China Customs Rejected 294 Batches of Imported Food in September 2023

On October 22, 2023, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in September 2023. A total of 294 batches of imported food from 38 countries/regions were rejected.

Most non-compliant imported food in September came from Indonesia (16.0%, mostly aquatic products), followed by the U.S. (11.2%, mostly meat and health supplements) and Hong Kong, China (8.2%, mostly alcoholic drinks). The major reasons for import rejections were as follows:

• Lack of inspection & quarantine permit (29.8%)

• Discrepancy between cargo and certificate (19.7%)

• Excessive use of food additives/nutritional fortification substances (15.3%)

• Unqualified labeling (12.6%)

• Exceeded expiry date (6.5%)

Noteworthy Products 

1. Dairy products 

A batch of pure milk from New Zealand and a batch of anhydrous cream from Denmark failed customs clearance for spoilage.    

2. Instant coffee products 

In September, six batches of instant coffee products were rejected due to unqualified labeling. These products, classified as solid beverages, are in powder form. Consequently, the labeling of coffee powders must adhere to GB/T 29602-2013 Solid Beverages. Recently, the China Beverage Industry Association (CBIA) put forth a revised version of the standard, incorporating significant changes encompassing definitions, product categories, technical requirements, as well as labeling and packaging guidelines.