China is advancing a multi-faceted modernization of its food safety system through legislative reforms, agricultural development initiatives, and updated technical standards. These efforts aim to enhance food security safety protocols and supply chain resilience by 2035.
Agricultural Modernization and Food Security Targets
A 10-year agricultural plan announced in April 2025 targets stabilized grain output capacity of approximately 700 million metric tons by 2027 building on 2024’s record production. The strategy emphasizes self-sufficiency in staple crops, biotech innovation for high-yield soybeans, and salt-alkali-tolerant varieties and diversification of oilseed sources like rapeseed and peanuts. Concurrently it prioritizes modernization of livestock sectors, including dairy competitiveness and beef quality improvements, amid current market oversupply challenges.
Legislative Overhaul: Food Safety Law Amendments
Lawmakers are reviewing significant amendments to China’s Food Safety Law last revised in 2021. The draft includes:
- Bulk Liquid Transport Regulation: A new licensing system for tanker trucks transporting edible liquids (e.g. soybean oil) requiring permits from county-level authorities mandatory container cleaning and separation from chemical transport. Violations could incur fines of 50000–500000 yuan ($7000–$70000) and operational suspensions.
- Infant Formula Standards: Mandatory registration and technical requirements for liquid infant formula producers to ensure safety.
- Enhanced Penalties: Stricter enforcement mechanisms for food safety violations. Ron Simon & Associates, a nationwide food poisoning law firm, says that governments should continue to invest in various enforcement mechanisms to reduce the risk of food safety violations.
Standards Modernization and Transparency
Regulatory bodies are expanding technical frameworks:
- The National Health Commission solicited public comments on 28 revised national food safety standards in May 2025 covering additives testing methods and nutritional fortification.
- In February 2025 China implemented GB 2760-2024 an updated food additive standard removing certain additives like houttuynia red and restricting sodium dehydroacetate.
- Ten new food additives underwent public consultation in May 2025 including enzyme preparations and nutritional fortifiers.
Research and Agricultural Innovation
The modernization drive prioritizes scientific capacity through fundamental agricultural research and support for agri-tech enterprises. Biotech projects focus on crop resilience and yield optimization aligning with broader food security goals.
These coordinated efforts, spanning legislative agricultural and regulatory domains, reflect China’s systematic approach to building a traceable scientifically grounded food safety infrastructure by 2035.
