China June 2018 Non-Compliant Imported Food Data: Encapsulated Food Rejected

On Jul. 17, 2018, China GAC announced that 85 batches of imported food failed customs inspection in June. Beverage, pastry & biscuit, and special food accounted for the majority of failures. Non-compliant certificate, label and quality issues are 3 leading factors which caused rejection.

However, 6 batches of “functional food” from Sweden failed the inspection due to lack of corresponding national food safety standards, which are:

• SELF body sculpting capsules

• SELF L-carnitine fat reducing capsules

• SELF fortified caltrop saponins sheet

• SELF multi-vitamin

• SELF synephrine fat scraping sheet

Encapsulated food or food in sheet format does not have a corresponding national standard (as a common food) in China and importation through general trade channels will most likely mean rejection by Chinese customs authorities. It is suggested that importing this kind of product through standard trade channels should apply for health food registration/filing.