Food Safety Logo Replaced With Digital Code

China is replacing the "QS" food safety logo found on most food packages with a digital "SC" code as of October 1. The blue QS logo (stylized English letters signifying "Quality Safety") was introduced more than a decade ago to signify that food manufacturers had passed a food safety audit that was good for 3 years. Regulations introduced after enactment of the 2015 Food Safety Law called for the SC code to replace the QS logo.

"SC" represents the Chinese pinyin "Shengchan", or production, which identifies the licensed producer and its location. The code's 14 digits represent the food code, province, city, and county where it was produced, and a code for the company. The digital code is said to be better suited for digital traceability systems.

According to a journalist in Yangzhou, most of the packages carrying QS logos have already disappeared from stores as manufacturers phased out the symbol.

The blue QS logo (above) on China's food packages is replaced 

with a 14-digit "SC" code (below) as of October 1, 2018