China Label Compliance: 10 Common Mistakes

Why Label Compliance Matters More Than You Think

Every year, thousands of food shipments are held up or rejected at Chinese ports because of labeling errors. The cost isn't just the lost shipment — it's demurrage fees, product spoilage, damaged distributor relationships, and potential regulatory penalties.

Getting your Chinese labels right the first time is the single most cost-effective compliance decision you can make.

Here are the 10 mistakes we see most often — and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Using Machine Translation for Labels

The problem: Many companies run their English labels through Google Translate and call it a day. This produces labels with incorrect terminology, missing mandatory elements, and grammatical errors that regulators immediately flag.

The fix: Chinese food labels must use standardized terminology defined in GB 7718-2025. "Best before" isn't just a translation — it's a specific term (最佳食用日期) with specific formatting requirements. Use professional translation services that specialize in food regulatory compliance.

Mistake 2: Missing the 9 Mandatory Elements

GB 7718-2025 requires nine mandatory elements on every prepackaged food label. Missing even one is grounds for customs rejection:

Food name — Must be the standard name per national or industry standards
Ingredient list — All ingredients in descending order by weight
Net content and specification — In metric units (grams, milliliters, etc.)
Manufacturer name and address — Full legal name and complete address
Production date and shelf life — Both must be clearly stated
Storage conditions — Required temperature, humidity, or other conditions
Food production license number — The Chinese facility's SC number
Product standard code — The applicable national or industry standard code
Chinese境内责任人 information — Name, address, and contact details of the China-based responsible agent

If you have a domestic responsible person listed, their information must also appear on the label.

Mistake 3: Incorrect Nutritional Labeling Format

GB 28050-2025 mandates a specific format for nutrition labels, not just the data. Common errors include:

Wrong table layout (the standard requires a specific tabular format)
Missing "NRV%" (Nutrient Reference Value percentage) column
Incorrect rounding of values
Using non-standard nutrient names
Listing nutrients in the wrong order

The 2025 revision added new requirements for energy value display and updated NRV values. Labels based on the older 2011 standard are no longer compliant.

Mistake 4: Wrong Font Size or Formatting

Chinese labeling standards specify minimum font sizes for different label areas:

Characters on the main display panel must be at least 1.8mm in height
For packages with surface area under 35cm², minimum height is 1.5mm
The food name must be the most prominent text on the label

Using fonts that are too small or placing mandatory information in hard-to-read locations will result in rejection.

Mistake 5: Incorrect Allergen Declaration

China's labeling standards require declaration of 8 major allergens:

Wheat, crustaceans, fish, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, milk, and tree nuts

The allergen declaration must be clear and prominent. Simply including the allergen in the ingredient list is not sufficient — a separate allergen statement is required (e.g., "含有花生" — Contains peanuts).

Mistake 6: Using Prohibited Claims

Chinese food labeling law strictly regulates what you can and cannot say on a label:

No disease prevention or treatment claims — Unless the product is registered as a health food (保健食品)
No absolute terms — Words like "best," "most," "first," or "only" are prohibited under the Advertising Law
No unverified health benefits — Claims about boosting immunity, improving memory, etc., require health food registration
No misleading origin statements — "Imported from France" must be accurate and verifiable

These rules are enforced at the customs level. Non-compliant claims will result in shipment rejection regardless of other label compliance.

Mistake 7: Wrong Date Format

China uses the YYYY-MM-DD format for dates on food labels. Common mistakes:

Using DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY formats
Using abbreviations like "EXP" or "MFG" instead of Chinese terms
Mixing Chinese and Western date formats on the same label

The production date must be stated as 生产日期 and the expiry date as 保质期至 or 此日期前食用最佳.

Mistake 8: Ignoring the 2025 GB 7718 Updates

The revised GB 7718-2025 introduced several significant changes:

New allergen declaration requirements — Expanded and more specific
Updated ingredient naming standards — Some ingredient names have changed
Enhanced origin labeling — More detailed requirements for imported foods
New requirements for e-commerce labels — Labels displayed online must also comply

Labels that were compliant under the 2011 version may no longer be compliant under the 2025 revision. Review and update all existing labels.

Mistake 9: Not Reviewing Labels for Each Product SKU

Every product SKU requires its own compliant label. Common issues when companies try to use a single template across multiple products:

Different ingredients — Each SKU has a unique ingredient list that must be accurate
Different nutritional values — Nutritional panels must reflect the actual product composition
Different net weights — Even the same product in different package sizes needs separate labels
Different allergen profiles — One SKU may contain allergens that another doesn't

We recommend a SKU-by-SKU label review process to ensure every variant is individually compliant.

Mistake 10: Forgetting About Port-of-Entry Sticker Requirements

In some cases, products can enter China with supplemental Chinese labels applied at the port of entry rather than pre-printed labels. However, this option has specific requirements:

The supplemental label must cover all mandatory elements
It must be securely affixed and not easily removable
It must be applied before the product enters retail channels
Some product categories are not eligible for supplemental labels

Relying on port-of-entry stickers without confirming eligibility can lead to customs rejection. Always verify whether your product category qualifies for this option.

How to Get It Right

The most cost-effective approach is to get your labels right before your first shipment:

Start early — Label review should be part of your pre-export planning, not an afterthought
Use a compliance specialist — Work with someone who knows both the Chinese standards and your product category
Review every SKU individually — Don't assume one template works for all products
Update for 2025 standards — If your labels haven't been reviewed since 2024, they likely need updating
Keep a label library — Maintain a repository of all approved labels for easy reference and updates

Need a Label Review?

We provide complete Chinese label compliance services: GB 7718-2025 and GB 28050-2025 compliance review, custom label design, production-ready label files, and SKU-by-SKU verification.