  in   accordance  with  the   law,  clearly   define  the   food  safety   management responsibilities of the admitted food traders, and regularly inspect the trading environment  and conditions of the admitted  food traders.  Upon  finding of  any  activity in  breach  of this  Law,  they shall  immediately  stop the activity and report to the county level food and drug administration where the market locates.

Article  62  Third-party  online food  trading  platform  providers  shall  require  real-name  registration  by  food traders  that use  the platform,  and  shall clearly  elaborate the  traders’  responsibilities; the  platform  shall also examine the license if the producer or trader is required to obtain such licenses lawfully.

The third-party  online  food trading  platform providers,  upon spotting  trader  violating this  Law’s provisions, shall  stop  the   activity  in  a  timely   manner,  and  immediately  report  the   violation  to  the  food   and  drug administration where the trader locates;  the platform shall immediately terminate the  online trading service if it discovers activities that seriously violate laws.

Article 63 China  establishes the food recall system.  Where a food producer  finds that the food  being produced does  not comply  with  food  safety standards,  or  have evidence  the  food  may harm  human  health, the  food producer  shall immediately  stop  production,  recall the  food  product  released to  the  market, notify  relevant producers, traders and consumers, and create a record of recalls and notifications.

Should  food traders  finding  the occurrence  of  situations in  the  aforementioned paragraph,  they  should stop operation, information relevant producers/consumers,  and record the measures taken. Should  the food producer deems  it  necessary  to  recall  the  food, the  foods  shall  be  recalled  immediately.  Should  the  occurrence  of situations in the aforementioned paragraph is ascribed to food traders, the foods shall be recalled immediately.

Food producers and traders shall take actions  such as removal of harm, or destruction for foods that have  exited the market to prevent its re-entering into the market.  However, products recalled due to incompliant label, mark or instructions  could be sold  after the producers take  remedy measures and  guarantee safety of  the food; such remedy measures shall be informed to consumers while the product is sold.

Food producer  and  trader should  report  details of  the recall  and disposal  to  the county  level food  and  drug administration;  the  producer  shall  inform the  food  and  drug  administration  time  and  location  if  the harm removal or  destruction action  shall  be taken  on the  recalled foods.   The  food and  drug administration  could supervise the action if necessary.  In the event that a food producer  or trader fails to recall or  stop trading of the
food, the county and above level food and drug administration could order it to  recall or stop trading of the food.

Article  64  Edible   agricultural  product  wholesale  markets  shall   be  equipped  with  testing  equipment   and inspectors or entrust  testing agencies that  comply with the requirements  of this Law to  conduct sample testing on  the  edible  agricultural  products  being  sold  in  the  wholesale  market  and  report  to   the  food  and  drug administration.  If the  edible  agricultural  products  are found  not  complying  with  food safety  standards,  the sellers shall be demanded to immediately stop selling them and report to the food and drug administration.

Article 65 Whoever sells edible agricultural products shall establish  a purchase inspection and recording system for edible agricultural products.  It shall truly record the  name, quantity and purchase date of  edible agricultural products and name, address, and contact  information of the purchaser. The records and documents shall be  kept for at least six months.

Article 66  The food  additives  such as fresh-keeping  agents  and preservatives,  etc. and  food related  products such as  packaging materials,  etc. used  in packaging,  freshness-retention, storage  and  transportation of  edible agricultural products being sold in the market shall comply with national food safety standards.

Section 3: Label, product description and advertisemen

Article 67 Pre-packaged food shall be labeled on the package, which indicates the following:

1) Name, specification, net content, and date of production;

2) Table of ingredients or formulation;

3) Producer’s name, address and contact information;

4) Shelf life;

5) Code of product standard(s);

6) Storage requirements;

7) Generic name of the food additives as used in the national standard;

8) Production License Number; and

9) Other  information that  must be  indicated in  accordance with  applicable laws,  regulations, and  food safety standards.

 

The  labels of  staple  and  supplementary  food dedicated  to  infants  and  other specific  populations  shall  also indicate main nutritional ingredients and their contents.

 

If the national food safety standard sets requirements on labeling, such requirements shall be followed.

Article  68 Food  traders,  when  selling  bulk  foods, shall  indicate,  on  the  container or  the  exterior  package, information  such as  food  name, production  date  or  batch number,  shelf  life,  as well  as  name, address  and contact information of the producer

Article 69  Production and trading  of genetically modified  food shall  follow relevant regulations  and label the products prominently.

Article  70 Food  additives must  be  provided with  a  label, instructions  and  packaging. The  instructions shall include the  information required in Article  67.1.1~6, 8 and  9 of the  Law and the  scope of application,  dosage levels, and application  methods of the food additives,  and the words “Food Additive”  shall be indicated on the label.

Article 71 Labels, instructions and packaging of food and food additives  shall not contain false information, nor shall they make  statements about disease prevention  and treatment functions. Food  producers and traders shall undertake liability for declarations on the label and instructions provided by them.

Labels and  instructions of food  and food  additives shall be  clear and easy  to read  items including the  date of production and shelf life shall be clearly labeled and easy to distinguish.

Food or  food additives  shall not  be marketed  if they  are not  consistent with  the information  indicated in the label and instructions.

Article 72 Food traders shall market  foods according to the warning mark, warning notes,  or precautions on the food label.

Article 73 Food  advertisements shall provide  truthful information, shall not  include any false information,  and shall not  claim any disease prevention  or treatment functions.  Food producers and  traders shall be responsible for the authenticity and legality of the advertisements for their food products.

The county  and above  level food  and drug administration  and other  departments, food  inspection and testing institutes, as well as food industry  associations shall not recommend food to customers via advertisements  or in any other forms.  Consumer organizations shall not recommend  food to customers by  charging fees or by other ways of seeking profits.

Section 4: Special Foods

Article 74 The State executes strict regulation over special food such as health food, formula for special medical purposes and infant and young children formula food, etc.

Article 75  Health food that  claim to  have health functions  shall have  science basis and  shall not  cause acute, sub-acute, or chronic hazard to human body.

The catalogue  of raw materials for  health food and  catalogue of permitted health  claims made on  health food will be  developed, adjusted and published  jointly by the  CFDA, NHFPC and  the national traditional medicine administrative departments.

The catalogue of raw materials for health food shall include the name, dosage level and corresponding functions of raw materials;  the raw materials included in the  catalogue of raw materials for  health food can only  be used for health food production and shall not be used for producing other foods.

Article 76 Health  foods that use  raw materials outside the  catalogue of raw materials  for health food or  health food that is imported  for the first time shall  get registered with the CFDA; however,  first time import of health foods  that are  nutritious substances,  such  as vitamin  supplements or  mineral  supplements, shall  be filed  for record with the CFDA. Other health  foods shall be filed for record with the food  and drug administration of the provincial, autonomous regional and municipal government.

The  imported health  food shall  have  obtained sales  permission  by the  competent  authority of  the  exporting country.

Article 77 For health food that shall be registered pursuant to law, the applicant shall submit such information as R&D report, formula, production  techniques, assessment of safety and  health functions, label, and instructions, product sample and relevant supporting documents at the time of registration. The CFDA, after technical review, will  register  products  that  comply   with  safety  and  claimed  health  functions;  products  fail   to  meet  such requirements will not be registered with explanation  in writing.  If a health food using raw materials outside the
catalogue of raw  materials for health food  is registered, the raw  material shall be included into  the health food raw material catalogue in a timely manner.

