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New Standard on Paper Cup and Inspection Rules on Food Labels Come in Force from June 2012

China has put into effect two legislation in the field of food and food contact materials as of 1 June 2012. This includes a new paper cup recommended standard published by China AQSIQ and the SAC (Standardization Administration of China) in last December and the inspections rules for labelling requirements of imported and exported food pre-package enacted by AQSIQ in February 2012.

Consumers are expecting to use safer paper cups with the implementation of a new national standard that recommends using environment-friendly oil ink and bans the use of recycled raw materials in making paper cup. Specifications and printing locations of a standard paper cup are indicated for the first time. “The cup rim should be within 15 mm of the cup body the cup bottom should be within 10 mm of the cup body." "No pattern should be printed on the cup rime part." In raw materials, the new standard stipulates that additives used in the raw materials should be in compliance with relevant national regulations. To avoid toxic solvent contaminants in the process of paper cup production or processing, the new standard has prohibited the use of the fluorescent whitening agent, industrial paraffin wax, industrial talcum powder and other additives not listed in GB 9685-2008 (Hygienic standards for uses of additives in food containers and packaging materials). The new standard also sets specific requirements on the stiffness, permeability, tightness and fastness of paper cups.

Though the new paper cup standard is not compulsory in nature, some companies in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province and one of biggest paper cup production bases in China, have been ready to practice the new standard. Reportage from Tianjin, one of China’s three municipalities, shows that local AQSIQ authorities will not hold responsible “old” products produced before 1 June 2012 but more measures shall be taken to ensure the implementation of the new standard as of June.

Inspection rules for imported and exported prepackaged food labels

In order to strengthen the inspection and supervision on imported and exported food safety, China AQSIQ published on 27 February 2012 this ministerial decree. According to the inspection rules, when going through the entry inspection on first imported pre-packaged food, product companies must present the sample of the original label and its translated text, label sample of pre-packaged food in Chinese, license copies of importers/distributors or their agents listed on the label as well as other qualifications. Exit inspection for pre-packaged food exports requires the label sample, its translated text and documents that justify compliance with this Rule.

Products could be judged as non-conforming by local entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities if any of the following conditions are met: 1) no Chinese label for imported pre-packaged food; 2) non-conforming label layout; 3) compliance testing result inconsistent with the content indicated on the label. However, if a label of the pre-packaged imported food product is found non-conforming in items other than reasons of safety, health or environmental protection, the product can still apply for re-examination (second time inspection).

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