China New Labeling Requirements Online

China                                                                                            

New Labeling Requirements Online

The Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) has posted a preliminary version of the new labeling requirements for red meat products destined for China online:

1. Preliminary information indicates that additional labeling requirements will go into effect for all meat and poultry and meat and poultry products departing the United States on or after December 1, 2004.  The information is provided here, but is subject to change.  Any additional information will be provided as it becomes available.  
   1. An additional label should be placed inside the meat or poultry carton or packaging.  The label should indicate the commercial name of the product.
   2. The label should be bilingual in Chinese and English and should be placed either on the inside packaging (adhered to vacuum packaging or the poly bag), or placed inside the inner packaging.  The inner product label should not be placed loosely in the carton or in a location that is not easily viewed by inspectors.
   3. Any format of the bilingual inner product label is acceptable to China as long as the label clearly states the product name.  There are no restrictions on the label size, color, size of the wording, or any other format characteristics as long as the label is legible and easy to read.  For example, a label on which a checklist of different meat and poultry items appears is acceptable, as long as the correct product contained in the packaging is clearly identified on the checklist.
   4. There is no change in the existing labeling requirement that the establishment number must appear on the inner packaging.
   5. Product intended for further processing in China does not require the establishment number and product name on the inner packaging material.  These products can be packaged in wax-lined cartons.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and FSIS told USMEF that these requirements are subject to change as USDA is still seeking clarification on several points. FAS and FSIS were notified this morning that the requirements would be applied to shipments leaving the U.S. after December 1, 2004.

If you have further questions, please contact Paul Clayton (pclayton@usmef.org), Ann Spaeth (aspaeth@usmef.org), or Kevin Smith (ksmith@usmef.org)

China                                                                                            

New Labeling Requirements Online

The Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) has posted a preliminary version of the new labeling requirements for red meat products destined for China online:

1. Preliminary information indicates that additional labeling requirements will go into effect for all meat and poultry and meat and poultry products departing the United States on or after December 1, 2004.  The information is provided here, but is subject to change.  Any additional information will be provided as it becomes available.  
   1. An additional label should be placed inside the meat or poultry carton or packaging.  The label should indicate the commercial name of the product.
   2. The label should be bilingual in Chinese and English and should be placed either on the inside packaging (adhered to vacuum packaging or the poly bag), or placed inside the inner packaging.  The inner product label should not be placed loosely in the carton or in a location that is not easily viewed by inspectors.
   3. Any format of the bilingual inner product label is acceptable to China as long as the label clearly states the product name.  There are no restrictions on the label size, color, size of the wording, or any other format characteristics as long as the label is legible and easy to read.  For example, a label on which a checklist of different meat and poultry items appears is acceptable, as long as the correct product contained in the packaging is clearly identified on the checklist.
   4. There is no change in the existing labeling requirement that the establishment number must appear on the inner packaging.
   5. Product intended for further processing in China does not require the establishment number and product name on the inner packaging material.  These products can be packaged in wax-lined cartons.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and FSIS told USMEF that these requirements are subject to change as USDA is still seeking clarification on several points. FAS and FSIS were notified this morning that the requirements would be applied to shipments leaving the U.S. after December 1, 2004.

If you have further questions, please contact Paul Clayton (pclayton@usmef.org), Ann Spaeth (aspaeth@usmef.org), or Kevin Smith (ksmith@usmef.org)