In 2024, the CNHFA was steadfastly guided by Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, dedicating its efforts to fostering new-quality productivity in the nutrition and health food sector. With the guidance and support of government departments, the expertise of industry professionals, and the active participation of member enterprises, the CNHFA has steadily advanced its initiatives. Below is a summary of our key achievements over the past year:
1.Strengthening Theoretical Learning and Organisational Development: Integrating Party Building with Operations
Under the leadership of the 15th Joint Party Committee, we have fully implemented the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
The Party branch carried out a total of 16 activities throughout the year:
-14 branch Party meetings
- 5 thematic study sessions
- 2 case study sessions
-1 party lecture by the Branch Secretary
-2 Youth Learning and Reflection Party-Building activities
The matic educational activities were enriched through a variety of initiatives, including viewing educational microfilms; attending photography, calligraphy, and painting exhibitions; and watching cultural and artistic performances.
Featured Activities
-Studied and understood General Secretary Xi Jinping’s key expositions on comprehensively strengthening the Party’s disciplinary framework.
-Conscientiously reviewed the Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China.
Conducted a special study on the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-Style Modernisation.
Improvement of Organisational and Party Construction
-Held a general meeting of all Party members in January 2024 to complete the general election process and elect new branch members.
-Strictly implemented the Three Meetings and One Lecture System, ensuring adherence to the systems of organisational life meetings and democratic evaluation of Party members, achieving a 100% participation rate among Party members.
-Developed 1 party member and formalised 2 reserve members during the year.
Implementation of the Joint Party-Government Working Meeting System
Strengthened Party building under the Youth Learning and Reflection initiative by collaborating with the Party Committees of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the Law Enforcement Inspection Bureau, the Department of Special Foods, the Food Evaluation Centre, and enterprise Party representatives. Activities included:
·Caring for Health, Protecting the Heart thematic Party-building activity.
·Learning Ideas, Gathering Strength, Seeking Development, a Youth Learning and Reflection activity focused on promoting Chinese modernisation and fostering new quality productivity in the special food industry.
2. Adhering to System Construction as the Core Task and Conducting Work in Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Active Cooperation with Audits and Annual Reviews
-Successfully completed and passed an on-site audit conducted by a third-party accounting firm appointed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
-Finalised the annual inspection report and related tasks for the previous year, successfully passing the annual audit.
-Conducted self-correction and random inspections of fee practices for national trade associations and chambers of commerce in 2024.
Strict Compliance with Laws and Regulations
-Convened the 9th and 10th Meetings of the Second Council and the 9th and 10th Meetings of the Standing Council.
-Launched the 2025 Term Transition of the CNHFA as scheduled.
-Established 1 new branch: the Rare Disease Nutrition Specialised Committee.
-Completed the term transitions for three branches:
·Regulatory Standards Working Committee
·Intestinal Microecology and Related Products Specialised Committee
·Marine Active Substance Nutrition and Health Specialised Committee
-Initiated the term transitions for:
·Health Food Research and Development Specialised Committee
·Complementary Foods for Infants and Young Children Specialised Committee
·Standardisation Inspection and Testing Specialised Committee
-Adjusted membership for the following branches to align with respective work priorities:
·Foods for Special Medical Purpose Application Specialised Committee
·Regulatory Standards Working Committee
·Weight Management Specialised Committee
·Maternal and Child Nutrition Specialised Committee
-As of the end of 2024, the CNHFA had 16 branches.
3. Organising Specialised Research to Support Policy Development and Release
Commissioned by relevant government departments, the CNHFA undertook 6 research projects throughout the year, including 5 health food products and 1 Food for Special Medical Purposes. Of these, 3 projects produced comprehensive research reports and successfully passed project acceptance.
Conducted a policy publicity and promotion project focusing on the registration and licensing of special foods.
Performed policy research on health food labelling and product name management.
Carried out research on functional innovation and high-quality development in the health food industry, exploring pathways for declaring new functions for bone and joint health and eye health, based on the Implementing Rules for Evaluation of New Functions of Health Food.
Conducting methodological research on using real-world evidence to evaluate health functions.
Organised 25 regulatory meetings throughout the year to support the introduction of new policies.
Completed a feasibility study on expanding the dosage forms of registered health food products to include drinks and confectionery.
4. Strengthening the Foundation and Advancing Standard Construction
Led the revision of the National Standard for Food Safety Good Manufacturing Practice for Health Food (GB 17405).
Actively participated in the formulation and revision of national standards for special foods and foods for special medical purposes.
Held 36 working meetings throughout the year to develop association standards.
