China Amends Food Safety Law, Strengthening Oversight of High-Risk Products and Transport

Legislature Adopts Key Amendments

On September 12, 2025, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) in China officially adopted significant amendments to the nation's Food Safety Law. These changes, which are set to become effective on December 1, 2025, represent a substantial adjustment to the legislation, underscoring the government's increased focus on regulatory oversight, particularly for high-risk food products and their transportation. The law, initially promulgated in 2009, has undergone previous revisions in 2015, 2018, and 2021.

Enhanced Regulation for Bulk Transport and Infant Nutrition

The newly adopted amendments introduce several critical provisions aimed at bolstering food safety across the supply chain. Key areas of focus include:

• Bulk Road Transportation of Liquid Foods: A dedicated licensing system will now govern the bulk road transportation of key liquid foods. Operators engaged in this activity will be required to obtain specific permits, utilize specialized containers, employ trained personnel, and implement robust management systems. Consignors, consignees, and transport operators are mandated to inspect cleaning and transport certificates, with the forgery or falsification of such records explicitly prohibited. This measure is designed to address long-standing loopholes, such as the use of tanker trucks for both chemical liquids and food products without adequate cleaning.
• Infant Formula Liquid Milk: To strengthen safeguards around infant nutrition, infant formula liquid milk will now fall under the same registration-based management as infant formula powder. Manufacturers will be required to strictly adhere to registered formulas and processes, and the practice of sub-packaging these products will be prohibited.

Stricter Penalties and Public Trust

The amendments also introduce harsher penalties for violations, including significant monetary fines for offenses such as operating without a transport permit, falsifying transport records, or failing to fulfill inspection obligations. In severe cases, these violations could lead to the revocation of licenses. These stricter measures are part of a broader effort to reinforce consumer trust in food quality, following past incidents such as the 2008 toxic infant milk scandal and a July incident involving elevated lead levels in kindergarten food. The government aims to create a regulatory environment that supports domestic innovation while ensuring the safety of one of the world's largest and most dynamic consumer markets.