This article reviews the past and current Chinese national food control system, food safety standard system and the application of risk analysis framework and provides some future perspectives. The national food control system in China has been changed from single ministry to fragmented management by multiple ministries and in the current system the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR), the General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MOA) have the main responsibility. In the same time, the Food Hygiene Law was changed to Food Safety Law based on the risk analysis framework. Three different and conflicted mandatory national food standard systems were merged into one national food safety standard system by the end of 2015. The new standard system is in line with the Codex system and is significantly improved in coverage, scientific basis and feasibility. The application of risk analysis framework was advanced from lack of awareness to basic understanding and recently to primarily application. Significant progress was made in national food contamination monitoring and foodborne disease surveillance, risk assessment and risk communication. However, it should be noted that there are still many food safety issues in China. Surveillance and control on microbial foodborne illness are still weak. Food fraud is quite common at present. Risk communication is facing great challenge. In order to improve the quality and safety of Chinese food products, emphasis should be put in safety assurance of the whole food chain by industry and seamless inspection and control by regulatory agencies.