246 Batches of Imported Food Rejected in July 2020, Five Milk Powder Products Included

On Aug 19^th, 2020, China GAC released the list of non-compliant food products in July, 2020. ^[1] A total of 246 batches of imported food from 30 countries/regions were rejected, with an obvious increase compared with the first six months in 2020.

Among all rejected imported food products in July, aquacultural products accounted for 23.9%, followed by 18.7% of miscellaneous food products, and 10.9% of beverages. Top reasons for rejection were unqualified labeling, sensory test failure and overuse of food additives & nutritional fortification substances. As for the rejected countries of origin, the largest part of rejected imported food originated from Malaysia (13.8%), followed by Vietnam, Taiwan, India and Japan. Most of imported food rejected from Malaysia were flavoured syrups and chocolate flavoured powder, both of which belong to the category of miscellaneous food products.

Noteworthy Products

• Three batches of TwoCows whole milk powder from Netherlands were rejected for lack of required documentation. One batch of skimmed milk powder from France was rejected because its impurity content doesn't meet the requirements of GB standards. One batch of high-calcium skimmed milk powder from Japan was rejected for failure to obtain access upon inspection and quarantine.

• Five batches of baby cereal supplementary food from Taiwan were rejected for unqualified labeling.

• One batch of frozen shrimp from Ecuador was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer Empacadora Del Pacifico Sociedad Anonima Edpacif S.A. It is one of the three manufactures whose import qualifications of aquatic-product has been suspended in July due to COVID-19 tested positive on the package. By now, the import qualifications of the other two manufacturers, Empacreci S.A. and Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila S.A., have been re-instated.^[2]