[Updated] 2026 China Customs Rejection Data: 463 Batches of Imported Food in April
May 20, 2026
Rose Hong
This article tracks and analyzes monthly data of China's rejected food imports throughout 2026.
Latest update: On May 18, 2026, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in April of 2026. A total of 463 batches of imported food from 46 countries/regions were rejected.
As one of the world's largest food importers, China receives a constant influx of food shipments through its bustling ports each day. However, amid this vast trade flow, a significant volume of imported food products continues to face rejection at customs due to various reasons. This article tracks and analyzes monthly patterns in China's rejected food imports throughout 2026, offering data-driven insights that help businesses to avoid shipment rejections and mitigate cross-border trade risks.
April 2026
On May 18, 2026, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in April of 2026. A total of 463 batches of imported food from 46 countries/regions were rejected.
Countries/regions (Top 5)
Rank | Country/region | Rejected batch | Major food category |
1 | Brazil | 98 (21.2%) | Meat products |
2 | Japan | 38 (8.2%) | Beverage and alcohol |
3 | Ecuador | 32 (6.9%) | Aquatic foods |
4 | U.S. | 28 (6.0%) | Processed fish and meat products |
5 | Malaysia | 24 (5.2%) | Processed fish and meat products, Miscellaneous products |
Food categories (Top 5)
Rank | Food category | Rejected batch | Main source country/region |
1 | Meat products | 145 (31.3%) | Brazil |
2 | Aquatic foods | 110 (23.8%) | Ecuador |
3 | Beverage and alcohol | 45 (9.7%) | Japan |
4 | Processed fish and meat products | 45 (9.7%) | U.S. |
5 | Miscellaneous products | 30 (6.5%) | France |
Rejection reasons (Top 5)
Rank | Rejection reason | Rejected batch |
1 | Unqualified labeling | 141 (30.5%) |
2 | Non-compliance with national food safety standards | 104 (22.5%) |
3 | Discrepancy between cargo and certificate | 68 (14.7%) |
4 | Absence of required documents and/or certificates | 51 (11.0%) |
5 | Detection of animal epidemic diseases | 37 (8.0%) |
Note: Multiple rejection reasons may apply to a single batch; totals exceed 100% due to overlapping causes.
March 2026
On April 21, 2026, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in March of 2026. A total of 445 batches of imported food from 37 countries/regions were rejected.
Countries/regions (Top 5)
Rank | Country/region | Rejected batch | Major food category |
1 | Brazil | 79 (17.8%) | Meat products |
2 | U.S. | 67 (15.1%) | Processed fish and meat products |
3 | Argentina | 53 (11.9%) | Meat products |
4 | Ecuador | 30 (6.7%) | Aquatic foods |
5 | Japan | 30 (6.7%) | Tea, coffee, spices |
Food categories (Top 5)
Rank | Food category | Rejected batch | Main source country/region |
1 | Meat products | 160 (36.0%) | Brazil |
2 | Aquatic foods | 62 (13.9%) | Ecuador |
3 | Processed fish and meat products | 45 (10.1%) | U.S. |
4 | Miscellaneous products | 32 (7.2%) | Canada |
5 | Beverage and alcohol | 27 (6.1%) | U.S. & Japan |
Rejection reasons (Top 5)
Rank | Rejection reason | Rejected batch |
1 | Non-compliance with national food safety standards | 141 (31.7%) |
2 | Unqualified labeling | 111 (24.9%) |
3 | Discrepancy between cargo and certificate | 100 (22.5%) |
4 | Detection of animal epidemic diseases | 29 (6.5%) |
5 | Unapproved or undeclared GMOs | 17 (3.8%) |
Note: Multiple rejection reasons may apply to a single batch; totals exceed 100% due to overlapping causes.
February 2026
On March 27, 2026, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in February of 2026. A total of 452 batches of imported food from 42 countries/regions were rejected.
Countries/regions (Top 5)
Rank | Country/region | Rejected batch | Major food category |
1 | U.S. | 46 (10.2%) | Processed fish and meat products |
2 | Brazil | 35 (7.7%) | Meat products |
3 | Russia | 33 (7.3%) | Meat products |
4 | Hong Kong S.A.R. | 27 (6.0%) | Cocoa and cocoa products |
5 | Argentina | 23 (5.1%) | Meat products |
Food categories (Top 5)
Rank | Food category | Rejected batch | Main source country/region |
1 | Meat products | 127 (28.1%) | Brazil |
2 | Aquatic foods | 113 (25.0%) | Pakistan & Ecuador |
3 | Cocoa and cocoa products | 34 (7.5%) | Hong Kong S.A.R. |
4 | Beverage and alcohol | 31 (6.9%) | Mexico |
5 | Miscellaneous products | 29 (6.4%) | U.S. & Taiwan, China |
Rejection reasons (Top 5)
Rank | Rejection reason | Rejected batch |
1 | Non-compliance with national food safety standards | 146 (32.3%) |
2 | Discrepancy between cargo and certificate | 117 (25.9%) |
3 | Unqualified labeling | 111 (24.6%) |
4 | Lack of market access permits | 22 (4.9%) |
5 | Unapproved genetically modified ingredients | 18 (4.0%) |
Note: Multiple rejection reasons may apply to a single batch; totals exceed 100% due to overlapping causes.
January 2026
On March 6, 2026, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in January of 2026. A total of 629 batches of imported food from 48 countries/regions were rejected.
Countries/regions (Top 5)
Rank | Country/region | Rejected batch | Major food category |
1 | U.S. | 93 (14.8%) | Processed fish and meat products |
2 | Russia | 56 (8.9%) | Miscellaneous products |
3 | Argentina | 54 (8.6%) | Meat products |
4 | Brazil | 53 (8.3%) | Meat products |
5 | Kazakhstan | 44 (7.0%) | Animal/vegetable oils |
Food categories (Top 5)
Rank | Food category | Rejected batch | Main source country/region |
1 | Meat products | 161 (25.6%) | Argentina |
2 | Aquatic foods | 118 (18.8%) | Ecuador |
3 | Miscellaneous products | 106 (16.9%) | Russia |
4 | Processed fish and meat products | 60 (9.5%) | U.S. |
5 | Beverage and alcohol | 52 (8.3%) | Japan |
Rejection reasons (Top 5)
Rank | Rejection reason | Rejected batch |
1 | Unqualified labeling | 214 (34.0%) |
2 | Non-compliance with national food safety standards | 147 (23.4%) |
3 | Discrepancy between cargo and certificate | 100 (15.9%) |
4 | Absence of required documents and/or certificates | 40 (6.4%) |
5 | Unapproved genetically modified ingredients | 34 (5.4%) |
Note: Multiple rejection reasons may apply to a single batch; totals exceed 100% due to overlapping causes.
Recommended reading
China maintains strict regulatory oversight on imported foods, with thousands of shipments rejected each year due to issues such as safety violations, labeling errors, and incomplete documentation. To help businesses better understand these risks, ChemLinked releases A Look Back at 2025: China's Rejected Imported Food Review Report, offering a comprehensive dissection of the rejected shipments, including key rejection reasons, product categories most frequently affected, and regulatory insights to help businesses strengthen compliance strategies. Click here or the cover below to access the free report!
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