Initiated 11 association standard projects, revised 1 association standard, conducted mid-term acceptance for 19 projects, completed technical reviews for 178 standards, and issued 177 association standards.
5. Optimising Event Experiences Through CNHFA’s Brand Activities
Held 6 sessions of the Talks on the Four Novelties in 2024.
Successfully hosted the 9th China Special Food Conference 2024, the industry’s most important annual event, in Chengdu from 15–18 October:
-The conference welcomed 6 ministerial leaders, 9 academicians, over 90 government regulators, nearly 100 business presidents, and approximately 3,000 delegates.
-The event spanned 4 days and featured 2 general sessions, 17 forums, and 5 closed-door symposiums, for a total of 24 sessions.
-The following publications were released during the conference:
·Commonly Used Raw Materials and Applications in Special Food in China
·Nutrition Improvement and Application Frontier during the First 1000 Days of Life
·Popular Science Guide to Brain and Heart Health Ingredients
·Research Report on Nutrition Meal Replacement Food in China
·Research Findings on Hypoglycaemic Phytoextract Compositions
-Featured over 200 keynote speeches.
-Hosted 4 themed networking events.
-Organised engaging thematic activities, including photo sessions and fridge magnet giveaways, hands-on experiences with intangible cultural heritage crafts like making a Tuanshan (round fan) and a camping lamp, and friendly football matches.
6. Enhancing International Exchanges and Cooperation to Promote Synergistic Development Across Fields
Published 4 electronic newsletters in English throughout the year, distributed to international partners and relevant institutions.
Participated in key global events, including the annual meetings of the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) and the Infant Nutrition Council (INC) of Australia and New Zealand. Additionally:
-Organised a delegation of enterprise representatives to visit South Korea and Japan for nutrition and health food exchanges and cooperation activities from 25 to 31 August.
-Invited leaders from international organisations such as the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA), the American Chamber of Commerce in China, and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China to attend the Special Food Conference and share their insights.
-On 30 October, as part of the Work Plan of the Sino-Danish Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) Project, the Exchange Meeting on Risk Prevention and Inspection of Infant Formula Products was held to support Denmark’s 2024 mission to China.
7. Advancing Professional Academic Research and Publishing Authoritative Results
Coordinated the efforts of 127 experts and practitioners to compile and publish the industry handbook Commonly Used Raw Materials and Applications in Special Food in China. Spanning nearly 2 million words, the book includes a collection of 436 raw materials across the fields of health food, infant formula, and special food.
Supported the publication of the series Nutrition Improvement and Application Frontier during the First 1000 Days of Life, totalling 3.86 million words across 9 volumes.
8.Developing Branch Committees and Delivering Significant Results
For the 4th consecutive year, nearly 100 articles were submitted by branch experts under the theme of Food Talks.
The Regulatory Standards Working Committee explored innovative approaches to code branding activities, including informal regulatory working meetings, association standards working meetings, and research project working sessions.
The Regulatory Standards Working Committee Secretariat launched its first issue of international information, sharing updates on global regulatory developments.
The Weight Management Specialised Committee hosted the Fourth National Academic Conference on Weight Management in Chongqing. It also organised the 5.11 Prevention and Treatment of Obesity and Its Kidney Disease Complications public welfare campaign across 24 provinces and municipalities, benefiting over 12 million people.
The Foods for Special Medical Purpose Application Specialised Committee held the 2024 Academic Conference on Clinical Application of Foods for Special Medical Purposes in Chongqing, China.
The Maternal and Infant Nutrition Specialised Committee launched the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Education Initiative - Maternal and Infant Nutrition Popularisation Base Station in June, completing 21 scripts and producing 27 short videos over 5 months for nationwide dissemination online.
The Maternal and Infant Nutrition Specialised Committee also organised the 2024 Third International Symposium on Maternal and Child Nutrition and Mental and Physical Health in Shanghai, attracting nearly 9,000 online viewers.
The Food Safety News and Communication Committee connected nearly 20 media outlets under to provide hundreds of timely reports covering the CNHFA’s conference activities.
9. Building a Comprehensive Media Network to Shape a Positive Public Opinion Environment
We now operates 10 major publicity platforms, including its official website, WeChat official account, WeChat subscription channel (Food Talks), China Special Food magazine, video channel, TikTok channel, Toutiao channel, Renmin channel, the Food and New Consumption official channel, and the CNHFA Rare Disease Nutrition Specialised Committee WeChat channel. These platforms are used to disseminate information and promote science through press releases, expert-endorsed articles, short videos for science popularisation, Science at a Glance (One Graph), and Q&A on Regulations and Standards.
Published over 800 updates in English and Chinese throughout the year.