Foe health  food that  shall be  filed for  record pursuant to  law, the  applicant shall  submit such  information as product formula,  production techniques, label,  introduction and  materials indicating product  safety and  health function at the time of filing.

Article  78 The  label  and  instructions  of health  food  shall  not involve  prevention  or  treatment of  diseases; content of  the label  and instruction  shall be true  and be  consistent with  the registered  or recorded content.  It shall indicate  clearly the  suitable  and unsuitable  groups, functional  ingredients or  significant ingredients  and their content,  and shall state “This  is not a  replacement for medicine”. Product  functions and ingredients  shall be consistent with that indicated in the label and instructions.

Article 79 Advertisements for health food, in addition  to complying with provisions in Article 73.1 of this Law, shall state “This is not a  replacement for medicine” as well; the content of the advertisements  shall be reviewed and approved  by the  provincial, autonomous  regional and  municipal food  and drug  administration where  the producer  locates, and  obtain the  health  food advertisement  approval  document. The  provincial,  autonomous regional and municipal  food and drug administration  shall publish and timely  update the approved health  food
advertisement catalogue, as well as content of the advertisements.

Article 80 Formula for special medical  purposes shall get registered with the CFDA. The applicant shall  submit such information as product formula, production techniques, label, introduction and materials indicating product safety, nutritional adequacy, and clinical effects based on special medical uses at the time of registration.

For advertisements for  formula for special  medical purposes, the Advertising  Law of the People’s  Republic of China   and   provisions   in   other  laws   and   administrative   regulations   on   pharmaceutical   advertisement management of infant and young children formula food shall apply.

Article 81 Infant and young  children formula food producers shall implement the  whole process quality control from raw material  purchase to exit  of finished products; each  batch of infant formula  products exit the factory shall be inspected to guarantee food safety.

The food  materials (such  as raw  milk, supplementary  substances) and  food additives used  for infant  formula production shall  comply with laws,  regulations and provisions,  as well as  national food safety  standards; they shall guarantee sufficient nutritional content for infant growth and development.

Infant  and  young  children  formula  food  producers  shall report  the  raw  materials,  food  additives,  product formula and labels to provincial, autonomous regional and municipal food and drug administration for record.

 

The product formula  of infant formula  powder shall get registered  with the CFDA.  The applicant shall submit such  formula  R&D  report  and   other  materials  indicating  formula  scientificity  and  safety   at  the  time  of registration.

Infant and  young children  formula foods  are not  allowed to  be produced in  the means  of sub-packaging;  the same company is not allowed to produce infant formula powder of different brands by using the same formula

Article 82 The  registration or record filing applicants  of health food, formula  for special medical purposes  and infant and young children formula food shall be responsible for truth of the submitted material.

Provincial  and above  level  food and  drug administration  shall  timely publish  the  catalogue of  registered  or recorded  health  food,   formula  for  special   medical  purposes  and   infant  formula  powder  and   shall  keep confidential for the enterprise business secrets which are acquired through registration or record filing.

Producers  of health  food,  formula  for  special medical  purposes  and  infant  formula powder  shall  carry  out production  pursuant  to  the  registered  or  recorded  technical  requirements  such  as  formula  and  production techniques, etc.

Article 83  Producers of  health foods,  foods for  special medical  purposes, infant  and young  children  formula food and   staple/supplementary   food  dedicated   to   specific   populations   shall  comply   with   the   good manufacturing practice,  establish the quality  management system that  match its  produced products. Producers shall conduct self-inspection of  the production quality management on  a regular basis to guarantee its  effective operation; the  self-inspection report shall be  submitted to the  food and drug administration  at the county-level government.

Chapter 5 Food Inspection

Article 84 Food  testing agencies shall perform  food testing only after  they have been accredited  in accordance with relevant State requirements on certification and accreditation, unless otherwise specified in other laws.

The accreditation conditions and testing procedures for food testing agencies shall be determined by the CFDA.

The testing reports issued by the food testing agencies that comply with this Law shall have the same force.

The  county  and  above  level  governments  shall integrate  the  food  testing  resources  for  shared  use  of  the resources.

Article 85 Food testing shall be performed independently by an inspector designated by the testing agency.

The inspector  shall test the  food based  on laws, regulations,  food safety standards,  and inspection  and testing procedures. The  inspector shall follow  the science, observe  professional ethics, and  make sure that  the testing data and conclusions are objective and fair. He or she must not issue false inspection testing reports.

Article  86 The  food testing  agency and  the  inspector shall  be responsible  for  the food  testing. Food  testing reports shall  bear the  official seal of  the food  testing agency  and signature or  seal of  the inspector. The  food testing agency and the inspector shall be held responsible for the food testing report.

Article 87  The county and  above level food  and drug administration shall  conduct sample testing  regularly or irregularly  on  food  products,  and   shall  release  the  testing  results  according  to  relevant   provisions;  food inspection is not  allowed to be exempted. They  shall pay for the randomly  selected samples and entrust a  food testing agencies that comply with this Law to conduct the  food testing, and pay for testing conducted; they shall not collect testing fees and other fees from food producers and traders.

Article 88 In the case that  food producers and traders disagree with results of  testing conducted pursuant to this Law, they may,  within 7 working days  after receiving the test results,  file an application for  re-test to the food and   drug  administration   that   have  conducted   the   sampling  inspection   or  its   superior   food  and   drug administration  and the  food  and  drug administration  that  accepts  the re-test  application  may  determine the nearby institute on the public catalogue of re-testing institutes, and have the product  re-tested;  The re-test result would be the  final testing conclusion. The original  and the re-resting institutes shall  be different institutes. The catalogue of re-test institutes will be jointly published by CNCA, CFDA, NHFPC and MOA.

 

In  the  case that  the  edible  agricultural  products  are  randomly tested  by  adopting  the  fast  testing  methods prescribed by  the State, the  producers and traders  under test may  file an application  for re-test within  4 hours upon receiving  the test  result may  if they disagree  with the  test results;  the re-test  shall not be  conducted by adopting the fast testing methods.

Article  89  Food  producers  may  test  their  food  products  or  entrust  testing  agencies that  comply  with  the requirements of this Law to conduct the testing.

In the event that a food industry  association, consumer associations, or consumer needs to entrust a food testing agency to  conduct food testing,  they shall choose  a food  testing agency that  comply with the  requirements of this Law.
 

Article 90 For inspection of food additives, the provisions on food inspection in this Law shall apply.

Chapter 6: Food Import and Export

Article 91 AQSIQ regulates safety of food imports and exports.

Article 92  Imported foods,  food additives  and food-related products  shall comply  with China’s  national food safety standards.

Imported foods  and food  additives shall  pass inspection  by the  exit-entry inspection  and quarantine  agencies (CIQ) pursuant to laws and administrative regulations.

Imported foods and food additives shall be accompanied by inspection certificates, as required by AQSIQ.

Article 93 In the event of the  importation of food without a national food safety standard in  China, the overseas exporter/producer, or its  entrusted importers shall submit  the relevant executive national  (regional) standard or international  standard  to the  NHFPC.  NHFPC  shall  review  the  relevant standard  and  may  decide  that  the executive  standard  applies   temporarily  if  deems   it  can  meet  the   food  safety  requirements   and  develop corresponding national food  safety standards in a timely  manner. The importation of  food produced using new food  raw  materials  or   new  varieties  of  food  additives  and   food-related  products,  shall  be  conducted  in accordance with provisions of Article 37 of this Law.

