As food labeling requirements continue to evolve, food manufacturers are beginning to review their packaging designs and date coding processes in advance.
The Administrative Measures for Food Labeling and the new GB 7718-2025 General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods will take effect on March 16, 2027. The new requirements further clarify how production dates and expiration dates should be displayed, including their location, font size, readability, and durability.
For food manufacturers, updating the packaging design is only part of the process. Ensuring that production dates and expiration dates can be printed clearly and consistently within the designated area is also becoming an important consideration for production lines.
1. What Is a “Designated Area” for Production Dates?
According to the Administrative Measures for Food Labeling, the production date and expiration date of prepackaged food should be marked in adesignated area on the package, and the printed information should not be easily removed.
The State Administration for Market Regulation has further explained that a designated area refers to a specific area on the package reserved for marking the production date and expiration date. The date information should not overlap with other text, symbols, numbers, or graphics on the label. Using a clearly visible border to define the date area is also encouraged.
If the designated area is not located on the principal display panel, the principal display panel should include clear guidance indicating where the production date or expiration date can be found.
This means food manufacturers need to consider not only whether the date is printed, but also where it is printed, how large it is, how clearly it can be read, and whether its position can remain consistent during production.
For continuous food packaging lines, these requirements place greater emphasis on the positioning and stability of coding equipment.
2. What Does the New Standard Mean for Date Coding Equipment?
Precise Control of Printing Position
Once a designated date area has been reserved on the package, the coding system needs to maintain a consistent printing position.
CYCJET industrial coding solutions can be configured with conveyors, photoelectric sensors, and other components. When a package reaches the predetermined position, the system can trigger the printer to apply the production date, batch number, or other variable information.
For continuously running food packaging lines, stable product conveying and accurate triggering are important for maintaining consistent coding positions.
Flexible Character Height Adjustment
The new requirements also specify minimum character heights for production dates and expiration dates.
According to the Administrative Measures for Food Labeling, the character height for these dates should generally be no less than 3.0 mm. When the maximum surface area of the package is less than 35 cm², the character height should be no less than 2.0 mm.
Therefore, when selecting coding equipment, manufacturers need to consider the package size, printing content, and dimensions of the designated date area rather than focusing only on printing speed.
CYCJET offers different types of coding equipment that can be configured according to application requirements, supporting the printing of dates, batch numbers, and other variable information on different food packages.
Clear and Durable Date Coding
The regulations also require production dates and expiration dates to have sufficient contrast with the background and remain difficult to remove.
Different packaging materials may therefore require different coding technologies.
For plastic films, laminated packaging, and flexible bags, inkjet coding can be selected according to the characteristics of the packaging surface and ink. For PET bottles, glass containers, and metal cans, laser marking can provide durable coding in suitable applications.
For transparent packaging, the actual solution should take into account the material, laser type, contrast, and marking position.
3. How to Choose Coding Equipment for Different Food Packaging?
Different packaging materials, production speeds, and coding requirements call for different marking solutions.
Flexible Bags, Laminated Films, and Food Packaging
For food bags, laminated films, and other flexible packaging, CYCJET Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) Printers can be considered.
CIJ technology is suitable for continuous online production and can be used to print production dates, expiration dates, batch numbers, and other variable information. The appropriate ink can be selected according to the packaging material and application requirements.
PET Bottles, Glass Containers, and Metal Cans
For beverage bottles, glass containers, metal cans, and similar applications, CYCJET laser coding machines can be selected according to the material and marking requirements.
Laser marking creates identification directly on the material surface and does not require conventional ink. For suitable food packaging applications, it can provide clear and durable marking.
For transparent packaging, the actual solution should be evaluated based on the material, laser wavelength, marking contrast, and location of the date code.
Paper Boxes and Cartons
For paper boxes, cartons, and packages that require more characters, logos, or variable information, CYCJET high-resolution inkjet printers can be considered.
High-resolution inkjet solutions are suitable for applications requiring clear printing of text, logos, barcodes, QR codes, and other variable information. They can also be integrated into packaging lines where a designated date area has been reserved.
4. Coding Equipment Is Only Part of the Solution
For food manufacturers, the stability of the printing position does not depend entirely on the printer itself.
On an actual production line, packaging materials may experience changes in speed, spacing, or conveying position. Therefore, coding equipment is often integrated with conveyors, photoelectric sensors, encoders, and other components.
A typical online coding process may include:
Product Conveying → Photoelectric Detection → Printing Trigger → Date Coding
For high-speed food packaging lines, this type of integrated system can help control printing timing and position more consistently.
CYCJET can also provide corresponding coding equipment and automation solutions based on packaging material, product dimensions, production speed, and printing position.
5. Plan Ahead for Packaging and Coding Upgrades
The implementation of GB 7718-2025 and the Administrative Measures for Food Labeling will further encourage food manufacturers to improve how production dates and expiration dates are displayed.
For food manufacturers, it is recommended to evaluate coding equipment at the same time as packaging designs are being updated rather than waiting until the new packaging is already in production.
Key factors to consider include:
- The size and position of the designated date area
- Required character height and printing content
- Compatibility between packaging materials and ink or laser technology
- Production line speed and product spacing
- Printing position stability
- Coding clarity and durability
The right coding technology is an important part of putting an updated packaging design into practice.
CYCJET provides industrial coding and marking solutions including CIJ continuous inkjet printers, UV inkjet printers, high-resolution inkjet printers, CO₂ laser markers, fiber laser markers, and UV laser markers.
Based on the packaging material, production speed, and coding requirements, CYCJET can help food manufacturers evaluate suitable coding solutions and provide sample testing.
If your company is preparing for a food packaging upgrade or evaluating a new date coding solution,contact CYCJET to discuss your application requirements and find a suitable industrial coding solution.
Contact Person: David Guo
Telephone: +86-21-59970419 ext 8008
MOB:+86-139 1763 1707
Email: sales@cycjet.com
Web: https://cycjet.com/