China adds new health food raw materials to the Catalogue of Health Food Raw Materials. The newly revised catalogue was released by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), in collaboration with the National Health Commission (NHC) and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) on December 31, 2023.
The three new ingredients are Ginseng, American Ginseng, and Lingzhi Mushroom. The announcement is in accordance with the regulations outlined in the “Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China” and the “Management Measures for the Catalogue of Health Food Raw Materials and Health Functions.” The updated catalogue will come into effect on May 1, 2024.
Specific information to each health food
- Ginseng
- Daily dose: 1-3g
- Recommended for: people who are easily fatigued and people with low immune system
- Unsuitable people:
- children and teenagers,
- pregnant women,
- breastfeeding mothers;
- Precautions:
- Should not be used with herbs and their products containing black false hellebore or wulingzhi.
- Effects: Relieves physical fatigue and helps strengthen the immune system.
- American Ginseng
- Daily dose: 1.5-3g
- Recommended for: people who are easily fatigued and people with low immune system
- Unsuitable people:
- children and teenagers
- pregnant women
- breastfeeding mothers
- Precautions:
- Should not be used with herbs and their products containing black false hellebore or wulingzhi.
- Effects: Relieves physical fatigue and helps strengthen the immune system.
- Lingzhi mushroom
- Daily dose: 4-6g
- Recommended for: people with low immune system
- Unsuitable people:
- children and teenagers
- pregnant women
- breastfeeding mothers
- Effects: helps strengthen the immune system.
Key highlights:
- Ingredient Names and Sources
The three health food ingredients – Ginseng, American Ginseng, and Lingzhi Mushroom – included in the catalogue must maintain consistency with the current “Chinese Pharmacopoeia regarding their names and varieties.” In cases where there are multiple varieties of an ingredient, it is essential to specify the variety used during product registration. There are no specified growth time requirements for Ginseng.
- Ingredient Compatibility during Product Registration
For ingredients listed in the Catalogue of Health Food Raw Materials, product registration is based on research and verification of single-component products. When registering a product, only single-component ingredients can be used, hence combinations with other ingredients are not permitted.
- Function Claims during Product Registration
Ginseng and American Ginseng, as part of the health food raw materials catalogue, can make specific health function claims related to “enhancing immunity” and “alleviating physical fatigue”. Applicants are allowed to indicate one or both health functions on the product label.
Further information
Read the SAMR original article on China new health food raw materials including ginseng.
Read our previous article on China health food dual-use substances are added.
Contact us to learn more about our services for health food products in China.