CIQ shall follow  NHFPC’s requirements carry out the  inspection on the aforementioned  foods, food additives, and food related products, and shall publish the inspection results.

Article  94 Overseas  exporter  and producers  shall guarantee  that  the foods,  food  additives, and  food  related products  exported   to  China  comply  with   requirements  of  this   Law,  other  Chinese   administrative  laws, regulations and  the national food  safety standard;  they shall be  responsible for  content of the  food labels  and instructions.

Importers shall establish an examination and verification system for overseas exporter and producers; they shall, with emphasis, review the aforementioned items. Products fail to pass the review shall not be imported.

Discovering that  imported food fails  to comply with  national food  safety standards, or  have evidence that  the food may cause harm  to human health, the importer  shall immediately stop importing such food,  and recall the products pursuant to provisions of Article 63 of this Law.

Article 95 In the event that a food safety incident occurs overseas and may  impact China, or a major food safety problem is detected  in imported food, food  additive or food related  products, AQSIQ shall issue  a risk alert or take control measures  in a timely manner  and notify the CFDA,  NHFPC, and MOA. The  notified departments shall take actions immediately upon receipt of such notification.

The county and  above level food and drug  administration oversights imported foods and food  additives sold in the domestic  market.   Detecting serious  food safety  problems, CFDA  shall  timely inform  the AQSIQ.  Upon receipt of such notifications, the AQSIQ shall take actions upon receipt of such notification.

Article 96 Overseas exporters or export agents that export food to China, and importers shall  be put on record at the AQSIQ.  Overseas food  producers exporting  food to  China shall  get registered  at AQSIQ.  The registered overseas food producers, if  providing false material, or cause serious  food incidents due to its  own causes, will be removed from the registration list by AQSIQ, and the removal will be announced by public notice.

 

AQSIQ regularly publishes the lists of exporters, agents, importers, and overseas food producers who have been recorded or registered.

Article 97 Imported pre-packaged food and food additive  shall have Chinese labels. If instruction is required by laws or regulations, the  instruction in Chinese shall be provided.  Labels and instructions shall comply with this Law and provisions  of other laws,  regulations and food safety  standards; the instructions  shall indicate county of origin,  Chinese domestic agent’s name,  and contact information.  Pre-packaged food without  Chinese labels or instructions, or their labels or instructions do not comply with the Law shall not be imported.

Article  98  Importers   shall  establish  a  food   and  food  additive  import   and  sale  record;  faithfully   record information  of food  and  food  additives  such as  the  product  name,  specification, quantity,  production  date, production or  import  batch number,  shelf life,  name and  contact information  of the  exporter and  buyer,  and delivery date. The records and documents shall be kept in compliance with provisions in Article 50.2 of the Law.

Article 99 Food producers that export products  shall guarantee its foods comply with standards of the exporting country (region) or meet contract requirements.

Producers of  exported food,  and  farms planting  or breeding  raw materials  for exported  food shall  be put  on record with AQSIQ.

Article 100  AQSIQ shall  collect  and consolidate  the following  safety information  on imported  and exported food and notify it to relevant departments, institutions, and enterprises:

1) The food safety information from  the imported and exported food inspection and quarantine implemented by the exit-entry inspection and quarantine agency;

2)  The  import  food  safety  information  reported  by  organizations   such  as  food  industry  associations  and consumer associations, etc. and consumers;

3) The  risk alert  information and  other food safety  information published  by international  food organizations and overseas government  agencies, and the food safety  information reported by organizations such  as overseas industry associations and consumers;

4) Other food safety information.

AQSIQ shall  carry out credit  management for food  importers, exporters,  and export food  producers; establish credit records  and publish  them to society  pursuant to  the law; AQSIQ  tightens inspection  and quarantine on importers, exporters, and export food producers that had bad credit record.

Article 101 AQSIQ  may carry out assessment  and inspection on  the food safety management  system and food safety situation  of the countries  or regions  that export food  to China; based  on the  assessment and inspection results, AQSIQ determines inspection and quarantine requirements.

Chapter 7: Handling of Food Safety Incidents

Article  102  The State  Council  shall  organize  the formulation  of  national  emergency  plans  for food  safety incidents.

Based  on  relevant  laws,  regulations,  and  the  emergency  plan  of  the  higher level  government,  as  well  as considering  the  actual  situation  of   this  administrative  region,  county  and  above  level   governments  shall formulate emergency plans for  food safety incidents in the prefecture;  the plan shall be filed to the  higher level government for record.

The emergency  plan shall have  provisions for grading of  incidents, commanding system  for incident handling and  its  responsibilities,  prevention  and   early  warning  system,  incident  handling  procedure  and   measures guarantee enabling the emergency incident handling.

Food  producers  and  traders  shall  develop a  response  plan  for  food  safety  incidents,  regularly  inspect  the implementation  of  preventative  measures related  to  food  safety,  and  eliminate  hidden hazards  in  a  timely manner.

Article 103  The entity  having a food  safety incident  shall take immediate  actions to  prevent spreading of  the incident.  The entity  and medical  institutes  receiving/treating patients  shall  immediately report  to  the county level food and drug administration and health administrative department where the incident takes place.

Upon discovering  an incident  or hearing  a report on  food safety  incident, the  county and above  level quality supervision  department   and  the   agriculture  department   shall  immediately   report  to   the  food   and  drug administration of the same level.

In the event of  outbreak of a food safety  incident, the county level food  and drug administration, following the emergency plan, shall  report to the local  government and the food  and drug administration of  the higher level. The county level government and the higher  level food and drug administration shall report the incident to their superiors according to the emergency plan.

Any entity or individual  shall not conceal, lie about,  or delay the reporting of  the food safety accident, or hide, forge or destroy relevant evidence.

Article 104  Medical institute,  discovering  patients caused  by food-borne  disease, or  suspected patients,  shall timely  report  to the  county-level  health  administrative  department where  it  locates  in  accordance  with the provisions. The county-level the health administrative department, believing the disease is  related to food safety, shall inform the food and drug administration of the same level.

The  county  and  above  level  health  administrative  department, discovering  food  safety  related  problem  in investigating into  infectious disease  or  other public  health incident  outbreak, shall  inform the  food and  drug administration of the same level.

Article  105  Upon  receiving   the  food  safety  incident  report,  the   county  and  above  level  food  and   drug administration shall immediately conducts investigations into the incident, jointly  with the health administrative department, the quality supervisory department and  the agriculture administrative department of the same level; they shall take the following measures to prevent or diminish the harm to the public:

1) Deploy emergency rescue, arrange first aid and treatment to the persons injured in the food safety accident;

2) Seal up the food and raw materials likely causing the  food safety accident and conduct immediate testing; for the food and raw material that  are confirmed to be contaminated, order the food producer and  trader to recall or suspend operation according to Article 63 of the Law;

3) Seal up the contaminated food-related products, issue order to have such products cleaned and sterilized;

4) Properly handle  news release; disclose information of food  safety accidents and the handling  of the incident thereof in accordance with laws; provide explanations and clarifications of possible harms.

Should food safety incident trigger the contingency  plan, the county and above level government shall establish the incident  handling organization, initiate  the contingency plan,  and handle the  incident pursuant  to previous paragraphs and the provisions of the contingency plan.

