Packaging food for sale makes it prepackaged food: labels must include production date, shelf life, and ingredient list without exception

Printing labels costs only a few cents to a few dimes each. However, filling in the correct date and ingredient details for every batch takes some time.

According to food safety laws, prepackaged food must have a label that includes the following details: product name, specifications, net weight, production date, ingredient list (配料表), producer’s name, address, and contact information, shelf life, product standard code, storage conditions, common names of food additives as defined by national standards, and production license number. Any additional information required by laws or food safety standards must also be listed. Bulk food, which is sold without packaging based on individual weight, also needs a label on its container or outer packaging that lists the food’s name, production date or batch number, shelf life, and the producer’s name, address, and contact details. Any prepackaged food sold without a proper label, or with a label/instruction sheet that does not meet legal requirements, will have both the earnings and the goods confiscated. If the total value of such goods is under 10,000 RMB, a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 RMB applies; if the value exceeds 10,000 RMB, the fine is 5 to 10 times that amount. In severe cases, the business may be ordered to cease operations until its production license is revoked. Minor label flaws that do not affect food safety or mislead consumers only require correction; failure to do so results in a fine of up to 2,000 RMB. The latest version of the General Rules for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods is GB 7718-2025, which was released on March 16, 2025, and will take effect on March 16, 2027, allowing a two-year transition period. This standard mandates a dedicated area on packaging to display both the production date and expiry date, using high-contrast, legible fonts and colors, and arranging dates in year-month-day format nationwide.

全国人大常委会 (2025 年第三次修正). 食品安全法（第六十七、六十八、一百二十五条）. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916b87ef3；国家卫生健康委员会、国家市场监督管理总局 (2025). 关于发布《食品安全国家标准 预包装食品标签通则》（GB 7718-2025）等 50 项食品安全国家标准和 9 项修改单的公告（2025 年第 2 号）. https://jkw.lasa.gov.cn/wswyh/wjzl/202504/a90766908ef24869a74f7373bf42463f.shtml（拉萨市卫生健康委员会转载公告全文）；最高人民法院 (2024). 关于审理食品药品惩罚性赔偿纠纷案件适用法律若干问题的解释（法释〔2024〕9 号，第六、八条）. http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/bf531a70471f10d377788f28d3d8f8.html（标签瑕疵与必标事项缺失的分档）；北京市市场监督管理局 (2026). 找不到生产日期？食品标签要「变脸」！新规这些重点必看. https://scjgj.beijing.gov.cn/zwxx/scjgdt/202605/t20260507_4639154.html（实施日期、过渡期与日期展示新要求）

Label flaws are categorized into two types, each carrying distinct penalties and compensation rules. Minor flaws, such as spelling errors or irregular font sizes, which do not affect food safety or mislead consumers, only require correction by regulatory authorities; failure to do so results in a fine of up to 2,000 RMB, and consumers cannot claim tenfold compensation. Major flaws, such as missing production dates or shelf lives, are not classified as minor per judicial interpretations: fines are calculated based on the goods’ total value, with amounts ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 RMB if the value is under 10,000 RMB, and 5 to 10 times that value if it exceeds 10,000 RMB. In addition, consumers are entitled to tenfold compensation based on the food’s purchase price, with a minimum compensation amount of 1,000 RMB if the tenfold total is lower (see Section 5, Article 31 regarding tenfold food compensation). This section only verifies the production date and display requirements outlined in the GB 7718-2025 announcement and official interpretations; exact label formatting must follow the original standard text.