New gummy and powder opportunities in China: Regulator proposes new formats under faster ’filing track’ system
By Tingmin Koe
The Chinese authorities have put forward a proposal to allow ‘low-risk’ health foods to
be made in gummy and powder formats.
The ‘low-risk’ health foods refer to products which are made using vitamins and minerals as the raw
materials.
At present, vitamins and minerals can only be made in tablet, hard capsule, soft capsule, oral liquid or
granule dosage formats.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has also proposed the appropriate production
methods and caution for making vitamins and minerals in gummy and powder form in its proposal.
For instance, gummy health foods would only be suitable for use in individuals four years and above. This
is to prevent incidence of safety risk such as choking in younger children.
As such, the products should also come with the statement: “Please do not swallow, individuals consuming
the product should have the ability to chew solid food.”
The maximum recommended daily intake is 20g and each gummy must not exceed 6g in weight while the
shelf life should not exceed 24 months.
The proposal also included a 13-step production method for making gummies, as well as the sensory and
taste requirements.
“To push forth the progress of the work behind health foods filing and to allow more types of dosage formats to
come under the filing track, the Center for Food Evaluation under the SAMR has drafted the technical
requirements,” the SAMR said.
In fact, plans to expand the types of health foods applicable for the filing track are underway, with the
SAMR proposing to add in five other raw materials with functional health beneifts last month.
They are co-enzyme Q10, melatonin, ?sh oil, spirulina, and the ganoderma lucidum.
While the SAMR said that health foods in powder form is suitable for use for all individuals, those that
could be directly consumed without dissolving it in water are not recommended for use in children less
than six years old.
The maximum daily intake is capped at 20g and the shelf life should not exceed 24 months.
For those that comes in bigger packets, it should not exceed 500g per packet or the amount required for
one month’s use.
