On Feb. 10, 96 cans of Modulen IBD nutritionally complete formula imported by Ruijin-Hainan Hospital were cleared by Haikou Customs at Boao Airport, marking the first temporary import of specialized formula foods in the Hainan FTP (Free Trade Port).

Modulen IBD, which provides foodborne nutrition for patients over the age of 5 with the rare disease of Crohn's Disease, is a kind of specialized formula food that is the primary nutrition source for patients with rare diseases. Its import marks the successful implementation of the policy that allows designated medical institutions in the Hainan FTP Boao Lecheng (Hope City) International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone to, upon approval by the Hainan Provincial Government, temporarily import and use small quantities of specialized formula foods for rare diseases, specific full-nutrition medical foods, and appropriate amounts of health supplements that are legally available in overseas markets.

Hope City is one of the Hainan FTP's key industrial parks (Photo: Meng Zhongde)

The policy enables patients who require them to use specialized formula food products not yet available on the Chinese mainland market, bringing products that would otherwise be out of reach for most into their hands for the first time.

To ensure the successful implementation of this policy, in December 2024, the Hainan Government issued interim provisions for the management of temporary import and use of health supplements and specialized formula foods.

A representative of the Hainan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation stated that Hainan conducts a simultaneous review and temporary registration of overseas production enterprises during the assessment and review process, simplifying the customs registration procedure. The imported products are permitted to carry Chinese labeling to speed up customs clearance.