China’s new infant FSMP standard (GB 25596-2025), effective 2027, mandates re-registration, updating ingredients/categories to address medical needs.
Key Points
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New FSMP Standard in China
- China will implement a mandatory national standard (GB 25596-2025) for infant FSMP on March 16, 2027, replacing the 2010 version.
- Companies must re-register products, update ingredients and labeling, and adhere to stricter compliance for infants’ medical needs.
- The transition requires extensive product development and manufacturing adjustments.
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Decathlon’s Strategic Business Move
- Decathlon plans to sell a 30% stake in its China business to optimize global operations and enhance financial flexibility.
- The sale aligns with Decathlon’s strategy to leverage local partnerships and adapt to China’s evolving retail market.
- Proceeds may be reinvested in growth areas, improving market presence and responding to trends.
- Political Developments in South Korea and Hong Kong
- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s arrest creates political turmoil, affecting global dynamics and ethnic Chinese residents.
- Cardinal Joseph Zen from Hong Kong is allowed to attend Pope Francis’s funeral amid Beijing’s national security law constraints.
- Zen’s travel follows previous security law-related arrests, highlighting tensions between the Vatican and China.
China’s implementation of the GB 25596-2025 standard for Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) for infants reflects a significant regulatory shift effective from March 16, 2027, replacing the older 2010 version. This mandates existing products to undergo re-registration, with a transition period allowing companies to update their offerings in line with new scientific understanding of infant nutrition. FSMP infant formulas, which cater to infants with medical conditions or special nutritional needs, are now more rigorously monitored than standard formulas due to their critical role in infant health.
The revised standard introduces updates in ingredient requirements, product categories, and labeling, expanding previous categories such as those for preterm or low-birthweight infants, to include six additional specialized categories. This expansion is intended to enhance the product range available for infants with specific medical needs, ensuring better compliance with current nutritional science.
During the transition, businesses must invest significant efforts in research and development, production modification, compliance testing, regulatory processes, and redesigning packaging to align with the new standards. This underscores the evolving landscape of infant nutrition regulation in China as the nation prioritizes the health requirements of its youngest citizens through stringent compliance measures.
This article was originally published by China Briefing, a resource provided by Dezan Shira & Associates, which supports foreign investors across several Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Singapore, and India.