According to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), a total of 357 batches of imported food were rejected entry in January 2025. The main reasons include labeling issues 87 lots, failing to meet national food safety standards 63 lots, discrepancies between documents and actual goods 56 lots, filthy or spoiled 47 lots, unauthorized products 31 lots, unqualified overseas manufacturers 22 lots, detected with animal diseases21 lots, expired 16 lots, lack of required certificates or qualification documents 15 lots, containing unauthorized Novel Food 6 lots, non-compliant packaging 2 lots, containing non-food raw materials 1lot, moldy polluted 1lot and containing unauthorized animal-derived ingredients 1 lot.
China’s Legal Requirements for Imported Food
1. Food Labeling Requirements
According to Article 97 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and Article 30 of the Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety (2021), imported food labels must comply with the following: Packaging, labeling, and markings of imported food must conform to Chinese laws, regulations, and national food safety standards. Products that require an instruction manual must provide a Chinese manual. For imported fresh and frozen meat, both inner and outer packaging must have durable, clear, and legible labels in Chinese and English, or in Chinese and the official language of the exporting country/region. For imported aquatic products, both inner and outer packaging must be labeled in Chinese and English, or in Chinese and the official language of the exporting country/region. Labels for imported health foods and special dietary foods must be printed directly on the smallest sales packaging and cannot be affixed separately.
2. Food Composition and Safety Standards
As per Article 92 of the Food Safety Law of China, imported food must comply with China’s national food safety standards and pass inspection by China's entry-exit inspection and quarantine institutions before entering the market.
If an imported food product does not have an existing national safety standard, Article 93 states that the exporter, foreign manufacturer, or their authorized importer must submit the relevant national or international standards to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) for review. If the NHC determines the standards meet food safety requirements, it may allow provisional use and formulate a corresponding national food safety standard.
3. Qualification Requirements for Overseas Food Enterprises
Under Article 96 of the Food Safety Law of China, overseas food manufacturers exporting to China must be registered with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
Additionally, the Regulations on Registration of Overseas Food Manufacturing Enterprises for Imported Food and the Administrative Measures on Food Safety require overseas enterprises to submit relevant registration materials and comply with China’s food safety management standards.
4. Novel Food Approval
According to Article 93 of the Food Safety Law of China and Article 9 of the Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety, imported foods containing new food ingredients or new food additives must undergo a safety assessment by the National Health Commission of China (NHC) and receive official approval before importation.
5. Definition of Non-Food Raw MaterialsIn
China’s food safety regulatory system, non-food raw materials refer to substances not approved by the National Health Commission (NHC) or the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) for use in regular or special food categories. These include:
Industrial chemicals (e.g., sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde)
Unapproved Novel food
Unapproved food additives
Other substances harmful to human health
Key Legal References: Article 150 of the Food Safety Law of China: Defines food as any product intended for human consumption, including raw materials and traditionally recognized food-medicinal products, but excluding medicinal products for treatment purposes. GACC’s Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety and other related regulations.
