导航菜单
China remains a highly regulated but attractive market for global food exporters. Recent data released by China Customs on rejected food imports in 2025 highlights a number of recurring compliance issues, particularly around labeling, ingredient use, and regulatory alignment.
Against this backdrop, several key compliance considerations have emerged for companies seeking to access the Chinese market.
Market access remains a foundational step for food imports into China. Overseas manufacturers, exporters, and agents are required to complete registration with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
In addition, certain product categories are subject to entry animal and plant quarantine approval and must obtain the relevant import permits prior to shipment.
Beyond procedural requirements, products must also fall within China's permitted import scope and align with applicable prohibition lists, bilateral agreements, and the latest regulatory updates.
Non-compliance with national food safety standards remains a leading cause of import rejection. Products are expected to meet a comprehensive framework of GB standards, including those governing food additives, contaminants, pesticide and veterinary drug residues, and microbiological limits.
In practice, regulatory risks often arise from excessive levels, unauthorized substance use, or misalignment with category-specific requirements. Strengthening internal controls over formulation and testing is therefore critical to mitigating border rejection risks.
In China, food additives are regulated under the GB 2760 standard, which defines permitted substances, applicable food categories, and maximum use levels. In practice, non-compliance often arises where formulations developed for other markets are not aligned with China's classification system—leading to out-of-scope use or exceedance of permitted limits.
New food ingredients and new food additives require pre-market approval under China's Food Safety Law. Ingredients not included in existing regulatory lists cannot be used without prior authorization, posing challenges for products containing emerging or functional ingredients not yet recognized in China.
The use of non-edible or prohibited substances is strictly forbidden and represents a regulatory red line. Chinese authorities regularly update banned substance lists and strengthen enforcement against illegal additives, underscoring the need for ongoing regulatory monitoring.
Labeling remains one of the most frequently cited reasons for rejected imports. Imported pre-packaged food must carry compliant Chinese labels at the time of entry, covering all mandatory information such as product name, full ingredient list, country of origin, shelf life, allergens, importer details, and nutrition information.
A recurring issue lies in inconsistencies between original-language labels and their Chinese counterparts. Chinese labeling must not only accurately reflect the original label, but also incorporate all elements required under Chinese regulations—even where such information is not present in the original packaging.
Dietary supplements with functional claims are generally regulated as health foods in China. For general trade, a dual-track system applies, combining registration and notification pathways depending on product composition.
Products using ingredients outside the official catalog, or first-time imports of non-vitamin and non-mineral products, are subject to registration, which involves a comprehensive technical review and longer timelines. By contrast, products based on catalog-listed ingredients—such as vitamins and minerals—may follow the notification pathway, offering a more streamlined and time-efficient route to market.
While some companies continue to explore cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) to accelerate initial entry, regulatory oversight in this space has tightened in recent years, particularly around product claims, ingredient compliance, and traceability.
At the same time, China is actively improving the efficiency of its general trade regulatory pathways. Pilot initiatives in cities such as Yiwu have introduced streamlined notification procedures, reducing timelines and compliance costs. Supported by digital platforms that enhance end-to-end traceability, these developments reflect a broader trend toward both stricter oversight and improved regulatory efficiency.
For overseas companies, this evolving landscape increasingly positions notification under general trade as a practical and scalable route for long-term market access.
ZMUni Note
Regulatory requirements for food imports into China continue to evolve, with increasing scrutiny across ingredient approval, labeling, and customs clearance. For overseas companies, keeping pace with these changes remains a key challenge in achieving smooth and compliant market entry.
With extensive experience in China food compliance and import clearance, ZMUni Compliance Centre supports companies across the full process—from ingredient assessment and label review to customs clearance execution—helping reduce regulatory risk and improve market entry efficiency. For any inquiries, please contact us at info@zmuni.com.
