China Clamps Down on Unregulated Import of Yogurt

Yogurt has become a favorite commodity of Chinese consumers as evidenced by the growth in crossborder ecommerce sales. However, according to the catalogues of the animals and plants and their products that are not allowed to be carried or posted into the country, all dairy products (excluding milk powder) such as fresh milk, yogurt and butter, etc. are banned from entering China through international mail or other unregulated channels.

From Jan to Oct, Zhejiang CIQ identified and blocked 12,000 bottles of yogurt weighing 1.2 tons and Shanghai CIQ found 12,180 bottles. All these products have been destroyed by CIQ. Most of the yogurts are baby products from Germany and Italy made by “Nestle, Hippo and Mellin”. Yogurts are full of protein and calcium suitable as a supplementary food for babies, this and their convenience makes them a favorite of Chinese consumers. However, CIQ officials stated that normally it takes 1-2 months to have them shipped to China. This extended shipment time, variable storage conditions and the inherent biological and physical properties of yogurts renders these products particularly susceptible to growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Zhejiang CIQ has intensified measures to check all packages to stem the influx of these products through unregulated channels.