China Revitalizes Approval for Imported Health Foods
Recently, the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published imported health foods that have newly received registration approval on its official database [1]. This sends a significant signal to foreign food companies, as the authority has not granted registration approvals for imported health foods since 2018.
By way of background, China established a dual-track regulatory system for health foods in 2016, including pre-market registration (e.g., food bearing a claim of assisting in boosting immune system or reducing physical fatigue) and pre-market notification. Notably, health foods imported into China for the first time (with the exception of nutritional supplements intended to provide vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients) require pre-market registration approval. Further details regarding China’s regulatory framework for health foods can be found in our recent article - China: Master the Ingredient Regulations for Health Foods.
Official records indicate that the last successful registrations for imported health foods were granted in 2017. For the past seven years, the approval pipeline for new imported products was at a standstill, with no new registrations issued. The recent 2025 approvals cover five products, covering Panax notoginseng and American ginseng capsules, turmeric extract tablets, blueberry lutein capsules, Ganoderma spore capsules, and Ganoderma capsules. These products originate from two companies, with four approvals granted to a company from Hong Kong and one to a company based in Indonesia.
This move is welcome news for international companies seeking to enter the Chinese health food market. It demonstrates a positive indicator that China is revitalizing its process for approving imported health food products. The resumption of approvals indicates a potential easing of market access barriers and reflects the authorities’ progress in clearing a longstanding backlog of applications.
Keller and Heckman LLP provides support to companies navigating compliance issues for health food products in China, ensuring a smooth and successful market entry. If you would like to know more details about market entry in China or have questions regarding exporting health foods, including dietary supplements, to China, please do not hesitate to contact David Ettinger (ettinger@khlaw.com), Jenny Xin Li (li@khlaw.com), or your existing contact at Keller and Heckman LLP.