You need more information?

Get in Touch with IPA

IPA is a global non-profit organization that advocates for the safe and efficacious use of Pre-, Pro- and Post- biotics. We bring together the knowledge and resources of scientists, healthcare professionals, academics and regulators to define clear standards that advance the quality of Pre-, Pro- and Post- biotics.

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name(Required)

Message(Required)

Lastname(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone

Company

CAPTCHA

3484 Boul. Des Sources, Suite 320, Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec H9B 1Z9, CA

HPA China News

November 25, 2025

HPA (China) News – November 2025

On November 18, 2025, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment issued a notice stating that, in accordance with the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Administrative Measures for the Safety Review of New Food Ingredients, eight new food ingredients—including peony seed oil, Ampelopsis grossedentata leaf polyphenols, Eucommia ulmoides leaf polyphenols, L-theanine produced via fermentation, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11, Fusarium compactum protein, Chlorella pyrenoidosa protein, and phytosterols—have passed the technical review of the Expert Review Committee and are now open for public comments. The deadline for comments is December 18, 2025.
On November 14, 2025, the National Health Commission accepted the application for a new food ingredient—heat-killed Akkermansia muciniphila YGMCC2645 (inactivated AKK). This bacterium is a unique Gram-negative species found in the human gut.Currently, major AKK suppliers in China include Thankcome Bio, Moonbio, Sirio Pharma, Wecare Probiotics, YuanSheng Bio, ZhenEase Bio, Shanghai Yuanyanshengwu, Juneyao Runying, Bangshang Health, Hanhe Bio, Yiran Bio (Hebei), and others. Many companies have already conducted clinical studies and launched their own branded strains. From a market perspective, since AKK has not yet obtained regulatory approval, domestic AKK products are mainly sold through cross-border e-commerce channels and are well-received by consumers, positioning themselves in the high-end probiotic segment. Many products are priced above RMB 300 (≈ USD 42).
For example, INNERHEALTH’s AKK product, positioned for weight management, achieved nearly RMB 8 million (≈ USD 1.12 million) in sales on its Tmall flagship store from January to October 2025. Meanwhile, more AKK products are emerging as strong contenders in the weight-management and metabolic-health markets.
On November 8, 2025, the China Association for Quality and Safety of Food and Drug Enterprises issued an announcement on the initiation of two group standards, including Efficacy Evaluation of Functional Foods for Children with Spleen-Stomach Conditioning. Relevant organizations are requested to organize drafting work promptly, ensure the quality of the standards, and complete the compilation on schedule.
From December 4 to 5, 2025, the “2025 Functional Foods Industry Conference,” hosted by FoodMate, will be held in Suzhou. During the event, the 2025 Probiotics Industry White Paper will be officially released. This report provides a panoramic overview of the transformation of the probiotics industry from “category expansion” to “value deepening,” covering industry policies, scientific advances, market data, and consumer insights.
The conference, themed “Scientific Evidence and Technological Innovation,” will gather experts to discuss cutting-edge research, regulatory developments, innovative technologies, and functional applications in the functional foods sector.
On November 5, 2025, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced the suspension of certain additional tariffs on imported goods originating from the United States. With the approval of the State Council, beginning at 13:01 on November 10, 2025, the additional tariffs specified in Announcement No. 2 (2025) will no longer be implemented.
With the approval of the State Council, beginning at 13:01 on November 10, 2025, the tariff adjustments in Announcement No. 4 (2025) will be modified to continue the suspension of the 24% additional tariff rate for one year, while retaining the 10% additional tariff rate on U.S. imports.
On November 4, 2025, the China Nutrition and Health Food Association issued an announcement on the initiation of 13 group standards, including Multi-Pathogen Simultaneous Detection Method in Raw Milk Based on Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)–Test Strip, General Principles for Postbiotics Products, and Determination of α-Lactalbumin and β-Lactoglobulin in Milk and Dairy Products. The association is simultaneously inviting organizations to participate in drafting these group standards, and interested parties may contact the association.
On November 18, at its 2025 Investor Day event, Yili Group (600887) announced that the company has formulated a strategic roadmap of “stabilizing basic nutrition, expanding functional nutrition, and developing specialized nutrition,” extending its product portfolio from adult milk powder to high–value-added fields such as foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs) and functional health supplements. Yili stated that its nutrition business will concentrate key resources to rank among the top five in core segments. Leveraging Yili’s technological and supply chain strengths, the company will prioritize expansion into the probiotic and protein-supplement sectors.
On November 18, Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 1112) released its unaudited operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. According to the report, total revenue for the first three quarters reached RMB 10.805 billion (≈ USD 1.51 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of 12.0% on a reported basis and 12.3% on a comparable basis.