If a food safety incident occurs, the county and above level CDC shall launch hygienic treatment on the incident site, and conduct the  epidemiological investigation on factors related to  the incident, which shall be assisted by other departments. County and  above level CDC shall submit the  epidemiological investigation to the food and drug administration and the health administrative department of the same level.

Article  106 In  the  event  of  outbreak of  a  food  safety  incident, the  city  and  above  level government  shall immediately work with  relevant departments and carry  out investigations to determine responsible  party of the incident;  they  shall  urge  relevant  departments  to  perform  their  duties,  and  submit  an investigation  report identifying responsibilities  to  the government  of the  same level  and the  food and  drug administration  of the higher level government.

In case a  major food safety accident  involves more than  two provinces, autonomous regions  or municipalities, the  CFDA shall  organize  the investigation  into  responsibility of  incident  according to  the  provisions in  the above paragraph.

Article 107 Investigation into food safety  incident shall be honest, based on science; it is  required to timely and accurately  determines the  nature  and  reason of  the  incident,  identify responsible  party  of  the incident,  and propose improvement measures.

In addition to  identifying the responsible party for  the food safety incident, the  investigation shall also identify the responsibilities of staffs in the regulatory, testing and licensing/certification departments.

Article 108 The food  safety incident investigating agency is  entitled rights to collect information  from relevant entities or individual  persons about the incident,  and request them to  provide relevant documents and samples.

Relevant entities and  individual persons shall  be cooperative for the  investigation, and provide documents  and samples as required; they shall not reject such request.

No entity or individual person shall impede or disturb investigation and handling of food safety incidents.

Chapter 8 Supervision and Adminstration

Article  109 The  county  and above  level  food and  drug  administration and  quality  supervision departments, pursuant  to risk  surveillance,  risk assessment  results  and food  safety  situation,  shall determine  the  priority, methods and frequency of regulatory work; the risks shall be graded.

County and above level government organizes the food and drug  administration, quality supervision department, and agriculture department  of the same  level to develop the  annual food safety  supervision and administration work plan of the region, publishes the work plan to society and  organizes the implementation.

The  annual  food safety  supervision  and  administration  work plan  shall  include  the  following items  as  the regulatory priority:

1) Staple and supplementary food dedicated to infants and other specific populations;

2) Health  food  production: substances  adding, and  production  according to  the registered/recorded  technical requirements; introduction of function in product label, instruction and publicity materials of health foods;

3) Food producers and traders with higher food safety incident risks;

4) Food safety risk surveillance results show that the item presents higher food safety risk potential.

Article  110  The county  and  above  level  food  and  drug administration  and  quality  supervision  department perform  their respective  duties  of  regulating food  safety  and  take the  following  actions  in supervising  and examining producers and traders for compliance with this Law:

1) Enter production and trading sites for field inspection;

2) Conduct sample testing on food, food additive and food related products that are produced or traded;

3) Review and copy relevant contracts, documents, notebooks, and other information;

4) Seal up and detain foods proven  to violate food safety standards or proven by evidence to have hidden  safety hazards, illegally used food raw materials, food additives, and food-related products;

5) Close down places of illegal production and trading of food.

Article 111 In the  case that food safety risk assessment  results present potential safety risks, and it  is necessary to develop and revise  the food safety standards, NHFPC  shall, before the development and revision,  work with other State Council  departments and set a  temporary limit and testing  method of the harmful  substance, which shall be followed in production and trading, as well as regulatory work.

Article  112 The  county  and above  level  food and  drug  administration could  adopt the  fast  testing methods prescribed by  the State in random  test of foods;  if the random  test result shows the  product might not  comply with  food safety  standard, the  product  shall be  tested  pursuant to  provisions  of Article  87  of this  law.  The random test result can be used as basis for administrative punishments if it ascertains that relevant food does not comply with food safety standards.

Article  113 The  county  and above  level  food and  drug  administration shall  establish  the food  safety  credit records for food producers and traders, which will record issuance of licenses, results  of routine supervision and inspection, and  handling of  illegal activities;  such information  shall be  announced to  the public  and  updated timely.  The food  and  drug administration  shall  increase the  frequency  of inspection  on food  producers  and traders with unhealthy  credit records. Food producers  and traders who severely  violate laws will be notified  to investment regulatory department, securities regulatory committee, and relevant financial institutes.

Article 114 In the event that hidden  food safety hazards exist in food production and trading process, which has not   been  eliminated   timely,   the  county   and   above   level  food   and   drug  administration   may   arrange communication sessions to determine liabilities with the legal representative or main person in charge. The food producers  and traders  shall  immediately  take rectification  measures  in  eliminating the  hidden  hazards.  The communication  session and  the rectification  measures  shall be  included  into the  food  producer and  trader’s credit record.

Article 115 The county and above  level food and drug administration and quality supervision  departments shall publish  their  email   or  telephone  numbers  for   inquires,  complaints  and  reports.   Upon  receiving  inquiry, complaint, or  information  that falls  into their  portfolio, the  food  and drug  administration shall  accept  it and promptly reply, verify,  and handle such an inquiry,  complaint, or other information  within the legal time limit.

The departments shall transfer matters  beyond their duty and authority to other departments  empowered to deal with  such  issues,   and  notify  the  inquirer,  complainant   and  informant  in  written  form.   The  departments empowered  to deal  with  such issues,  shall  act immediately  within  the legal  time  limit and  shall  not  dodge responsibility to others. Awards shall be granted to people whose submitted reports are verified to be true.

Relevant departments shall keep  secret of the reporting person’s  information to protect his/her lawful  rights. In case the  reporting person reports  the enterprise where  he or she  is employed, the  reported enterprise shall  not retaliate against  the reporting  person through  termination and  modification of the  labor contract  or any  other ways.

Article 116 The county and above  level food and drug administration, quality supervision department and  other departments shall  enhance the  training for  law enforcement  personnel about  food safety law  and regulations, standards  and  professional knowledge,  as  well  as  law enforcement  ability  and  other  aspects,  and organize examinations. The  personnel who  do not have  corresponding knowledge  and competence must  not engage  in food safety law enforcement.

In the event that food producers and traders, food industry associations, and consumer associations, etc. find law enforcement personnel’s  behavior to be  against laws, or  not standardized, they  may complain and  report such behavior  to  food   and  drug  administration,   quality  supervision  department,  or   the  discipline  supervisory departments of  the corresponding  level or  higher level  government. The  departments that  receive complaints and reports  shall verify  the information  and inform  the law  enforcement department;  once the  complaints or reports are verified to  be true, the law enforcement department  will be informed; the person violating  rules and disciplines shall be handled according to this Law and relevant regulations.

Article 117 In the event  that the county and above level food  and drug administration and relevant departments fail to timely discover system-wide food  safety risks, or fail to timely eliminate the hidden safety  hazards in the region,  the  municipal   government  of  the  same  level   may  arrange  communication  sessions  to   determine liabilities with the main person in charge.

In the event  that a local people’s government  fails to assume its food  safety duties and fails  to eliminate major regional  food safety  hidden hazards  in  a timely  manner,  the municipal  government  at the  higher  level may arrange communication sessions to determine liabilities with the main person in charge.

The food and drug administration and other  relevant department, as well as the local government invited for the communication sessions  shall take  immediate  measures to  rectify food  safety supervision  and administration work.

