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GB 28050-2025: China Nutrition Label Requirements

GB 28050-2025 (⚠ Mar 2027), the China GB 28050 nutrition label under GB 28050-2025 General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (with GB 7718-2025), 7 mandatory nutrients, per 100 g or 100 ml, ZH-CN on pack. Generate a compliant label free.

Reviewed against GB 28050-2025 General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (with GB 7718-2025) · Page updated August 16, 2026

Jurisdiction
People's Republic of China
Regulation
GB 28050-2025 General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (with GB 7718-2025)
Effective
Published 16 March 2025 (NHC/SAMR Announcement No. 2 of 2025); implemented 16 March 2027, product made before that date sells through to end of shelf life
Official source
www.nhc.gov.cn
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Nutrition labelling requirements in China

Packaged food sold in China must carry a nutrition declaration under GB 28050-2025 General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (with GB 7718-2025). This page covers the China - GB 28050-2025 (⚠ Mar 2027) format: Adds saturated fat + sugars + warning-triangle FoP; effective March 2027. A compliant China GB 28050 nutrition label declares 7 mandatory nutrients: 能量, 蛋白质, 脂肪, 饱和脂肪, 碳水化合物, 糖 and 钠. Values are declared per 100 g or 100 ml, with energy in kJ, and sodium rather than salt. The panel is headed "营养成分表". ZH-CN is required on pack. Front-of-pack warnings apply. The required scheme is yellow triangle warning. NFL builds a print-ready China GB 28050 nutrition label from your recipe, applying the rounding rules and reference intakes for China automatically, and exports it as PDF, PNG, SVG, JPG or EPS.

Official regulation

Citation
GB 28050-2025 General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (with GB 7718-2025)
Effective
Published 16 March 2025 (NHC/SAMR Announcement No. 2 of 2025); implemented 16 March 2027, product made before that date sells through to end of shelf life
Scope
People's Republic of China
Source

Key facts

New mandatory statement
Children and adolescents should avoid excessive intake of salt, oil and sugar, printed under every nutrition table (no front-of-pack warning symbol)
Added declaration
Saturated fat and sugars join energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate and sodium: the core panel goes from 1+4 to 1+6

GB 28050-2025 and GB 7718-2025: publication, implementation date and transition

The National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published the two revised labelling standards together in Announcement No. 2 of 2025, dated 16 March 2025. The announcement covers 50 new national food safety standards and 9 amendments, headed by GB 7718-2025 (general labelling) and GB 28050-2025 (nutrition labelling), and points to the CFSA standards database (sppt.cfsa.net.cn) for the full texts.

The NHC question-and-answer guidance on GB 28050-2025, published 25 September 2025, gives the implementation date: the nutrition labelling standard takes effect on 16 March 2027, a two-year transition from publication. Food produced on or after that date must follow the new standard; food produced before it may be sold until the end of its shelf life, so old labels stay on shelves but cannot be applied to new production.

  • Status today: GB 28050-2025 is published and mandatory from 16 March 2027; GB 28050-2011 (in force since 1 January 2013) applies until then.
  • Matching rule from SAMR: SAMR Order No. 100, the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labelling, published 14 March 2025, also takes effect on 16 March 2027.

Source: NHC/SAMR Announcement No. 2 of 2025, NHC Q&A on GB 28050-2025, SAMR Order No. 100.

The mandatory panel under GB 28050-2025: from 1+4 to 1+6

GB 28050-2011 required energy plus four core nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrate and sodium, each with its NRV percentage. GB 28050-2025 adds two: the NHC guidance lists the mandatory content as energy, protein, fat, saturated fat (or saturated fatty acids), carbohydrate, sugars and sodium, with amounts and NRV percentages, in that order. The table header stays 营养成分表, and the percentage column may be headed 营养素参考值% or NRV%, or both.

