China has released new guidance aimed at accelerating the high-quality development of marine-derived pharmaceuticals, health foods, functional products, and bio-based materials. The policy was jointly issued by multiple national agencies, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, NDRC, MIIT, NHC, SAMR, National Medical Products Administration, and others.

The guidance calls for stronger development of marine bioresources, marine functional foods, marine health foods, new food raw materials, health food ingredients, and products supporting antioxidant, immune health, memory, and physical fatigue-related needs. It also encourages deeper use of marine resources such as Antarctic krill, microalgae, chitosan, seaweed polysaccharides, collagen, and marine enzymes.

China’s goal is to build a stronger marine biomedicine and health product industry, with the sector’s added value targeted to exceed RMB 130 billion (approximately US$18 billion) by 2030. The policy also supports innovation platforms, product development, safety evaluation, international registration, overseas market access, and the creation of “Guochao” consumer brands.

What this means for the health products industry

This policy signals stronger government support for marine-derived health products and functional ingredients in China. For the dietary supplement industry, it may create new opportunities in omega-3, krill oil, collagen, seaweed polysaccharides, marine peptides, probiotics, immune health, antioxidant, sports nutrition, fatigue recovery, and healthy aging products. Companies working with marine-based ingredients should monitor future developments around new food raw materials, health food new ingredients, functional claims, safety evaluations, and market access pathways.

(Source: HPA-Global)