The U.S.–China Health Products Association (USCHPA) submitted comments to China’s Legislative Office of the State Council on Nov. 28, 2013, in response to the State Council’s request for public opinion on the draft of the revised food safety regulations.

USCHPA produced a detailed report focusing on the dietary supplement sector, which is referred to as “health food products” in China and regulated by China’s FDA. China’s current regulations for dietary supplements are based on product registration and are among the most restrictive in the world. The registration process requires animal testing and in some cases human trials. One product (SKU) registration can take two to three years to complete and cost in excess of US$50,000.

The association is encouraged to see that China’s regulators are presently researching how best to reform the current system. USCHPA hopes its suggestions can be helpful to China’s State Council in the further development of the industry. It is expected that China’s FDA will release new regulations for dietary supplements sometime in 2014.

To view USCHPA’s report, visit the association’s website uschinahpa.org.