China: Tea in the spotlight as regulator implements stricter bans on entire category

Since 2021, China has been on a mission to expel the use of what it has deemed ‘excessive packaging’ in the country with particular focus on the foods and cosmetics sectors, first focusing on packaged foods​ and especially products with a tendency to use luxurious packaging materials​ such as festive foods like mooncakes, and later expanding this to cover fresh foods​ as well. The first version of this regulation saw most products being allowed a maximum of four packaging layers with the exception of specific items​ such as packaged grains and grain-based products which were limited to three layers e.g. individual cereal snacks in a multi-pack would be allowed one individual wrapper, a second later wrapping around the total number of snacks in the pack, and a final third layer with the product brand name on the outside. In its latest update to the excessive packaging regulation, SAMR has now mandated that tea and tea-related products will fall under the latter category and allowed ...