Ministry of Health, Administration of the Hygiene of Food Additives Procedures

Promulgated: March 28 2002
Effective: July 1 2002
Interpreting authority: Ministry of Health
Applicability: These Procedures apply to the production, distribution and use of food additives (Article 2). In the Procedures, "food additive" means any chemical compound or natural substance that is added to food to improve the quality, colour, aroma or taste of the food or as required in the preservation and processing of the food (Article 28).

Main contents: Prior approval from the Ministry of Health (MOH) is required for (1) the production, distribution or use of any new food additive not listed in "Health Standard for the Use of Food Additives" or MOH announcements or (2) the expanded use of any food additive already listed in the "Health Standard for the Use of Food Additives" or MOH announcements (Article 5). Application shall be made through a provincial administration of health (Article 8). The importer of any new food additive, or of a food additive that has an expanded use, shall apply directly to MOH and shall provide documents to prove that the government of its home country has approved the production and distribution of the relevant food additive and that the producer of the relevant food additive has been examined or certified by the relevant institution or organization in its home countries (Article 9). Producers of the food additives shall obtain health permits from a provincial health administration before production (Article 10).
Related legislation: PRC, Food Hygiene Law, Oct 30 1995, CLP 1995 No.10 p8
Repealed legislation: Administration of the Hygiene of Food Additives Procedures, Mar 15 1993