China: American Ginseng approved for use as a food ingredient under Guangdong pilot program

On December 10, 2021, Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (GAMR) released information and rules of a pilot program to allow several Traditional Chinese Medicine products, including American ginseng, to be used as ingredients in food and beverage products. Formulas for these products were only accepted for a period of 10 days in December 2021. Though this pilot program may eventually expand the ways in which ginseng is used, it is expected to have limited impact on demand for premium U.S. ginseng. Local contacts report food companies are seeking low-priced, often domestically-produced ginseng to use as a food ingredient to control costs. The pilot program ends on November 8, 2022. There is no announcement of next steps after the pilot program ends.