 

The  communication  session  and  the  rectification  measures  shall  be  included into  the  food  producers  and operator’s credit record, and the  evaluation and appraisal record of the  local government and the food and drug administration.

Article 118  China  establishes a  unified food  safety information  release platform  and implements  the  unified food safety information publication mechanism. CFDA publishes information  of overall situation of food safety in the  country, food  safety risk alert,  information on  major food safety  incidents and the  handling, as  well as other information  identified by the  State Council  to be disclosed  by the centralized  platform. The  food safety risk alert, or the  information on major food safety  incidents and the handling, if only  impact particular regions, shall be disclosed by the provincial,  autonomous regional and municipal food and drug administration.  Without authorization, no such information shall be released.

The  county  and above  level  food  and  drug administration,  quality  supervision  department,  and  agriculture department shall disclose food safety information as a part of their routine supervision and administration work.

Food safety  information released shall  be accurate and  timely, and  if necessary provide  explanations to avoid misleading to consumers and the public opinion.

Article 119  Upon receiving  information requiring  centralized disclosure  pursuant to  this law,  the county  and above level food and drug administration,  health administrative department, quality supervision department and agriculture department  shall  immediately report  to  their superior  departments, which  then  shall immediately report to the CFDA; if necessary, the county level departments could directly report to CFDA

The  county and  above level  food  and drug  safety  regulatory departments,  health administrative  department, quality  supervision  department  and  agriculture   department  shall  notify  each  other  of  food  safety   related information.

Article 120 No organization or individual shall make up and disseminate false food safety information.

The  county and  above level  food  and drug  administration,  upon finding  food  safety information  that  might mislead consumers and the  public, shall immediately organize verification and  analysis of the information with relevant departments, specialized institutes, relevant  food producers and traders; the result shall  be published in a timely manner.

Article 121  The county and  above level food  and drug administration,  the quality supervision  department and other relevant  departments, upon  detecting suspected  food safety  crimes, shall  timely transfer the  case to  the public  security  departments   following  relevant  regulations.     For  cases  handed   over,  the  public  security departments  shall make  inspections in  a  timely manner,  and  shall put  the case  on  file for  investigation and prosecution if the crime requires investigation for criminal responsibility.

The public security  departments, if found cases with  no criminal fact or slight  criminal fact, which do not  bear criminal responsibility but have administrative responsibility according to the law, shall transfer the case to food and drug administration, the quality  supervision department and other relevant departments in a  timely manner; relevant departments shall handle the case according to law.

In the event that the public security departments  request the food and drug administration or quality supervision department, environmental  protection department to  provide testing  conclusions, or identification  opinions, or provide harmless disposal of the case-related objects, relevant departments shall timely provide such assistance.

Chapter 9: Legal Liabilities

Article  122 The  county  and  above  level food  and  drug  administration  will confiscate  the  illegally  gain of benefits and  food, food  additives, tools and  equipment used  in production and  trading, and  materials used by food producers or traders  who violate the Law by engaging  in production or trading activities of  food and food additives without obtaining the  business license for food or food additive  production and trading.  The illegally produced or traded  foods and food  additives are subject to  a fine of  RMB 50,000 - 100,000  if its value  is less than RMB 10,000; they are subject  to a fine between 10 and 20 times of  the total value of the commodity if the total value of the commodity exceeds RMB10,000.

The county and  above level food  and drug administration  shall order the  entity or person to  terminate the law violation  activity, confiscate  its  illegal  gain  of benefits,  and  impose  a fine  between  RMB  50,000  to RMB 100,000 if  the entity or  person is aware  of such violations  but still provides  space or other  condition for such law violation  activities. If consumers’ lawful  rights are harmed,  the entity/person shall take  joint liability with the food/food additive producers/traders.

Article 123 Per  the activities list below  that violate this Law, where  the activity has not  yet constitute a crime, the county and  above level food and drug  administration will confiscate the illegally gained  benefits and foods illegally  produced or  traded/and  the  tools, equipment  and  food  raw  material used  for  illegal  production or trading as well. The producer  or trader is also subject to a  fine of RMB 100,000 to 150,000 if  the total value of the commodity is less than  RMB 10,000, or a fine between 15  and 30 times if the total value  of the commodity exceeds RMB10,000. The  person in charge and other  staffs directly responsible for  the violation may have  the food producer or  trader’s business license revoked or  be detained for not  less than five days  but not more than fifteen days.

1)  Producing  food  with  non-food  raw  material,  adding  chemical  substances  other than  food  additives,  or substances that may cause  harm to human health, or use  recovered food as raw materials, or  trading the above-mentioned foods;

2) Producing and trading staple and supplementary food dedicated to infants or other specific populations, while the nutritional ingredients of which fail to comply with food safety standards;

3) Trading  meat of any  poultry, livestock, animals,  or waterborne animals  which have been  killed by disease, poison or any unidentified cause; or producing and trading products produced by such meat;

4)  Trading meat  that  have  not been  quarantined  following requirements  or  fail  to pass  such  quarantine,  or producing or trading meat products which have not been inspected or fail to pass such inspection;

5)  Producing  or  trading  food  expressly  prohibited   by  the  State  from  production  and  trading  for  disease prevention and control purposes;

6) Producing or trading foods added with medicine.

The county and  above level food  and drug administration  shall order the  entity or person to  terminate the law violation  activity, confiscate  its  illegal gain  of benefits,  and  impose a  fine  between RMB  100,000  to RMB 200,000 if  the entity or  person is aware  of such violations  but still provides  space or other  condition for such law violation  activities. If consumers’ lawful  rights are harmed,  the entity/person shall take  joint liability with the food/food additive producers/traders.

For the illegal use of extreme poisonous  pesticides and highly toxic pesticides, (the responsible person) shall be detained by the public security agencies pursuant to item 1 of  this article in addition to the penalties imposed by relevant laws and regulations.

Article 124 Per  the activities list below  that violate this Law, where  the activity has not  yet constitute a crime, the county and  above level food and drug  administration will confiscate the illegally  gained benefits/foods and food  additives illegally  produced  or traded/and  the  tools, equipment  and  food raw  material  used  for illegal production or trading as well. The producer or trader is also subject to a fine between RMB 50,000 to 100,000 if the total value  of the commodity is less than  RMB 10,000, or a fine  between 10 and 20  times if the total value of the commodity  exceeds RMB10,000; for severe  violation of the law,  the business license of food  producers and traders will be revoked:

1)  Producing  or  trading  food   or  food  additive  which  exceeds  food  safety   standard  limits  in  relation  to pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide residues,  vet drugs residues, biotoxins, contaminants  (heavy metals, etc.) and other substances hazardous to human health;

2) Producing  foods or  food additive with  food materials  and food  additives that have  passed the  shelf life  or trading the above-mentioned foods or food additives;

3) Producing  or trading  food additives  beyond allowed scope  or excessing  the maximum  level allowed to  be used.

