导航菜单
On March 27 2026, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) released its list of non-compliant imported food products for February 2026. A total of 452 batches from 42 countries and regions were denied entry, representing This represents a month-on-month decrease of approximately 28% (down 177 batches from 629 in January 2026), but a year-on-year increase of about 69% (up 185 batches from 267 in February 2025).
The rejected shipments covered a wide range of categories, including frozen meat and poultry, aquatic products, edible oils, beverages, confectionery, alcoholic drinks, and biscuits. By country of origin, the United States recorded the highest number of rejected batches (93), followed by Russia (56) and Argentina (54). By total weight of rejected products, Kazakhstan, the United States, and Belarus ranked first, accounting for 34%, 21%, and 14% of the total respectively.
Key issues identified included:
Mismatch between goods and accompanying documentation, accounting for 24% of cases, followed by non-compliant labeling (23%). Compared with the previous month, labeling-related issues showed a decline. However, sensory inspection failures and cadmium-related non-compliance increased significantly, rising to 33 batches and 19 batches respectively. Other issues included lack of market access approval, genetically modified organism (GMO) concerns, and non-compliance involving furazolidone metabolites.
According to China's February 2026 list of non-compliant import foods, 19 batches of frozen shrimp products from New Zealand, produced by different companies, were denied entry into China. The total weight of the rejected shipments was approximately 16,608 kg.
The reason for rejection was consistent across all batches: cadmium levels exceeding the limits stipulated under China’s national food safety standards.
Cadmium contamination in frozen shrimp and other aquatic products is influenced by environmental, biological, and regulatory factors.
Cadmium occurs naturally in the form of cadmium sulfide ores. Industrial activities such as mining and wastewater discharge can introduce cadmium into aquatic environments via surface runoff, resulting in localized marine pollution. Due to its strong bioaccumulative properties and poor degradability, cadmium can accumulate through the food chain, ultimately posing food safety risks in seafood products.
Crustaceans such as shrimp generally have a higher capacity to accumulate cadmium than fish, with elevated levels typically found in the head and internal organs. Therefore, insufficient raw material control or inadequate removal of high-risk parts can significantly increase the risk of non-compliance. This also explains why crustacean products are frequently flagged during import inspections.
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal associated with multiple health risks, including kidney damage, osteoporosis, and increased cancer risk. Under China's GB 2762 – National Food Safety Standard for Contaminants in Food, the maximum level of cadmium in crustaceans (excluding specific species such as marine crabs and mantis shrimp) is ≤ 0.5 mg/kg. Any result exceeding this limit is considered non-compliant.
In response to the non-compliance cases highlighted above, particularly the cadmium exceedance identified in frozen shrimp products, companies are advised to strengthen upstream supply chain control to mitigate similar risks of import rejection. This is especially critical for high-risk aquatic products and heavy metal contamination concerns:
Monitoring environmental risks in production regions
Enhancing batch-level testing for heavy metals such as cadmium
Implementing pre-export and pre-import compliance testing for high-risk products such as shrimp
Ensuring familiarity with target market contaminant limits and regulatory requirements
Overseas food manufacturers and importers should stay up to date with the latest food laws and standards, and seek professional compliance guidance when needed to ensure smooth and timely market entry.
For more information on China food compliance, including formula and label review services, please visit our food services pages or contact us at info@zmuni.com.
