China food label rules GB 7718-2025: Chinese label, allergens, dates (2027)

What changes with GB 7718-2025

GB 7718-2025 is a mandatory national food safety standard for domestic and imported prepackaged foods in all categories. It was released on 27 March 2025 and enters into force on 16 March 2027, after a two-year transition, on the same day as SAMR's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labeling, which hold labeling rules not included in the standard. A separate nutrition labeling standard, GB 28050-2025, was released on the same day.

The standard makes allergen labeling mandatory, changes how dates are shown, and encourages digital labels, which must match the physical label and be marked as a digital label. Some products, such as spirits of 10% alcohol or more, vinegar, edible salt, solid sugar and monosodium glutamate, may omit the shelf-life declaration if the production date is shown.

China food label checklist for exporters

• Chinese label matching any foreign-language text one to one
• Country or region of origin
• Name, address and contact of the agent, importer or distributor in China
• Registration number of the overseas manufacturer
• 8 allergen groups in the ingredient list or a warning next to it
• Production date and expiry date in year, month, day order

Allergens, dates and imported food

Eight allergen groups must be declared: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, fish, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, dairy including lactose, and nuts. They are shown in the ingredient list or in a warning close to it; warnings about possible cross-contamination are encouraged but not required. Dates are written in year, month, day order, for example 2010/03/20 or 2010-03-20, and a product with a shelf life of 6 months or more, or a package whose largest surface is 20 cm² or less, can show the shelf life and expiry date instead of the production date.

For imported food, the label gives the country or region of origin and the name, address and contact details of the agent, importer or distributor registered in China, together with the overseas manufacturer's registration number; the manufacturer's own name and address are not required. Imported products are exempt from the production licence number and the product standard code. Exporters should agree the Chinese label with the importer well before 16 March 2027.