GB 7718-2004 General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods

Foreword

This standard is mandatory except for Section 5.3 which is recommendatory.

This standard is not equivalent to the CAC Codex General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods [CODEX STAN 1-1985 (Rev. 1-1991，1999)]; it also refers to the U. S. Code of FederalRegulations Part 101 "Food Labeling".

This standard GB 7718-1994 "General standard for the labeling of foods".

In comparison with GB 7718-1994, the major changes of this standard are as follows;

——The name of this standard has been changed to "General standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods";

——Section 4 "Basic principles" and Section 8 "Basic requirements" of GB 7718-1994 have been incorporated to become Section 4 "Basic requirements" of this standard with amendments and supplementary provisions;

——"The minimum size of words, symbols and numerals in the mandatory labeling information shall not be less than 1. 8 mm in height" has been added (see 4. 8);

——"The class names which may be used in the list of ingredients" has been added (see 5.1. 2.2. 2)

——"The labeling requirement for the unit of measurement for net contents" (see 5. 1.4. 3) and "the minimum font size requirement in net contents declaration" (see 5.1.4.4) have been added;

——"The labeling requirement for the name and address of the group company, branch office, production facility or contract packer of the prepackaged foods" has been added (see 5.1. 5);

——"The foods which can be exempted from the labeling of date of minimum durability" has been added (see 5.2. 1)

——"The method of calculation for the largest surface area of a package or container" has been added (see Appendix A).

　　GB 7718-2004 is one of the series of national standard on food labeling. Other related national standards include:

　　GB 10344-1989 "Standard for the labeling of alcoholic beverage"

　　GB 13432-2004"General standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods for special dietary uses" (replacing GB 13432-1992).

　　Appendix A of this standard is a normative appendix.

This standard is proposed and interpreted by the China National Food Industry Standardization Committee of Technique.

This standard was drafted by the drafting group organized by the China National Food Industry Standardization Committee of Technique.

The main drafters of this standard are Hao Yu, Wang Yanjing, Wang Meiling, Bai Demei, Tian Qijing,Tian Mingfu, Xu Hongmin, Yang Guizhi, Yang Xiaoming, Zhang Lijun, Chen Yaojun, Zheng Xin, Zhao Xuejun, Dong Hongyan, Ji Chao, Jian Huiwei, and Lin Linan.

This standard replaces all previous standards, those issued editions are:

　　-GB 7718-1987, GB 7718-1994.

                  [b]General standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods

1 scope

This standard prescribes the followings:
——basic requirements for the labeling of prepackaged foods (see Section 4);

——mandatory labeling information in the labeling of prepackaged foods (see 5. 1),

——exemptions from mandatory requirements for the labeling of prepackaged foods (see 5. 2);

——non-mandatory labeling information in the labeling of prepackaged foods (see 5.3)

　　This standard applies to the labeling of all prepackaged foods to be offered as such to consumer

2 Normative references

The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply. However parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies.

GB 2760 Hygienic standard for the use of food additives

GB/T 12493 Classification and numbering of food additives

GS 13432-2004 General standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods for special dietary uses

3 Terms and definitions

The following terminologies and definitions shall apply in this standard:

3.1prepackag foods

Prepackaged foods means foods prepackaged or made up in advance with a measured quantity in a container ready for direct offer to the consumer.

3.2food label

Food label means any words, pictorial, mark or other descriptive matter on the packaging or the conof food