Sports Nutrition Food Knowledge Popularization

1. Definition

According to National Food Safety Standard General Principles for Sports Nutrition Food (GB 24154-2015), sports nutrition food is defined as specially processed foods in order to meet special needs of physiological metabolic state, athletic ability and certain nutritional components of sports people (refer to people participating in physical activity at least three times a week, each time lasting at least 30 min, and each exercise intensity reaching moderate and above).

2. Product Categories

According to characteristics of nutrients, it can be divided into energy supplement, energy control and protein supplement. According to sports items, it can be divided into speed power, endurance and post-exercise recovery.

3. The Supervision of Imported Sports Nutrition Food

When conducting on-site inspections of imported sports nutrition food, relevant departments of GACC mainly focus on the following points:

(1) Product Category

According to technical indicators, it is determined that the product belongs to one of energy supplement, energy control, protein supplement, speed power, endurance, and post-exercise recovery. If it fails to meet any of the six categories, it does not meet Chinese national standards and will not be allowed to enter China.

(2) Chinese Label

According to Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, imported prepackaged foods and food additives should have Chinese labels; if instruction is required by laws or regulations, the instruction in Chinese should be provided. Labels and instructions shall comply with this Law and provisions of other laws, regulations and food safety standards; the instructions shall indicate county of origin, Chinese domestic agent’s name, address, and contact information. Prepackaged food without Chinese labels or instructions, or their labels or instructions that do not comply with the Law shall not be imported.

The Chinese label of sports nutrition food should meet the requirements of National Food Safety Standard Labeling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses (GB 13432-2013), and the following items should be indicated:

Food name, ingredients list, net content and specification, country or region of origin, production date and shelf life, storage conditions, consumption methods, suitable people, nutrition information, other items that should be indicated stipulated by laws and regulations or food safety standards, and it should not involve disease prevention and treatment functions.

In addition, GB 24154-2015 has the following special provisions on the label contents of sports nutrition food:

a) The label should indicate “sports nutrition food” and the classification of product on the principal display panel.

b) If there are unsuitable people, it should be marked on the label.

c) For products with creatine added, the label should indicate that “not suitable for pregnant women, lactating women, children, and infants and young children”.

(3) The Use of Food Additives and Nutritional Fortification Substances

a) The use of food additives in sports nutrition food can refer to the types and use amounts of additives permitted in the same or similar food category in GB 2760.

b) The compound sources of nutritional fortification substances in sports nutrition food should meet the requirements of Appendix C of GB 14880.

c) The quality specifications of food additives and nutritional fortification substances should meet corresponding standards and/or relevant provisions.

Source: 12360 Customs Hotline

Note: This article is compiled by Antion, please indicate our source if reprint it.