The relationship between Codex and Chinese food standards was elaborated through the analysis of the legal right and obligation entrusted by WTO/SPS agreement and the status quo of the Chinese food safety standards systems. While the principle of applying Codex to the maximum extent was in practice in our food standard program,it is acknowledged that the inconsistencies still exist due to the discrepancy of the food category system,dietary pattern and the level of food contamination and laboratory analysis etc. For the challenges posed by food standards in the global trade framework of WTO,some areas were identified for the development of national food standards which are in light with the economic and technological development as well as protecting of public health in an objective,scientific and justifiable manner. These areas include active participation of Codex work;strengthening the surveillance of food-borne hazard and the study of dietary intake assessment;attaching importance to the equivalence recognition,provisional measures application and the notification obligations etc.