Among these, the high-margin nutrition supplements segment contributed 64.5% of total revenue, serving as the core driver of growth. In terms of sales channels, cross-border e-commerce remained the primary revenue source, with sales growing 23.1% and accounting for 81.9% of mainland China’s adult nutrition and personal care revenue. The Douyin channel also showed significant momentum, with sales increasing 77.7%, indicating that content-driven e-commerce is becoming a major incremental channel for nutrition and health products. Meanwhile, the decline in infant probiotics and nutrition supplements narrowed to 2.3%.
Recently, Juneyao Health and Hema jointly launched the “J26 10-Billion Live Probiotics Green Plum Drink.” According to official information, the new product uses NFC green plum juice (total fruit juice addition ≥30%) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum J26 (live bacteria ≥ 200×10^8 CFU) as the main ingredients, combined with Lactobacillus rhamnosus JL-1, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-G80, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-G101 (probiotics), and resistant dextrin (prebiotic). It offers a refreshing sour taste suitable for dining, office use, sports, and other occasions.
On November 13, during an investor relations activity, Minsheng Health (301507) stated that after acquiring Zhongke Jiayi, the company leveraged its brand influence and customer network to help Zhongke Jiayi gradually establish cooperation with leading domestic health-food ODM companies, dairy powder manufacturers, and other major clients, resulting in effective business growth.
By the end of September 2025, Zhongke Jiayi had officially launched its “Armor Probiotics Intelligent Manufacturing Upgrade Project,” and the new production line is expected to bring positive impacts on products, cost, efficiency, and market expansion. The company continues to deepen strain research and industrial applications, actively expanding into frontier areas such as weight management, the gut–brain axis, and metabolic health, with overall business performance meeting expectations.
Beijing Probiotics Health Technology Co., Ltd., when selling its prepackaged solid beverage “Beijing Probiotics Yixiaodi B420” via its WeChat-verified mini program, claimed in its advertisement that the product could “regulate and improve gut microbiota.” However, this function belongs to the category of health food claims, and the company was suspected of publishing false advertising.
The Haidian District Administration for Market Regulation imposed a fine of RMB 1,000 (≈ USD 140) on the company.
On November 5, during the China International Import Expo (CIIE), Meituan’s self-operated pharmacy reached cooperation with the internationally renowned nutrition brand GNC, jointly launching a customized “meal-time nutrition pack,” which debuted on Meituan’s online platform. According to “Caijing TuyA,” from November 5 to 10, Meituan Medical & Health made its first appearance at the 8th CIIE and, within two days of opening, signed strategic cooperation agreements with seven multinational pharmaceutical and health companies, including AstraZeneca, Bayer, Organon, Pfizer, LEO Pharma, Gilead Sciences, and Durex, becoming an important partner for their expansion in the Chinese market.
It is reported that this round of cooperation covers multiple pharmaceutical categories, including both high-immediacy medications and treatments for chronic diseases. Cooperation models include channel expansion, joint development of customized new products, specialized disease education, and full-cycle health management solutions.
Currently, Meituan Medical & Health has reached 300 million transactional users and continues to grow strongly. Industry observers believe that multinational pharmaceutical companies are shifting their focus from traditional e-commerce platforms to local health-consumption entry points to tap new market growth.
On October 14, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of China issued the Regulation on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (GACC Order No. 280), which will take effect on June 1, 2026.
The regulation clarifies that China will determine appropriate registration methods, review procedures, and management requirements based on evaluations of the food safety system and safety status of the exporting country or region, combined with the risk level of the corresponding food.
It also strengthens international cooperation in the registration of overseas food manufacturers and adds a more convenient “list-based registration” approach. For countries or regions that have signed food safety cooperation documents with China, their competent authorities may provide enterprise lists, and the GACC will conduct batch registration and management according to mutual agreements.
The regulation also refines situations in which applications will not be accepted. For countries or regions whose food imports have been suspended by the GACC according to law, registration applications from enterprises of that country will not be accepted during the suspension period.
Sleep issues have become a prominent public concern. Against this backdrop, many food and beverage companies have begun targeting the “sleep economy,” introducing a variety of stress-relief, calming, and sleep-aiding products. Many consumers are attracted by claims related to “sleep-improving” benefits.
Reporters found on e-commerce platforms that brands such as Werdery, Yiling Pharmaceutical, Fudonghai, and The 8th Serenade have all launched sleep-related beverages. Yiling Pharmaceutical’s “Yimeng” product has already obtained the “Blue Hat” health food certification, allowing it to legally claim benefits related to sleep improvement.
However, several other products without the “Blue Hat” certification still feature phrases such as “sweet good sleep,” “dream well every night,” and “sleep peacefully all night,” which may constitute borderline functional claims. Some beverages even promote “improving sleep quality” or “helping children grow taller,” misleading parents into purchasing them.
Experts remind consumers that health food with functional claims must carry the official “Blue Hat” certification, and consumers should not blindly trust promotional claims. Moreover, addressing sleep problems still requires medical consultation and treatment under the guidance of healthcare professionals.