90 Batches of Food Rejected by China Customs in Aug 2019

On Oct 11, 2019, General Administration of Customs released the list of non-compliant food products rejected during port inspections in August.^[1] 90 batches of foods imported from 22 countries/regions including US, Japan, Spain and New Zealand failed mainly due to expiration, quarantine and credentials’ issues. (Download the list in PDF)

Non-Compliance Data at a Glance

Sesame cake containing Chinese knotweed blocked

Chinese knotweed (as known as Reynoutria multiflora) was detected positive in a batch of sesame cake imported from Taiwan China. It is a kind of herbaceous perennial vine listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and “Directory of Ingredients Allowed in Health (functional) Food”.^[2] According to a reply letter on food ingredient published by former Ministry of Health, ophiocordyceps sinensis and materials listed in “Directory of Ingredients Allowed in Health (functional) Food” are not allowed to be used in ordinary food.^[3] (refer to webinar: Special Food Ingredients in China: Regulatory Requirements & Case Study)^[4]

Animal products without quarantine approval banned from importation

China GAC evaluate the food safety systems of overseas countries/regions and update “Directory of approved imported food and exporting countries/regions” based on timely evaluation results. The directory covers 8 categories of food which pose higher safety risks, including meat, dairy products, aquatic products, bird nest, casing, plant originated food, Chinese traditional medicine and honey.
 

Stakeholders are advised to check the approval information before exporting as stipulations and rules are extremely specific. For example, deer products allowed to be imported from New Zealand include deer meat and some offal, but do not include deer knee and tongue.^[5] All the foods in the blacklist were returned or destroyed at port.