Development, Challenges, and Strategic Outlook of Food Machinery Standardization in China

The standardization of food machinery is crucial to ensuring product quality, enabling modern large-scale and specialized production, and enhancing international competitiveness. In today’s competitive global market, a company’s ability to convert technological innovations into practical, enforceable standards is essential. Standardization plays a key role in forming technical trade barriers and ensuring food safety. As China enters a new phase of industrial development, food machinery standardization has become a core driver of the industry's competitiveness by regulating product design, manufacturing, application, and management.

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1. Current Status of Food Machinery Standardization

1.1 Steady Progress in Standards Development

During the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the food machinery sector completed the revision or development of 58 standards, including:

• 28 for meat processing machinery

• 15 for slaughter processing equipment

• 5 for baking machinery

• 8 for noodle and pastry machinery

• 2 for other food-related equipment

These standards helped fill critical gaps, supporting industrial restructuring and product quality improvement. Standard-setting initiatives were guided by rigorous market research, adherence to technical accuracy, and a focus on practical application. Emphasis was placed on timely delivery, scientific validation, and stakeholder feedback.

1.2 Improvement of the Standard System

Based on extensive market research and in accordance with the principles of scientific, systematic, and sustainable development, a comprehensive food machinery technical standard system was gradually established. This system aims to support industrial restructuring and technological innovation. Given the diversity and rapid evolution of food machinery, the standard system is regularly updated to remain relevant and comprehensive.

1.3 Emphasis on Food Safety

Food machinery directly affects food safety, requiring high standards for hygiene, safety, and performance. During the 12th Five-Year Plan, significant efforts were made to:

• Ensure machinery does not cause mechanical, electrical, or thermal harm to users

• Prevent contamination through the use of appropriate materials and design

• Guarantee consistent, reliable performance and operational stability

• Support industry innovation through integrated requirements for design, testing, labeling, packaging, and transportation

1.4 Active Promotion and Implementation

To enhance awareness and implementation, the industry:

• Developed educational materials for stakeholders

• Promoted standards through conferences and online channels

• Provided technical support to address implementation challenges

• Established feedback loops to improve future standards development

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2. Key Challenges in Food Machinery Standardization

2.1 Insufficient Depth of Standardization

Despite increased participation, many enterprises focus more on product development than on embedding standards into design, manufacturing, and management. This results in fragmented practices and inadequate alignment between technical specifications and testing methods.

2.2 Low Standard Coverage

Only about 20% of food machinery products are covered by national or industry standards. Another 60% rely on internal company standards, while 20% lack any formal standards. This limits industry-wide quality improvement, brand building, and innovation. However, companies like Qingdao Yilong and Guangdong Kenwei are setting positive examples through leadership in standards development.

2.3 Outdated or Low-Level Technical Standards

Some existing standards lag behind industry needs, with outdated testing methods, vague inspection rules, and missing specifications in areas like hygiene, performance, reliability, and structural design.

2.4 Imbalance in Standard Types

Current standards are overly focused on products, lacking in basic, methodical, managerial, and safety-related standards. This imbalance hinders the effective application of existing product standards and limits the development of comprehensive, system-level frameworks.

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3. Strategic Development Framework for the 13th Five-Year Plan

3.1 Guiding Ideology

Driven by scientific development, food machinery standardization must:

• Respond to market needs

• Enhance applicability and effectiveness

• Promote technological innovation

• Optimize the structure of the standard system

• Strengthen implementation mechanisms

3.2 Core Principles

3.2.1 Market Orientation

Standards must align with evolving market demands, supporting both product development and sustainable industrial growth.

3.2.2 Enterprise Leadership

Enterprises, as primary stakeholders and end-users of standards, must take the lead in their development and implementation.

3.2.3 Broad Social Participation

Standardization should include contributions from universities, research institutes, trade associations, and other stakeholders to ensure balanced representation and stronger industry alignment.

3.3 Development Goals

3.3.1 Construction of a Comprehensive Standard System

Enhance and expand the food machinery standard system by filling gaps in key product areas and adjusting the framework to reflect emerging trends.

3.3.2 Establishment of a Collaborative Operational Mechanism

Develop a multi-stakeholder model that integrates industry, academia, and research to ensure sustainable, long-term standardization practices.

3.3.3 Standards Development Objectives

A target of 62 new standards is proposed for the 13th Five-Year Plan, representing a 6.9% increase from the previous period. Emphasis will be placed on technical accuracy, market relevance, and stakeholder consensus.

3.3.4 Enhancing Standardization Service Capacity

Focus on:

• Raising awareness through training and education

• Improving responsiveness to enterprise needs

• Delivering efficient, high-quality services to support implementation

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4. Safeguard Measures

4.1 Strengthen Organizational Leadership

Enhance leadership from government bodies and industry associations to guide enterprises in understanding and participating in standardization initiatives.

4.2 Continuously Improve the Standard System

Update the system based on market trends, emphasize key product segments, and promote adaptable and advanced technical standards.

4.3 Accelerate Standards Revision

Enhance project management for standards development with strict review processes and adherence to legal and technical procedures. Regular inspections and updates will ensure compliance and effectiveness.

4.4 Promote the Transformation of Scientific Research into Standards

Encourage the timely conversion of R&D results into formal standards to accelerate industrial application. Strengthen coordination between innovation, intellectual property, and standardization to improve the competitiveness and autonomy of China's food machinery industry.

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As China’s food machinery industry evolves, robust standardization is essential to ensuring food safety, industrial modernization, and global competitiveness. By strengthening systems, deepening industry participation, and aligning with market dynamics, the 13th Five-Year Plan offers a roadmap to elevate the technical level and service capabilities of China's food machinery standardization.