China Issues 18 New National Food Safety Standards For Veterinary Drug Residue Testing

Published as Announcement No. 1003, the standards will take effect on 1 October 2026. They provide updated analytical methods for detecting veterinary drug residues in aquatic products, animal-derived foods and bee products.

The announcement was issued under the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China following review and approval by the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee. The full technical standards are due to become available from the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Centre of MARA two months after publication.

New Veterinary Drug Residue Testing Standards Strengthen Food Safety Oversight

The newly published standards introduce or update analytical methods based primarily on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which is widely recognised for its high sensitivity and accuracy in detecting trace chemical residues.

The listed methods include:

• Aminoglycoside residues in aquatic products (GB 31656.25-2026)
• Benzoylurea veterinary drug residues in aquatic products (GB 31656.26-2026)
• Eighteen beta-agonist residues in aquatic products (GB 31656.27-2026)
• Carbofuran and its metabolite 3-hydroxycarbofuran in bee products (GB 31657.13-2026)
• Tetracyclines, sulphonamides and quinolones in animal-derived foods (GB 31658.17-2026)
• Aminoglycosides in animal-derived foods (GB 31658.33-2026)
• Phenothiazine veterinary drugs in animal-derived foods (GB 31658.34-2026)

Several standards replace earlier national methods dating from 2008 or 2021, while others establish new testing procedures.

LC-MS/MS Methods Improve Detection Capability

LC-MS/MS has become a benchmark technology for veterinary drug residue analysis because it enables laboratories to identify multiple compounds simultaneously at very low concentrations.

The standards cover important classes of veterinary medicines, including aminoglycoside antibiotics, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, quinolones, beta-agonists and phenothiazines. These substances are used in livestock and aquaculture production to treat disease or improve animal health, but require strict monitoring to ensure food safety and compliance with maximum residue limits.

The inclusion of bee products also reflects China's broader approach to monitoring chemical contaminants across the food supply chain.

Implications For Laboratories And The Food Industry

The standards will affect testing laboratories, food producers, aquaculture operators, livestock businesses, exporters, importers, certification bodies and regulatory authorities.

Laboratories should review their analytical methods and accreditation requirements ahead of the 1 October 2026 implementation date. Food businesses supplying domestic or export markets may also need to verify that their testing providers adopt the updated national methods where applicable.

The announcement forms part of China's continuing efforts to modernise food safety regulation through harmonised analytical standards and improved monitoring of veterinary drug residues.

Summary

China has introduced 18 new veterinary drug residue testing standards that take effect on 1 October 2026. The updated LC-MS/MS methods strengthen national food safety monitoring, replace several older standards and give laboratories and the wider food supply chain new compliance requirements for detecting veterinary drug residues.