  • Saturated fat: the row may be named 饱和脂肪 or 饱和脂肪酸, but a label must pick one name, not both.
  • Sugars: defined for labelling purposes as the sum of glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose and lactose. Where the only sugar present is lactose, the row may be written 糖（乳糖）.
  • Trans fat: must be declared when hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils are used in the food or its ingredients; below the zero threshold it is declared as 0.
  • Energy: declared in kilojoules (kJ). Calories or kilocalories may be added only as a supplementary note.
  • Sodium: the row remains sodium (钠), but the guidance allows the word salt (盐) in explanatory text on the basis that 1 g of salt corresponds to 400 mg of sodium.
  • Encouraged extras: voluntary rows for vitamin A, B1, B2, calcium, iron, zinc and other Table 1 nutrients. Vitamin D is expressed in micrograms, not IU.

Appendix B offers eight layouts; alignment and colours may be adjusted, content and order may not.

Source: NHC Q&A on GB 28050-2025, GB 28050-2011 (NHC PDF).

Declaration basis, NRV percentages and rounding under GB 28050-2025

Values are declared per 100 g or 100 mL of the edible portion, and/or per serving (每份). A per-serving panel must state the serving quantity in g or mL on the same panel; Appendix E gives reference servings, and a business may choose anywhere between 50% and 150% of the reference for its food type.

The NRV percentage is the declared amount divided by the NRV in Appendix A, which lists values for energy and 31 nutrients. The NHC guidance does not reprint those values; for orientation, the 2011 standard set energy at 8400 kJ and sodium at 2000 mg, so check the 2025 Appendix A before finalising. Two consequences of the serving basis:

  • A nutrient below the zero threshold per 100 g or 100 mL is shown as 0 even on a per-serving panel; the threshold is always tested per 100 g or 100 mL.
  • Content claims (high, low, contains) cannot be made per serving; they must meet the per 100 g or 100 mL condition in Appendix C.

Rounding may follow GB/T 8170 or plain round-half-up, but one method must be used throughout the table. Comparative claims (increased, reduced) need at least a 25% difference against the reference food. On tolerance, the NHC guidance says accuracy is judged from calculation or test results together with the permitted deviation; the 2011 standard set at least 80% of the declared value for protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals and at most 120% for energy, fat, saturated fat and sodium. Product standards with their own nutrient requirements also apply.

Source: NHC Q&A on GB 28050-2025, GB 28050-2011 (NHC PDF).

The children's advisory statement and exemptions in GB 28050-2025

The most visible new element is a mandatory sentence beneath the nutrition table: 儿童青少年应避免过量摄入盐油糖 (children and adolescents should avoid excessive intake of salt, oil and sugar). It is not tied to any threshold, so it appears on every product with a nutrition table, not only those high in fat, sugar or salt. No font size is set. Foods exempt from the table are exempt from the statement.

A nutrition label is not required for:

  • fresh, uncooked, unseasoned foods: raw meat, raw fish, fresh eggs, fresh beans, raw vegetables and fruit, and primary grain kernels;
  • single-ingredient dried products only cut, milled or crushed: grains, dried fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, algae;
  • packaged drinking water (including mineral water) and tea (including tea bags);
  • alcoholic beverages above 0.5% vol;
  • foods eaten at 10 g or 10 mL a day or less: salt, MSG, vinegar, sugar, honey, spices, chewing gum, coffee, yeast, starch and cooking wine. Fermented bean curd, pickles, soy sauce, sauces and compound seasonings are not exempt;
  • packages whose largest surface is 40 cm² or less; a voluntary label may then use text format and omit NRV%. Returnable glass bottles that cannot be printed follow the same rule.

Imported prepackaged food may comply with a stick-on Chinese nutrition label.

Source: NHC Q&A on GB 28050-2025.

GB 7718-2025 allergens, digital labels and SAMR enforcement

GB 7718-2025 makes allergen labelling mandatory for eight groups: gluten-containing cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and their hybrids), crustaceans, fish, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, milk and milk products (including lactose), and tree nuts. They are flagged in the ingredient list in bold or underlined type, or in a line near it introduced by wording such as 食物致敏原提示. Sesame and coconut may be flagged voluntarily; precautionary wording such as 可能含有 is encouraged. Both the production date and the expiry date must now be shown, with relief for shelf lives of six months or more and packs of 20 cm² or less.

NHC and SAMR Announcement No. 5 of 2025, dated 29 July 2025, permits digital labels: a QR code that reproduces the physical label and may add ingredient origin, process, usage and traceability information. They are encouraged, not required, and never replace the mandatory items on the pack; content changes must be logged.

