导航菜单
On May 18, 2026, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) released its list of non-compliant imported food products for April 2026. A total of 463 batches from 37 countries and regions were denied entry, representing a a month-on-month increase of approximately 4% (up 18 batches from 445 in March 2026) and a year-on-year increase of about 43% (up 138 batches from 325 in the same period last year).
The rejected shipments spanned a wide range of categories, including capsules, frozen meat, poultry and aquatic products, nuts and nut products, beverages, bird's nest, alcoholic beverages, grains and grain products, baked goods, fruit products, chocolate and chocolate products, vegetable oils, and more.
In terms of the number of rejected batches by country of origin, Brazil remained the top source, followed by Japan and Ecuador, with 98, 38, and 32 batches respectively. The number of rejected batches from the United States showed a significant decrease compared to March.
The primary reasons for denial of entry continued to focus on non-compliant labeling and inconsistencies between goods and certificates, accounting for 29% and 12% of the total rejection reasons respectively. Other reasons for rejection included the use of unapproved new food ingredients, sensory issues, genetically modified (GM) concerns, shelf-life problems, and overseas food manufacturer registration issues.
Information on food products denied entry in April 2026 shows that 6 batches of imported products were rejected due to compliance issues related to new food ingredients. The affected product categories included orange jam and compound acidity regulators, with a total weight of approximately 4,296 kilograms.
According to the Administrative Measure for the Safety Review of New Food Ingredients, a new food ingredient refers to any of the following items that do not have a traditional history of consumption* in China:
1. Animals, plants and microorganisms;
2. Sunstances isolated from plants, animals and microorganisms;
3. Food ingredients whose molecular structures have been modified;
4. Other newly innovated food ingredients.
*Traditional history of consumption: foods that have been produced and sold in fixed or non-fixed packaging in a provincial region for over 30 years and are not listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
New food ingredients must also:
Possess characteristics suitable for food use,
Meet nutritional and hygiene standards,
Be non-toxic and pose no short- or long-term health risks.
According to China's Food Safety Law and the Administrative Measures for the Safety Review of New Food Ingredients, new food ingredients must undergo safety assessment and obtain approval from the National Health Commission (NHC) before they can be used in food production.
Application form
Development report
Safety assessment report
Production process
Relevant standards
Labeling documentation
Information on domestic research and utilization
Relevant safety assessment materials and other supporting documents helpful for technical review
For imported new food ingredients, applicants must also provide:
Official documents issued by competent authorities or institutions in the exporting country/region proving that the product is permitted for production or sale in that country/region;
Documents issued by relevant institutions or organizations in the country/region where the manufacturer is located, demonstrating inspection or certification of the manufacturing facility.
Before importing food products into China, companies should carefully verify:
Whether the product formulation complies with China's restrictions on food ingredient usage;
Whether any ingredient may require novel food ingredient approval;
Whether a novel food ingredient currently under application has already obtained approval and whether complete compliance documentation is available.
Many companies face import rejection because of insufficient preliminary compliance screening or misunderstandings of regulatory requirements, ultimately leading to irreversible losses. It is strongly recommended that enterprises conduct comprehensive compliance assessments in advance to minimize port rejection risks and ensure smoother import operations.
For more information on China food compliance, including new food ingredients application service, please visit our food services pages or contact us at info@zmuni.com.
