The revision of China's Food Safety Law in 2025 has been finalized.

The 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress adopted the Decision on Amending the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China on September 12, 2025, which will come into effect on December 1, 2025.

The current Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Food Safety Law) came into effect in 2009, underwent a comprehensive revision in 2015, and was amended twice in 2018 and 2021. It has played an important role in regulating food production and operation activities and ensuring food safety.

Currently, two issues are particularly prominent and urgently need to be addressed through legislative amendments: first, the issue of bulk road transportation of liquid food; and second, the issue of regulation of liquid infant formula. Following the principle of addressing urgent needs first, minor amendments to the Food Safety Law should be made promptly to focus on resolving these prominent issues.

The process of this legal amendment is as follows:

On February 17, 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation released the "Draft Amendment to the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (for Public Comment)" and solicited public opinions.

On June 16, 2025, the 45th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress proposed that the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress deliberate on the proposal to submit the draft amendment to the Food Safety Law for deliberation.

On June 24, 2025, the draft amendment to the Food Safety Law was submitted to the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress for its first reading.

On September 8, 2025, the draft amendment to the Food Safety Law was submitted to the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress for its second reading.

On September 12, 2025, the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress adopted the "Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Amending the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," which was promulgated by President Xi Jinping and will take effect on December 1, 2025.

This revision mainly stipulates the following three aspects:

(i) Four new paragraphs are added to Article 41 to strengthen the supervision of road bulk transportation of key liquid foods.

(ii) Add “infant formula liquid milk” after “infant formula milk powder” in Articles 81, 82 and 124 to include infant formula liquid milk in the registration management.

(iii) Three new paragraphs are added to Article 132 to stipulate the severe punishment of relevant illegal acts.

In March 2025, the World Dog Alliance (WDA) sent a letter to the State Administration for Market Regulation, suggesting that when revising the Food Safety Law, consideration be given to amending Article 34, Paragraph 8, by deleting the phrase "in accordance with regulations," and amending it to read: "The production and sale of the following foods, food additives, and food-related products are prohibited: (viii) Meat that has not been quarantined or has failed quarantine, or meat products that have not been inspected or have failed inspection;"

Unfortunately, our recommendations were not adopted. We will continue our efforts to achieve a complete ban on the consumption of dog and cat meat through other means of enacting or amending laws.