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On June 1, the National Health Commission (NHC) issued a public letter soliciting comments on its 2022 plan for the National Food Safety Standards Project. The notice identified 41 national food safety standards the NHC intends to develop or revise in 2022. This report contains an unofficial translation of the Letter and plan.

On May 11, 2022 the National Health Commission (NHC) approved 36 new food materials and additives, including seven enzymes derived from Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMMs). These approvals follow an earlier announcement issued on March 1 of 32 food materials and additives, including 4 GMM derived enzymes, approved for use in China.

On April 24, 2022, China’s National Feed Industry Standardization Technical Committee issued a notice to collect industry input and suggestions on the establishment or amendment of national pet food standards.

This report contains a simplified description of facility registration under Decree 248 and answers to frequently asked questions. The most recent list of commodities covered by Decree 248 is attached to the report.

On May 23, 2022, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Brazil held High-Level Committee talks. According to the press release issued by the PRC’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on May 24, the talks included several agricultural-related outcomes including, improved and new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) market access protocols for corn and hulled peanuts along with plans for new SPS protocols on soy protein concentrate, soybean meal, and orange fiber pellets that may be signed later.

Several Chinese provinces are experimenting with the utilization of nine Chinese medicines, including American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), for use in food products. The pilot programs are open through November 2022. At this time, American ginseng is regulated as a traditional medicinal product. If American ginseng is approved for use in food products, this could create additional opportunity for both imported product and spur domestic production.

GACC recently released an interpretation of Decrees 248 and 249 as they apply to health food and foods for special dietary purposes. This report provides an unofficial translation of the interpretation.

This report lists the major registration requirements and export certificates required for food and agricultural exports to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The country’s import registration and documentation requirements are frequently amended.

On April 15, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced another extension until November 30, 2022, for the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusions on 11 specific agricultural products, including shrimp for cultivation, whey for feed, fishmeal for feed, alfalfa, and six hardwood products.

This report presents regulations and standards applicable to food and agricultural imports, including changes to existing standards. In 2021, China released several regulations and standards, including the revised Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety, revised Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Producers of Imported Food, regulations overseeing variety registration of major crops and the safety assessment of agriculture GMOs, and the full text of the National Food Safety Standard of Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food (GB 2763-2021).

At a recent Beijing municipal press conference, authorities announced that effective April 1, 2022, imported cold-chain food products will be rejected if shipped into Beijing without prior inspection appointments at a Beijing Entry Checkpoint.

On March 30, 2022, the National Health Commission (NHC) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) released 17 draft National Food Safety Standards for domestic comment.