China Customs Releases the List of Rejected Imported Food in January and February 2024

On March 27, 2024, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published two lists of non-compliant food products in January and February 2024. The lists revealed that a total of 279 batches and 251 batches of imported food were rejected in January and February respectively, involving 43 countries/regions.

In the first two months of 2024, most non-compliant imported food came from Japan (20.2%, mostly grain products), followed by the United States (14.3%, mostly meats and nuts) and Australia (9.6%, mostly meats). The major reasons for import rejections were as follows:

Discrepancy between cargo and certificate (32.3%)
Unqualified labeling (21.1%)
Excessive use of food additives/nutritional fortification substances (11.3%)
Lack of inspection & quarantine permit (6.6%)
Failed sensory evaluation (6.0%)

Noteworthy Products

Dairy products

Six batches of imported dairy products were rejected in January and February. Details are as follows:

Product	Country of origin	Reason for the rejection
Cheese	UK	Unqualified packaging
Modified milk powder	Australia	Lack of required documents or certificates
Whole milk (modified milk)	Spain	Unqualified packaging
Camel milk powder	Kazakhstan	Non-compliant fat and protein contents
Whole milk	New Zealand	Failed sensory evaluation
Cheese	France	Excessive coliform bacteria

Notably, recently China NHC and SAMR jointly released the updated standard for milk powder and modified milk powder, which are set to take effect on February 8, 2025. Enterprises are advised to make necessary adjustments in line with the new standard and prepare for its implementation.

Over the past year, a considerable number of imported food products have faced rejection in China for various reasons. In response, ChemLinked presents a complimentary report for stakeholders in the global food industry. This comprehensive report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the rejected food products, shed light on the reasons behind their rejections, and offer insightful tips to stakeholders on mitigating potential risks and pitfalls. Click here or on the image below to access the free report！