4) Producing  or trading food  or food  additive which is  rotten or  spoiled, has rancid  fat, grows  with molds or insects,  is  dirty   or  contaminated,  contains  foreign  matter,   adulterated  with  alien  substances,  or   displays abnormal sensory indication;

5) Producing  or trading foods,  food additives labelled  with fake production  date or shelf  life, or producing  or trading food and food additives that have passed the shelf life;

6) Health foods, formulas for special medical purposes and infant formula powder that are not registered or filed for  record  as  requested,  or  the relevant  producers  fail  to  produce  products  according  to  the  registered  or recorded technical requirements such as product formula and production techniques, etc.;

7)  Producing infant  formula  powder  in the  means  of sub-packaging,  or  the  same company  using  the  same formula to produce infant formula powder of different brands;

8) Using  new food  materials  to produce  food, or  producing new  varieties of  food additives  without a  safety assessment;

9) Food producer or trader refuses to call  back products or stop operation upon instruction by the food and drug administration.

In addition  to the circumstances  as prescribed in  the preceding  paragraph, Article 123  and Article 125  of this law, whoever produces or trades foods and food additives that  do not comply with the laws, regulation and food safety standards would be punished in line with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

The county  and above  level quality  supervision department  shall impose  penalty pursuant  to clause  1 in  this Article  on  production  of new  variety  of  food  related  products  that  have  not passed  safety  assessment,  or production of food related products that do not comply with food safety standards.

Article 125  In violation  of the  Law upon occurrence  of following  circumstances, the  county and  above level food  and drug  administration  will confiscate  the  illegally  gained benefits/foods  and  food additives  illegally produced or traded/and the tools, equipment and food raw material  used for illegal production or trading as well.

The  producer  or  trader  is  also  subject to  a  fine  between  RMB  5,000  to  10,000  if  the  total  value  of  the commodity is less  than RMB 10,000,  or a fine between  five and ten  times if the total  value of the  commodity exceeds RMB10,000; for severe  violation of the law, the producer  shall be instructed to stop production,  or get its business license revoked:

 

Etc.;

1) Producing  or  trading food  or food  additive  contaminated by  the packaging  materials, container,  transport means,

2) Producing  or trading the pre-packaged  food or food  additives without label;  or the labels or  instructions do not comply with the Law;

3) Producing or trading GM foods that are not properly labelled as required;

4) Food producer  or trader purchasing or  using the food materials,  food additives, or food  related products not in compliance with food safety standards.

Upon instruction by  the county and above level food  and drug administration, producers or  traders of food and food additives shall  correct the mistakes in the  label or instruction that may  neither impact food safety and  nor mislead the consumers; a fine less than RMB 2,000 will be imposed if they refuse to correct the problem.

Article 126  In violation of the  Law with one  of the following  circumstances, the county  and above level food producer or trader  shall be ordered to  make a correction or  be warned by the  county and above level  food and drug administration; when refusing to make correction,  they are subject to a fine of RMB 5,000-50,000; and for serious cases,  they shall  be ordered  to stop production  or business;  business license  will be revoked  for very serious violation:

 
1) Food  or food  additive producer fail  to inspect  the purchased  food materials, and  the produced  foods, food additives, and food related products as required;

2) Food producers  and traders fail to establish the  food safety management system or  designate or train, assess the safety management personnel as required;

3) The food and food additive  producers and traders fail to check license and relevant document  in purchase, or fail to  establish and  adhere to the  purchase inspection  records, and the  ex-factory inspection  record and sales record systems as required;

4) The food prouder or trader fails to formulate plans to handle food safety incidents;

5) Fail  to wash  or sterilize  the tableware, kitchenware,  and containers  before use,  which hold  food for direct consumption; or  the washing or  sterilization does not  meet requirements;  or fail to  maintain, clean and  adjust the catering service facilities and equipment periodically as required;

6)  The food  prouder  or  trader assigns  a  person  to  engage in  food  contact  work, while  the  person  has not obtained the health certificate yet or has diseases the NHFPC deems harmful for food safety;

7) The food trader fails to sell food according to the regulations;

8)  The health  food  producer fails  to  file  to food  and  drug administration  for  record as  required  or  fails to organize  the  production   according  to  the   recorded  technical  requirements  such   as  product  formula   and production techniques, etc.

9) The  producers  for infant  and young  children  formula food  fail to  file  the production  raw materials,  food additives, product formula, labels, etc. to food and drug administration for record;

10)  The producer  for  special  food  fails to  establish  the  quality  management system  and  keep  its effective operation as required, or fails to regularly submit self-inspection report;

11) The food producer or trader fails to regularly examine  their own food safety situation or fails to take actions when their production and trading condition changes in accordance with regulations;

12)  A school,  kindergarten, nursing  institution  for the  aged, and  a  construction site  that  provide centralized dining fail to comply with food safety management responsibilities as required.

13)  The  food  producer  or   catering  service  provider  fails  to  develop  and   implement  the  process  control requirements for food production and trading as required.

In the  event that the  centralized disinfection vendors  for tableware and  kitchenware use water,  detergents and disinfectants in violation of the provisions of this Law, or provide tableware and drinking utensils failing to pass testing and  be accompanied by  the disinfection certificate,  or fail to  label relevant information  in the separate packaging, the  county and  above level  health administrative  department shall  impose penalty pursuant  to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

In  the event  that  the food-related  product  producer fails  to  conduct inspection  on  the food-related  products produced as required, the  county and above level quality supervision  department shall impose penalty pursuant to clause 1 in this Article.

In  the event  that the  edible  agricultural product  seller violates  the  provisions in  Article 65  of  this Law,  the county and above level food and drug administration shall impose penalty pursuant to clause 1 in this Article.
 
Article 127 Small  food production workshops and  food vendors would be punished  for law violation activities pursuant to the detailed administrative  measures formulated in corresponding province, autonomous region  and municipality.

Article 128 Relevant authorities shall instruct the entity that fail to handle and report food safety incident to take correction measures, and place a warning on the entity; the entity will be instructed to suspend the production or trading for hiding, forging, or destroying the evidence, be confiscated its illegal gain of  benefit, and is subject to a fine of RMB 100,000 - 500,000; and for serious cases, be revoked the business license.

Article 129 In violation of the Law upon occurrence of following circumstances, CIQs  shall impose punishment according to Article 124 of this Law:

1) Providing false  materials, importing foods,  food additives  and food related  products that do  not complying with the national food safety standard of China;

2)  When importing  foods  without  applicable  national food  safety  standard,  failing  to submit  the  executive standard  and  have  the  standard  reviewed  by  NHFPC;  or  when  importing  food produced  using  new  food materials  or  importing  new  variety  of  food  additive  and  food related  products,  failing  to  pass  the  safety assessment;

3) Exporting foods in breach of the Law;

4)  Importers   refuse  to   recall  food  not   complying  with   food  safety   standards  after  relevant   competent departments ordered recall of the product;

The importers who fail to establish and  maintain the food and food additive import/ sales record system and  the overseas food  exporter/producer verification  system, which  violates provision  of this  Law, will  be subject  to CIQ punishment pursuant to Article 126 of this Law.

Article 130  If any  operators of  central  trading markets,  stall leasers  and organizers  of trade  fair permit  food traders without lawfully  obtaining a license  for food production, distribution  or provision for  catering services to sell food in  the market, or fail to perform  the inspection or reporting obligations,  the county and above level food and drug administration shall  order them to make corrections, confiscate its illegal  gain of benefit, impose a fine  between RMB50,000  and RMB 200,000;  and, if  serious consequences  are caused, order  suspension of operations for  correction, or  even revoke its  license; and  those causing  harm to consumer’s  legitimate rights, shall assume joint liability together with the food trader.

