Packaged food needs complete labeling, including production date, shelf life and ingredients
The source describes food packaged for sale as prepackaged food, whose labels must include nine required categories, including production date and shelf life. Bulk food also needs its name, date and operator details. Missing mandatory information can bring RMB 5,000–50,000 when goods are worth under RMB 10,000, or 5–10 times value above that threshold.
What it takes
Labels cost a few fen to a few jiao each in China—fractions of RMB 1. Correctly entering dates and ingredients for every batch takes time.
What you may gain
China's Food Safety Law requires prepackaged-food labels to state name, specifications, net content, production date, composition or ingredients, producer name/address/contact details, shelf life, product-standard code, storage conditions, standardized names of additives, production-license number and any other legally required information. Bulk food sold loose by quantity must display name, production date or batch number, shelf life and producer/operator name, address and contact details on containers or outer packaging. Missing or unlawful labels/instructions bring confiscation of proceeds and food plus RMB 5,000–50,000 if retail value is under RMB 10,000, or 5–10 times value if at least RMB 10,000. Serious cases can bring suspended production/business and license revocation. Minor defects that neither affect food safety nor mislead consumers first require correction; refusal brings up to RMB 2,000. The new General Standard for Labeling Prepackaged Foods, GB 7718-2025, was issued March 16, 2025 and takes effect March 16, 2027 after a two-year transition. It requires a separate area showing production date and expiry date together, using high-contrast, legible type and colors in year-month-day order. Chinese rules apply.
Context & considerations
Minor typos or type-size defects that do not affect safety or mislead consumers lead first to correction, then up to RMB 2,000 for refusal; buyers cannot claim tenfold compensation for those alone. Omitting mandatory dates or shelf life is expressly not a minor defect. It brings value-based fines of RMB 5,000–50,000 below RMB 10,000 in goods, or 5–10 times value above it, and buyers may additionally claim ten times the price with a RMB 1,000 minimum; see Chapter 5, entry 31. Only GB 7718-2025's dates and display requirements were verified through the announcement and official explanation; consult the standard itself for detailed formatting.
Research & references
NPC Standing Committee (third amendment, 2025). Food Safety Law, Articles 67, 68 and 125. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916b87ef3; National Health Commission and State Administration for Market Regulation (2025). Announcement No. 2 of 2025 issuing GB 7718-2025 and 49 other national food-safety standards and 9 amendments. https://jkw.lasa.gov.cn/wswyh/wjzl/202504/a90766908ef24869a74f7373bf42463f.shtml (full announcement reprinted by Lhasa Health Commission); Supreme People's Court (2024). Food and Drug Punitive Compensation Interpretation, [2024] No. 9, Articles 6 and 8. http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/bf531a70471f10d377788f28d3d8f8.html (minor defects versus missing mandatory particulars); Beijing Administration for Market Regulation (2026). Food Labels Are Changing: Key Points of the New Rules. https://scjgj.beijing.gov.cn/zwxx/scjgdt/202605/t20260507_4639154.html (effective date, transition and date display).