In February 2023, a number of national, industrial and local food safety standards will be implemented. There are 25 national food safety standards, including National Food Safety Standard Infant Formula Food (GB 10765-2021), National Food Safety Standard Older Infant Formula Food (GB 10766-2021), National Food Safety Standard Young Children Formula Food (GB 10767-2021) (hereinafter referred to as the "new GBs for infant formula"), National Food Safety Standard Maximum Residue Limits for 41 Veterinary Drugs in Foods (GB 31650.1-2022) and a number of other test methods. In order to better help enterprises understand the modification of important standards, Antion made a simple interpretation of the new GBs for infant formula for your reference.

On March 18, 2021, the National Health Commission issued a new series of standards for infant formula food, which will be officially implemented on February 22, 2023. The contents of the standards have been greatly adjusted. The main changes are as follows:

1. Adjusted the product standard system

The new GBs for infant formula divided the Older Infant and Young Children Formula Food (GB 10767-2010) into two standards, namely GB 10766 and GB 10767, consistent with the trend of standard revision of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

2. Modified the terms and definitions

The National Food Safety Standard Older Infant Formula Food (GB 10766-2021) clearly divided older infant formula food into milk based older infant formula food and bean based older infant formula food, and emphasized the requirements for main protein sources. The protein sources of milk based and bean based products should not be mixed, which is more in line with the actual situation of products and in line with international standards.

3. Adjusted and improved the requirements for nutrient indicators

Protein: The limit value of protein indicator in the new GBs was revised in line with the international trend. The protein indicator in Stage 1 was fine-tuned, and the maximum and minimum values in Stage 2 and Stage 3 were lowered. The requirement for protein indicator has been significantly reduced to better match the growth and development needs of infant and young children, which is more scientific. In addition, the new GB for Stage 2 increased the requirement for whey protein proportion, and the whey protein content in milk based older infant formula food should be ≥40%, so as to further improve product quality.

Carbohydrate: In Stage 1, the carbohydrate indicator was fine-tuned, newly increasing that sucrose should not be used as a source of carbohydrate. In Stage 2 and Stage 3, the requirements for carbohydrate-related indicators were newly increased.

Vitamin and mineral: The overall range of vitamin indicator requirements were adjusted in Stage 1, and the requirements for the maximum values of vitamins were increased in Stage 2 and Stage 3 to fully ensure the safety of product. At the same time, the new GBs refined the requirements for vitamins and minerals in bean based formulas, which will be more conducive to the development of bean based formulas.

The official implementation of the new GBs means that the two-year transition period of infant formula is officially over. Infant formula produced from February 22, 2023 must meet the requirements of the new GBs, and food produced before the implementation date can continue to be sold within the shelf life. The official implementation of the new GBs means that the competition in the infant formula market will be fiercer. It is suggested that enterprises improve their own system standards in time according to the new requirements, to ensure product quality and enhance product competitiveness.

For detailed interpretation of the new GBs, please click the link below to browse:

New Standards of Infants Formula Landing

Source: Antion

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