In the  event that the  edible agricultural product  wholesale market  violates the provisions  of Article 64  of this Law, it shall assume liability pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article  131  In  violation  of  the  Law,  if  a  third  party  online  trading  platform  fails  to   conduct  real  name registration and  license inspection, or fail  to perform the  obligation of reporting  or suspending on-line  trading platform services, the county and above level food and drug administration shall order them to make corrections, confiscate its  illegal gain of  benefit and impose  a fine  between RMB 50,000  and RMB 200,000  on it;  and, if serious consequences are  caused, order suspension of  operations for correction, or  even revoke its license;  and those causing harm to consumer’s legitimate rights, shall assume joint liability together with the food trader.

Consumers purchasing foods through the third-party online food trading platform shall demand compensation to the trader  using the platform if  their legitimate rights  suffer loss.  The  platform shall provide  compensation to the consumer  if  it could  not provide  real  name, address  and contact  information;  afterwards, the  third-party online trading platforms have the right to ask for compensations from food traders or food producers who use its online platform.  Third-part online  food trading platform  shall honor  its commitment  to consumers if  it offers more favorable compensation.

Article 132 In violating this Law, a person/entity fail to store,  transport, or load/unload foods following relevant requirements, the  county and  above level  food and  drug administration  shall order  immediate correction  and give a warning; if correction is refused, order suspension of operations for correction and impose a fine between RMB 10,000 and RMB 50,000; and in serious circumstances, revoke its license.

Article  133  In  violating  this  Law,  a person/entity  refuses,  obstructs  or  intervenes  the  inspection,  incident investigation and handling, risk surveillance and risk assessment by relevant department/organization/institution or their  staffs, the relevant  authority shall order  the suspension of  production and business,  and impose a  fine between RMB  2,000 and  RMB 50,000;  in serious  circumstances, revoke  its license; and  for those  disrupting public order, punishment will be imposed by the public security departments.

In violating this Law, whoever retaliates against the reporting person through termination and modification of the labor contract or any other ways shall assume liability pursuant to the provisions of relevant laws.

Article 134 In  the event that the  food producer or trader  have been given punishment  for a total of three  times due to  the violation  of  the provisions  of this  law, with  the exception  of being  ordered to  stop production  or business  and  having  their business  license  revoked,  they  shall  be  ordered  to  stop  production or  business; business license will be revoked for very serious violation:

Article 135 Food producers and traders whose license is revoked and  its legal representative, the main person in charge and  other persons who  bear direct responsibility,  shall not apply  for food production/trading  license in five years  since the  punishment is  made; shall  not  be permitted  to engage  in food  production and/or  trading management, or serve  as the food safety management  staff in a food  production and trading company within  5 years after the punishment.

Any person,  who has been  sentenced to a  fixed-term imprisonment or  more severe penalty  due to food safety crimes,  shall neither  engage in  food  production and  trading  management work  nor serve  as  the food  safety management staff in a food production and trading company for life.

Food  producer/trade hiring  persons who  had  violated the  provisions in  the  previous two  paragraphs  will be revoked of its license by the county and above level food and drug departments.

Article 136 A food trader, fulfilling the obligations of purchase inspection and have sufficient  evidence to prove it is unaware  that the purchased food do  not comply with relevant food  safety standards, and could explain  the source of  such  purchase, is  free from  punishment; however,  the food  shall be  confiscated;  those that  causes physical injury or property damage shall compensate the losses;

Article 137 In  violation of this Law,  if the technical  persons and technical institutions  undertaking food safety risk surveillance and risk assessment provide fake surveillance and assessment information, the technical person and the person in charge of the institution are subject to punishment of  removal from the position or be expelled; the person’s qualification certificate for the  profession shall be revoked, if the person or the  institution has such certificate of practice.

Article 138 In  violation of this  Law, if the  food inspection institution or  food inspector issues  false inspection reports, the supervising authority will cancel the food inspection institution’s inspection qualification, confiscate the gained inspection  fee, and impose a fine  between five to ten times  the inspection fee; the  institution is also subject to a fine  of RMB 50,000 - 100,000 if the  inspection fee is less than RMB  10,000. The person in charge of the institution and the inspector shall be removed from  position or excelled; if causing significant food safety incident, the person in charge of the institution and the inspector shall be expelled.

The food inspector  expelled pursuant to this Law  shall not engage in food  inspection work from the day  of the punishment decision  made; food  inspection institution staff  subject to  criminal prosecution  for violating food safety law, or  expelled for issuing false  inspection report that caused  significant food safety incident,  shall not engage in any food inspection  work for life.  A food inspection  institution hiring a person prohibited from food inspection work will be subject to revoked of its qualification certificate by the certifying authority.

The food  inspection  institution, issuing  false inspection  report,  and harming  the lawful  rights  of consumers, shall assume joint responsibility of compensation together with the food producer/trader.

Article  139  In  violation  of  this  law,  if  the  certificate  institution  issues  false  certification  conclusion,  the supervising authority shall  confiscate the received  certification fees, and impose  a fine of  five to ten times  the certification fees; the institution is also subject to a fine of RMB 50,000 to  100,000 if the certification fee is less than RMB 10,000; in serious cases, the institution is subject to punishment of suspension  of operation, or public announcement of revoking of the certificate it issued;  qualification certificate for the profession of the person in charge of the institution and the directly responsible person will be revoked.

If the certificate institution issues false certificate conclusion, and harming the lawful rights of consumers, shall assume joint responsibility of compensation together with the food producer/trader.

Article  140 Advertisement  of  health food,  in  violation of  this  Law, containing  false  publicity,  cheating the consumers,  or failing  to  obtain  permission,  or the  advertisement  content  is  inconsistent with  the  permitted documents, shall be punished according to the Advertising Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Advertising  agent and  publisher  who  design, produce  or  publish  false food  advertisement,  which  harm the consumers’ legitimate rights shall assumes joint liabilities with the food producer and trader.

Civil   societies  or   other   organizations  or   individuals   that  recommend   a   food  to   consumers   via  false advertisement or other false propaganda  activities and harm the legitimate rights and interests  of the customers, shall bear joint liabilities with the food producer and trader.

Food and drug administration, food  inspection institution and food industry associations recommending food  to consumers  via advertising  or other  forms  and consumer  organizations recommending  food  to consumers  by charging fees or  by other ways of seeking  profits, which is in violation  of this Law, shall be  confiscated of the illegal gain of benefits by the competent authority. The person in charge of the entity and the  person responsible for the activity are subject to punishment of recording a special demerit, demotion or removal from the position; in serious cases, they shall be expelled.

If the case  of severe false food  publicity, the provincial food  and drug administration shall  suspend sale of the food, and make public announcement to the public; if the food is still sold in  market, the county and above level food  and drug  administration shall  confiscate  the illegally  gained  benefits and  the illegally  traded  food; the trader is also subject to a fine of RMB 20,000 and 50,000.

Article 141  In  violation of  this Law,  persons making  up and  spreading false  food safety  information, which constitute behavior  disrupting public order,  are subject to  public security regulatory  punishment by the  public security agency.

Media making  up  and spreading  false food  safety information  shall  be punished  by its  superior authority  in accordance with  relevant laws; the  person in charge  of the entity  and other person  responsible for the activity are subject to the punishment of disgrace; if the activity harms the lawful rights  of citizens, legal representatives or other organizations, the  media shall take the civil law liabilities,  such as eliminating influence, rehabilitating reputation, compensating for loss and apology, etc.

