The standard lag makes “Guomen†useless and foreign banned food cling film actually enter the country.
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On the 16th, a reporter spoke with the China Chlor-Alkali Industry Association about the growing presence of foreign food cling films in the Chinese market. The association confirmed that since the second half of this year, food-grade cling films containing dioctyl adipate (DEHA)—a substance linked to endocrine system disorders—have been banned in the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Major brands from companies like Mitsubishi and Sanrong now hold nearly 80% of the domestic market share.
Mr. Zhu Shengsuo, an expert from the association, explained that while modern PVC production has significantly improved, making food-grade products safer, plasticizers are still necessary to achieve the softness and adhesion required for cling film. These plasticizers are not chemically bonded to the polymer but are mixed in, which means they can leach into food when the film comes into contact with it. Studies from abroad have shown that common PVC plasticizers may disrupt the endocrine system, increase cancer risks, and lead to developmental issues in newborns or reproductive problems in men. Animal experiments have also shown that DEHA can cause cancer and harm the endocrine system.
Because of these concerns, the U.S. and Japan have prohibited the use of DEHA-containing materials in food packaging since 2000, and South Korea followed suit this year. Despite these warnings, some foreign manufacturers continue to sell their products in China. According to Liu Dongsheng, deputy secretary-general of the association, China's own food cling film industry initially avoided using PVC due to health concerns, opting instead for polyethylene, which is free of plasticizers and considered safer.
However, foreign companies, particularly those from Japan and South Korea, have shifted production to China, using cheaper local PVC to manufacture cling films. With rising oil prices, the cost of polyethylene has surged, making locally produced polyethylene cling film less competitive. As a result, foreign PVC-based films have flooded the market, often at lower prices.
Notably, these potentially harmful cling films are able to enter China because they pass health inspections based on outdated standards. China’s national food-grade PVC standards, issued by the Ministry of Health in 1988, do not specifically restrict the use of PVC in food packaging or limit DEHA content. Inspections are conducted according to these regulations, allowing such products to clear customs and gain market access. This raises serious concerns about consumer safety and the need for updated regulatory frameworks.