Notifications for Macao, China (11 notifications)

The Administrative Regulation No 5/2024 - Standards on the Use of Food Additives in Foodstuffsis a food safety standard that guides and regulates the use of food additives by food producers and traders, including the principles of the use of food additives, the scope of use, the types of food additives permitted in food, the maximum levels of use, and the food categories in which maximum levels of certain food additives are used. This administrative regulation does not apply to spices when used for flavouring purposes, processing aids, permitted colouring matter intended for marking sign or use on citrus peels, and foods intended for specific dietetic use, with the exception of certain products for infants and young children. In this administrative regulation, listed food additives are permitted to be used in foodstuffs, and their use in food shall follow the principle of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Moreover, the Administrative Regulation No. 30/2017, the Administrative Regulation No. 12/2018 and the Administrative Regulation No. 7/2019 are repealed.

In order to fully guard against the risk of radioactive contamination of food safety caused by the discharge of nuclear contaminated water from Fukushima in Japan, to protect the health of local consumers and ensure the food safety of imported food, the Macao S.A.R. decided to suspend import of live and fresh food products, food products of animal origin, sea salt and seaweed, including edible fresh vegetables and fruits, dairy produce, fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, meat and edible offal, preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, birds’ eggs, edible products of animal origin, etc., originating in 10 prefectures and regions of Japan, including Fukushima Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo Metropolis, from 24 August 2023.

In order to ensure food safety and better supervise pesticide residues in food, amendments have been introduced to theAdministrative Regulation No. 11/2020 Maximum residue limits of pesticides in foodstuffs), expanding its scope of coverage on pesticides and categories of foodstuffs. The Administrative Regulation No. 02/2023, a food safety standard that regulates the levels of pesticide residues in food, amends the Administrative Regulation No. 11/2020 to replace the provisions of the attached tables and revise the appendix to include Table 1 (List of maximum levels of pesticide residues in foodstuffs) and Table 2 (List of maximum limits of exogenous residues of pesticides in foodstuffs). This administrative regulation establishes the maximum residue limits and extraneous maximum residue limits of pesticides presenting in foodstuffs, as well as the list of pesticides exempted from maximum residue limits, as stipulated in the annexes to the regulation. In this administrative regulation, "pesticide" is defined as any substance intended for preventing, destroying, attracting, repelling, or controlling pests during the production, storage, transport, distribution, and processing of food, or which may be administered to animals for the control of ectoparasites, including substances intended for use as plant-growth regulators, defoliants, desiccants, fruit thinning agents or sprouting inhibitors, and substances applied to crops either before or after harvest to prevent deterioration during storage and transport, and excluding fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients, food additives and veterinary drugs. According to the administrative regulation, maximum residue limits and extraneous maximum residue limits of pesticides in foodstuffs shall comply with the standards stipulated in the annexes.

The Regulamento Administrativo n.º 11/2020 Limites máximos de resíduos de pesticidas em géneros alimentícios (The Administrative Regulation No. 11/2020 Maximum residue limits of pesticides in foodstuffs) is a food safety standard that regulates the levels of pesticide residues in food and agricultural commodities. This administrative regulation establishes the maximum residue limits and extraneous maximum residue limits of pesticides presenting in foodstuffs, as well as the list of pesticides exempted from maximum residue limits, as stipulated in the annexes to the regulation. In this administrative regulation, "pesticide" is defined as any substance intended for preventing, destroying, attracting, repelling, or controlling pests during the production, storage, transport, distribution, and processing of food, or which may be administered to animals for the control of ectoparasites, including substances intended for use as plant-growth regulators, defoliants, desiccants, fruit thinning agents or sprouting inhibitors, and substances applied to crops either before or after harvest to prevent deterioration during storage and transport, and excluding fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients, food additives and veterinary drugs. According to the administrative regulation, maximum residue limits and extraneous maximum residue limits of pesticides in foodstuffs shall comply with the standards stipulated in the annexes.