Edited and published 4 issues of China Special Food (Special Food Fashion) magazine, spanning more than 440 pages, including:
-12 pieces of original industrial research.
-69 science articles in the Food Talks column.
-15 association standards-related content.
-over 190 articles, including 37 CNHFA news updates.
Published 48 issues and over 270 official WeChat news.
Shared over 100 articles, expert short videos for science popularisation, and member enterprise updates on the official CNHFA WeChat subscription account Food Talks.
Regularly released social commentary to foster a positive public opinion atmosphere:
-In March 2024, following the Kobayashi red yeast rice scandal, which raised public concerns, we promptly responded on CCTV’s Morning News (朝闻天下) programme and introduced the citrinin limit requirements for health food containing red yeast rice, helping to stabilise public opinion effectively.
-Participated in the National Food Safety Awareness Week for the 8th consecutive year, successfully organising 3 events. Notably, the College Students’ Food Safety and Nutrition Tour in China and the China Food Consumers’ Conference were designated as national key activities.
-The Give You a Little Blue Flower Series of Thematic Meetings was included as one of the theme day activities for ministries and commissions of the State Administration for Market Regulation. During the Food Safety Awareness Week, we released the popular science video Blooming Little Blue Flower: Public Welfare for Millions of Families, which received nearly 10 million hits online.
10. Organising Competency-Enhancement Training to Support Practitioners' Career Development
Organised 60 assessments through the CNHFA Academy, evaluating a total of 41,079 participants throughout the year.
For the 5th consecutive year, conducted evaluations for the professional skill levels of public dietitians. In 2024, we organised 3 national unified examinations and 8 customised training programmes for public nutritionists in collaboration with member companies such as BY-HEALTH, Perfect China Co., Ltd, Nature's Sunshine, Herbalife, H&H, USANA Baby Care, and Nestlé. These efforts cumulatively evaluated 36,267 individuals.
The Maternal and Child Health Instructor and Foods for Special Medical Purposes Application Instructor programmes continued smoothly under the CNHFA Academy, with 4,812 participants passing accreditation.
Updated the curriculum for the Public Nutritionist Training System in October with the support of expert teams.
Responding to the Year of Weight Management initiative advocated by the National Health Commission and 16 other departments, the CNHFA collaborated with relevant programmes to launch the Weight Manager Programme.
11. Prioritising Members’ Needs and Upgrading Service Quality
Added more than 40 new members, bringing the total membership to over 410.
Engaged with members through various channels, including emails, questionnaires, online communication, in-person meetings, and visits, to understand their needs and provide timely, high-quality services.
Organised and distributed the electronic Members’ Bulletin.
Established a Q&A section on the website to address members’ inquiries.
Issued over 20 certificates of various types to member companies throughout the year.
Utilised our full media matrix to promptly report and release updates on member enterprises' activities and achievements.
12. Supporting Rural Revitalisation and Fulfilling Social Responsibilities
Actively participated in rural revitalisation efforts, conducting 4 public service activities during the year:
-Partnered with Sunny Fields Enterprise Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. and Wyeth Nutrition (China) Co., Ltd. to donate 289 copies of Children’s Food Safety Popularisation Book and cereal powders valued at 115,350 yuan to the Rural Revitalisation Bureau of Maqin County, Qinghai Province. In total, the donation included over 200,000 yuan worth of children’s milk powders.
-Collaborated with the Food Evaluation Centre of the State Administration for Market Regulation, Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd., and Wyeth Nutrition (China) Co., Ltd. to carry out targeted support activities in Li County and Xiaoliang Township. This effort included:
·Donating 150,000 yuan for the construction of health assistance stations in Xiaoliang Township.
·Contributing 200,000 yuan worth of milk to schools providing nine-year compulsory education in Xiaoliang Township.
-For 5 consecutive years, we have provided special funds of 2,000 yuan per person to support university entrants from Xiaoliang Township.
-Participated in the Gesanghua Charity Tour, organising charity activities in Lhasa and Gongga County, Shannan City.
Reflecting on 2024, the CNHFA has made significant strides in advancing the development of the nutrition and health food industry. As 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the CNHFA’s founding, it stands at a pivotal moment, poised for new opportunities and challenges. In the coming year, the CNHFA will focus on the following priorities:
1.Deepening Party Building Efforts.
2.Meticulously Organising the Third General Meeting of Members.
3.Actively Promoting Policy Implementation.
4.Conducting In-Depth Industry Research.
5.Strengthening International Exchanges.
6.Leveraging the Role of Branches.
7.Vigorously Promoting Science Popularization.
8.Continuously Strengthening Organisational Development.
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