Article 142 Per government  at the county or above level,  in violation of the Law upon  occurrence of following circumstances, both  the government officials  that bear responsibility  and other executives  directly responsible shall  be  punished  by  recording a  special  demerit  against  them;  for  relatively  serious  cases,  they  shall  be demoted or  removed from office; for  serious cases, they  shall be dismissed;  when severe consequences occur, key persons in charge of the government shall admit responsibility and resign:

1) Fail to take organize and coordinate relevant departments to take effective measures to handle  the food safety incidents in the region, which causes adverse effect or harm;

2) Fail  to organize the  rectification measures  to regional food  safety problem  involving multiple links,  which causes adverse effect or harm;

3) Delay, conceal, or falsely report food safety incidents;

4) Occurrence of  significant food safety incident,  or continuous occurrence of  significant food safety incidents in the region.

Article 143 Per  the county and  above level government, in  violation of the Law  upon occurrence of following circumstances, both  the government officials  that bear responsibility  and other executives  directly responsible shall be punished by warning,  recording a demerit, or recording a special demerit  against them; causing serious consequences, they shall be demoted or removed from office:

1)  Fail  to identify  the  food  safety  regulatory  responsibilities of  relevant  departments,  fail  to  establish and improve the whole process  food safety supervision and administration working system  and information sharing system, fail to fulfill the food safety regulatory responsibilities;

2) Fail to  develop food safety emergency  plan for the region,  or fail to establish  the commanding organization immediately following relevant regulations after food safety incident outbreaks and activate the emergency  plan;

Article 144 The  county and above  level food safety regulatory  department, the quality  supervision department and the agriculture  department at the  county or above level,  with one of the  following circumstances, both the government  officials  that  bear  responsibility  and  the  executives  directly  responsible shall  be  punished  by recording a special  demerit against them; for bad  cases, they shall be demoted  or removed from office; in  very serious  cases, the  person  shall be  expelled;  when severe  consequences  occur, key  persons  in  charge of  the government shall admit responsibility and resign:

1) Hide, false, or delay report of food safety incidents;

2) Fail to  investigate into food  safety incidents, or fail  to take timely measures  to handle food safety  incidents after receiving reporting, which caused expansion or spread of the incident;

3) Fail to take  appropriate measures when food safety  risk assessment draws the conclusion that  the food, food additive or food-related product is unsafe, which causes food safety incident, or adverse social influence;

4) Grant permissions to unqualified applicants, or give permissions beyond legitimate authority;

5) Fail to perform food safety regulatory duty provided by this Law, which causes food safety accidents.

Article 145 The  county and above  level food safety regulatory  department, the quality  supervision department and the agriculture department, with one of the following circumstances, both the government officials  that bear responsibility  and the  executives directly  responsible  shall be  punished  by warning,  recording a  demerit,  or recording a special demerit against  them; for bad cases, they shall be demoted or  removed from office; for very serious cases, they shall be expelled:

1) Upon receiving of food safety  related information, fail to report the information to the competent  department at high  level and  to the  government of  the same  level, or  fail  to report the  information  to other  government departments

2) Fail to publish the food safety information according to provisions;

3) Fail  to perform legitimate  duties, uncooperative in  investigation of law  violation activities; or  misfeasance, dereliction of the duty and committing illegalities for personal gains;

Article 146 While  performing food safety regulatory  responsibilities, the food and  drug administration, quality supervision department and other  departments, in the case of  conducting enforcement measures, such as illegal inspection and taking forcing  actions, which cause damage to  the food producers and traders, shall  compensate the losses; the person in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be punished according to law.

Article 147 Violation of this Law that  causes physical injury or property damage shall compensate the losses; if the property of the producer/trader is insufficient to bear the civil liability and pay for the imposed fine, the civil liability shall be fulfilled with priority.

Article 148 Consumers  could request compensation to  traders, and/or producers for  harms caused by food  that does not  meet food safety  standards.  Upon the  request for compensation,  the producer/trader shall  follow the first  asking  responsibility  principle,  make  the  compensation;   they  shall  not  dodge  responsibilities.  If  the producer is  liable of the  responsibility, the  trader, after compensating  the consumer, shall  request recovery  of the compensation; vice versa.

Consumer could request for  compensation for harm caused by  production or trading of foods  not meeting food safety standards; in  addition, the customer could  demand the producer or the  trader to pay compensation  of 10 times the product  price, or three times of  the loss; the additional  compensation shall be 1,000 Yuan  if it is less than 1,000  Yuan.   This term  does not  apply to  the flaws  of food  label and  product  descriptions, which  may neither affect the food safety nor mislead the consumers.

Article 149 Violation of provisions of this Law that constitute crime shall be prosecuted of criminal liabilities.

Chapter 10: Supplementary Provisions

Article 150 For the purpose of this Law, the following terms shall have the meaning defined hereunder:

Food means any  substance that has been  processed or not processed  that is suitable for  eating and/or drinking, including substances traditionally used as food and Chinese herb medicine, excluding substances solely used for disease treatment.

Food Safety means  the food is nontoxic,  harmless, and compliant with  reasonable nutritional requirement, and will not cause any acute, chronic and potential hazards to human health.
Pre-packaged Food means  food which is prepackaged  or made in containers or  packaging materials, according to a fixed quantity.

Food Additive means any  synthetic or natural substance used to improve  the quality, color, fragrance, flavor of food,  and used  to  add to  the  food or  put  together with  the  food to  prevent  deterioration, keep  fresh  or for processing technology requirements, including nutritional fortification substances.

Food Container  and Packaging  Material means the  products made  of paper, bamboo,  wood, metal,  porcelain, plastic, rubber, natural  fiber, chemical fiber, or glass  and used to contain food  or additives, or coating in  direct contact with food or additives.

Food  Tools and  Devices  mean machines,  pipes,  conveyer belts,  containers,  appliances, tableware  and  other objects that have direct contact with food or additives during production, sales and use of food or additives.

Food Detergent and Disinfectant mean substances  that are directly used to wash or sterilize food tableware, and tools and devices, or food containers and packaging materials that have direct contact with food.

Food shelf life means the period prior to the “best before” date when  the food remains in good quality under the indicated storage conditions indicated.

Food Borne Disease means any  infectious, toxic or other disease caused by pathogenic  bacteria which enter the body through food, including food poisoning.

Food Safety  Incident means  any incident  that may be  caused by  food borne  diseases, food  contamination, or other incidents arising from food and hazardous to human health.

Article 151 In case that  food safety administration for genetically modified foods and  common salt not covered in this Law, the provisions of other laws and administrative regulations shall apply.

Article  152 The  measures  for administration  of  food  safety in  the  railway and  aviation  operations shall  be developed by the CFDA together with other relevant departments of the State Council pursuant to this law

The specific regulations for the health foods shall be developed by the CFDA pursuant to this Law.

The  specific  regulatory  measures  of  food  related  products  production  shall  be  developed  by  the  AQSIQ pursuant to this law.

The  regulatory work  at  the  border and  customs  shall  be carried  out  by  the CIQs  pursuant  to this  law  and provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

The specific measures for administration of  food safety of the special foods and self-supplied foods  in the army shall be developed by the Central Military Committee according to the Law.

Article  153 The  State Council  can  make adjustments  of the  supervision  and administration  system for  food safety according to the actual requirements.

Article 154 This Law shall enter into force on October, 1st, 2015.

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