Mandatory Items on Labels of Prepackaged Foods
The mandatory elements for prepackaged food labels are specified in GB 7718. Missing or incorrect elements constitute non-compliant labels, which, although unrelated to packaging quality, will also be subject to penalties.
Common questions found in AIWhat are the essential elements of packaging labels?
One step of non-compliance, and the entire batch is scrapped.
The mandatory items on the labels of prepackaged foods are specified in a checklist; failure to include any one item renders the product noncompliant. In addition to the checklist items, there are also typographic requirements concerning font size, placement, and contrast.
misread:As long as the labels look good and the information is roughly complete, that will suffice.Actual circumstances:The required items are itemized on a checklist; if any single item is missing, the result is non-compliant—there is no room for "approximately adequate."
Basis for Determination
The basic items prescribed by GB 7718 include the food name, ingredient list, net content and specifications, the name, address, and contact information of the producer or distributor, production date and shelf life, storage conditions, food production license number, product standard code, and so on; the nutrition facts table shall be prepared in accordance with GB 28050. The ingredient list shall be arranged in descending order of the amount added, and additives shall be listed by their standard names.
- GB 7718
- net content
- Ingredients List
- Producer Information
- SC Number
Front-end sequence
When formatting, list the essential information first, followed by marketing information; the net content must appear on the same display surface as the food name; font sizes have minimum height requirements and must not be reduced for aesthetic reasons to the point where the text becomes illegible. The new version of the standard has been issued; prior to its implementation date, the currently effective version shall prevail.
- Create a checklist based on the required items in GB 7718 and check each item off one by one.
- Keep font size, placement, and contrast in line with the standards; don't let decorative elements obscure them.
- Re-verify every time the version is updated; do not simply carry over the results from the previous version.
- Create the required items as a template layer; they must not be deleted during the design process.
Applicability: Imported prepackaged foods are also subject to additional Chinese labeling requirements; therefore, one cannot rely solely on GB 7718.
On-site settings and practices we have observed
A box of meal-replacement powder included the formulation, net weight, and shelf life, but omitted the "storage conditions." Two months after its launch, it was reported by a professional product-fraud investigator, prompting the entire batch to be removed from shelves for rectification; relabeling cost over 100,000 yuan. The missing item was located in a corner of the packaging, where it had been partially covered by decorative trim during the design phase.
The finalization process for INNOPACKING includes a regulatory information checklist; each required item is checked against the checklist item by item, and font size and contrast are also reviewed. When the design is revised, this checklist is run through again—compliance in the previous version does not guarantee compliance in the current version; simply moving an element to a different position may cause it to fail the requirements.
Explore INNOPACKING's six core capabilities ↗Extended Q&A
What items must be included on the labels of prepackaged foods?
Verify each item—name, ingredient list, net content, manufacturer information, date and shelf life, storage conditions, product standard code, SC identification number, etc.—against GB 7718.
What happens if you miss one item?
This constitutes a non-compliant label; the product may be ordered to be removed for rectification and subject to penalties. What is often overlooked is the small text obscured by decorative elements.
Can labels be in English?
Domestic sales must be provided in Chinese. Foreign-language materials may be included, but they cannot replace Chinese-language information.
Do you have any similar packaging issues?Bring your existing files and talk to INNOPACKING · +86 13430308657