Plastic cup products comply with the *National Food Safety Standard for Plastic Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food* (GB 4806.7-2016) and the *Plastic Drinking Cups* standard (QB/T 4049-2021). GB 4806.7-2016 specifies food safety performance indicators for plastic articles intended for food contact, covering sensory requirements, overall migration, potassium permanganate consumption, heavy metals (calculated as Pb), decolorization tests, and specific migration limits. QB/T 4049-2021 outlines requirements regarding appearance, odor, capacity deviation, sealing performance, impact resistance, low-temperature resistance, heat resistance, and functional performance.
Results from a 2025 market surveillance inspection of plastic cups in circulation across Hainan Province revealed a non-compliance rate of 31.25%, with the primary issue being non-compliant labeling. A 2026 comparative test conducted by the Shanghai Consumer Council indicated that certain cups marketed as "degradable" failed to fully degrade due to the inclusion of non-degradable polypropylene (PP) plastic. The test also found that "Huilin" brand disposable Kung Fu tea cups contained levels of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol exceeding national standard limits.
Given the rapid evolution of raw materials and the constant emergence of new technologies, industry experts are calling for standards to be updated in tandem with technological advancements to enhance the effectiveness of regulation. Experts emphasize the need to accelerate standard updates and strengthen government oversight to foster the industry's healthy development.