The Regulamento Administrativo n.º 7/2019 Normas relativas à utilização de conservantes e antioxidantes em géneros alimentícios (the Administrative Regulation No. 7/2019 Standard for Uses of Preservatives and Antioxidants in Foodstuffs) is a food safety standard that guides and regulates the uses of preservatives and antioxidants by food producers and traders, including the principles of the use of preservatives and antioxidants, the scope of use, the types of preservatives and antioxidants permitted in food, the maximum levels of use, and the food categories in which maximum levels of certain preservatives and antioxidants are used. In this administrative regulation, "preservative" is defined as a type of food additive that is used to prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting against deterioration caused by microorganisms; "antioxidant" is defined as a type of food additive that is used to prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting against deterioration caused by oxidation. This administrative regulation does not apply to foods intended for specific dietetic use, with the exception of certain products for infants and young children. In this administrative regulation, listed preservatives and antioxidants are permitted to be used in foodstuffs, and their use in food shall follow the principle of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) of Macao Special Administrative Region, China, hereby notifies that notification G/SPS/N/MAC/8 regarding the temporary ban on the importation of poultry and their products originating from specific countries or regions has been withdrawn with effect from 4 February 2019.

The Administrative Regulation No. 23/2018 Maximum Limits of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Food is a food safety standard that establishes the maximum levels of heavy metal contaminants presenting in various foodstuffs. In this administrative regulation, the term "heavy metal contaminants" refers to elements or chemical compounds of heavy metals which contaminate foodstuffs; "maximum limits" are defined as maximum levels of heavy metals contaminants, expressed in mg/kg or mg/L, legally established for the edible part of food products.The administrative regulation stipulates that levels of specified heavy metal contaminants, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and tin and their compounds in a variety of food, shall conform to the limits listed in this regulation.

The Administrative Regulation No. 12/2018 "Normas relativas à utilização de edulcorantes em géneros alimentícios" (Standard for Uses of Sweeteners in Foodstuffs) is a food safety standard that guides and regulates the uses of sweeteners by food producers and traders, including the principles of sweetener use, the scope of the use, the types of sweeteners permitted in food, the maximum levels of use, and the food categories in which maximum use levels of certain sweeteners are applied. In this administrative regulation, "sweeteners" are defined as a type of food additive that is used to replace sugar and impart sweet taste to food, excluding monosaccharides or disaccharides. This administrative regulation does not apply to foods intended for specific dietetic use, with the exception of certain products for infants and young children. In this administrative regulation, 19 types of sweeteners are permitted to be used in foodstuffs, and the use of sweeteners in food shall follow the principle of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

In Macao, China, Law No. 5/2013 (Food Safety Law) provides in article 7 that the production and marketing of foodstuffs must comply with food safety standards and that these standards are defined by complementary administrative regulations. The Administrative Regulation No. 30/2017 "Normas relativas à utilização de corantes alimentares em géneros alimentícios" (Standard for Uses of Food Coloring in Foodstuffs) is a food safety standard that sets the provision of uses of food coloring in foodstuffs. In this standard, food coloring refers to a category of food additives which adds or restores color in food. This administrative regulation stipulates species of food coloring permitted for use in foodstuffs in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice and defines the scope of their application in food. The standard also prohibits the use of food coloring in the following foodstuffs: (1) Meat, poultry and game meat, aquatic products, vegetables or fruit, raw or unprocessed, unless it is intended for marking or used on citrus peels; (2) Infant formula, infant formula for special medical purposes and food supplements intended for infants and young children. The use of food coloring that are not permitted under the second paragraph of Article 1 of this regulation shall be prohibited.

The Administrative Regulation No. 28/2016 "Requisitos relativos aos ingredientes nutritivos dos preparados para lactentes" (Nutritional Requirements for Infant Formula) is a food safety standard that establishes the requirements on nutritional ingredients in infant formula. It sets out the requirements on energy value, nutrient content and the ratio of certain nutrients to ensure the healthy growth of infants. In the definition of this regulation, "Infant" means a person not more than 12 months of age; "Infant formula" means a breast-milk substitute specially manufactured to satisfy, by itself, the nutritional requirements of infants during the first months of life up to the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding. The Administration Regulation does not apply to formulas for special medical purposes intended for infants. This Administrative Regulation shall enter into force 90 days after its publication.

The Administrative Regulation No. 13/2016 Maximum Limits of Mycotoxins in Food is a food safety standard that establishes the maximum levels of mycotoxins in various foodstuffs. The administrative regulation stipulates that levels of specified mycotoxins in food, including aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin M1, ochratoxin A and patulin, shall conform to the limits listed in this regulation. In this administrative regulation, mycotoxins refer to toxic secondary metabolites produced by molds during their growth and reproduction; maximum limits are defined as the maximum levels of mycotoxins, expressed in ìg/kg, legally established for the edible part of the food.