Enforcement sits with SAMR. Order No. 100 places supervision of food labelling with market regulation departments at county level and above, in force from 16 March 2027. Imported prepackaged food need not show a product standard code or production licence number. Most labelling breaches draw an order to correct and a fine of up to 30,000 yuan. Build a China label in the generator at #/app.

Source: NHC Q&A on GB 7718-2025, NHC/SAMR Announcement No. 5 of 2025 on digital labels, SAMR Order No. 100.

How NFL handles it

  • Applies the correct rounding rules for every nutrient
  • Uses the right Daily Value / Reference Intake table for this jurisdiction
  • Renders the required front-of-pack warnings automatically when thresholds are hit
  • Handles multilingual labels where required (bilingual EN/FR, EN/ES, Arabic + EN, etc.)
  • Exports print-ready vector PDF, PNG, SVG, JPG, and EPS

Common questions

When does GB 28050-2025 come into force in China?
GB 28050-2025 was published by the NHC and SAMR on 16 March 2025 and takes effect on 16 March 2027. Food produced from that date must carry a nutrition label that follows the 2025 standard. Food produced earlier may be sold until its shelf life ends, so there is no shelf recall, but new production after 16 March 2027 cannot use the 2011 format.
What nutrients must a Chinese nutrition label show under GB 28050-2025?
Energy plus six nutrients: protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars and sodium, each with its amount and NRV percentage. The 2011 standard required energy plus four (protein, fat, carbohydrate, sodium); saturated fat and sugars are the additions. Trans fat must also be declared when hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils are used.
Does GB 28050-2025 require a warning on the front of the pack?
The confirmed mandatory element is a text statement beneath the nutrition table, 儿童青少年应避免过量摄入盐油糖, telling children and adolescents to avoid excessive salt, oil and sugar. The NHC guidance places it under the 营养成分表 on all prepackaged foods that carry a nutrition table, without a high-fat, sugar or salt threshold. Foods exempt from the nutrition table are exempt from the statement.
Can I declare nutrients per serving in China instead of per 100 g?
Yes. GB 28050-2025 allows per 100 g, per 100 mL and/or per serving. If you use a serving, state the serving size in g or mL on the same panel, and stay within 50% to 150% of the reference serving in Appendix E. Zero thresholds and content claims are still judged per 100 g or 100 mL.
Is energy in kJ or kcal on a China nutrition label?
Kilojoules. GB 28050-2025 requires energy in kJ; calories or kilocalories may be added only as a supplementary note. Sodium is declared as sodium in mg, and the word salt may be used in explanatory text on the basis that 1 g salt corresponds to 400 mg sodium.
Which foods are exempt from nutrition labelling in China?
Fresh unprocessed foods such as raw meat, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruit; single-ingredient dried products; packaged drinking water and tea; alcoholic drinks above 0.5% vol; foods eaten at 10 g or 10 mL a day or less such as salt, vinegar, spices, honey, chewing gum and coffee; and packs with a largest surface of 40 cm² or less. Soy sauce, sauces, pickles and compound seasonings are not exempt.
Does GB 7718-2025 require allergen labelling in China?
Yes. GB 7718-2025 makes allergen labelling mandatory for eight groups: gluten cereals, crustaceans, fish, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, milk and tree nuts. They are highlighted in the ingredient list in bold or underlined type, or listed separately near the ingredients under a lead-in such as 食物致敏原提示. Sesame and coconut may be flagged voluntarily.
Who enforces GB 28050-2025 and what are the penalties?
SAMR and its local market regulation departments at county level and above, under SAMR Order No. 100 (Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labelling), which takes effect on 16 March 2027 alongside the two standards. Most labelling breaches draw an order to correct and a fine of up to 30,000 yuan; imported food may use a compliant stick-on Chinese nutrition label.

How to generate one

  • Open the generator: free account, no credit card
  • Pick "China - GB 28050-2025 (⚠ Mar 2027)" from the format rail
  • Enter your ingredients (search USDA FoodData Central or add a custom ingredient)
  • The label renders live; export in one click

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