Recently, AQSIQ has released the information on foods and cosmetics refused for entry in April 2017, the results in which showed that there are 442 batches of unqualified foods including 11 batches of dairy and dairy products, and 7 batches of cheese, which mainly are ultra-high temperature sterilization cream, Elle & Vire, Petit Brie Ma Cream, and FAYE GASTRonOMIE INTERNATIONAL- produced cheese from the place of origin France.

In April 2017, the national entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities detected 442 batches of foods and 24 batches of cosmetics unqualified at the quality safety in accordance with the current effective national food safety standards at the supervision sector for imported commodities at the port. From 43 countries or regions, the unqualified foods are involved with 16 kinds of products, mainly including beverages, pastry biscuits as well as grain and products thereof, which are mainly unqualified on label, quality and exceed in food additives.

There are unqualified foods refused for entry in this sampling inspection, mainly on unqualified label, overdue shelf life, exceeded coliforms, unsatisfied sensory examination, failure to provide certificate or certified supporting documents, etc. Among which, from the aspect of place of origin, 5 batches come from France, 2 batches come from Holland, and 1 batch comes from German and Italy separately. In addition, 2 batches of products from place of origin, HongKong of China imported by Shenzhen Wenshilei Trading Co., Ltd. were returned at the entry port of Guangdong due to unqualified label.

The above foods refused for entry that do not comply with national food safety standards or related laws and regulations at importing examination have been returned by law or destroyed.


As a kind of dairy product, imported cheese has been increased rapidly in recent years. The data from Customs shows that the import volume of cheese in 2008 is 14000 tons, and that in 2016 is up to 97000 tons. From January to April in 2017, the import volume is as much as 36200 tons increased by 18.34% on year-on-year basis, which maintains higher growth. The importing countries are mainly New Zealand (account for 54%), Australia (account for 21.61%), USA (account for 8.93%), Denmark (account for 3.16%), Italy (account for 2.92%) and France (account for 2.44%).


The information of foods and cosmetics refused for entry by AQSIQ shows that a total of 44 batches of imported dairy products were returned or destroyed from January to April this year, including 21 batches of unqualified cheeses at a weight of about 4 tons, the reasons of returning and destroying for which are that the coliforms are exceeded, the saccharomycetes are exceeded, the food additive such as carnauba wax and sorbitol are used out of limit, the strain of penicillium is used out of limit, the shelf life is exceeded, the sensory inspection is not passed, the label is unqualified, the goods fail to match the certificate, and the certificate or qualification is not provided as required.

It is definitely required in GB 5420-2010 National food safety standard Cheese that the maximum detection limit of coliforms is 100 CFU/g, and that of saccharomycetes shall be less than 50 CFU/g. As specified in GB 2760, the food additive carnauba wax can only be used for fresh fruit, cocoa products, chocolate and chocolate products (including cocoa butter replacer chocolate and products) and candy, while sorbitol can’t be used for production of cheeses. However, the labels are unqualified due to various reasons, since there are more than 40 laws & regulations, standards and antwortschreiben about label in China. The overseas food enterprises can export their products to China smoothly in conformity with the complex and polytropic laws & regulations of China only in the premise of deeply understanding it authentically.


GB 5420-2010  National food safety standard Cheese

GB 25192-2010 National food safety standard Process(ed) cheese

GB 22031-2010 National food safety standard Determination of added citrate content in cheese and processed cheese products

NY 478-2002 Soft cheese

The laws & regulations related to food label

Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China

Law of the People's Republic of China on Product Quality 

Advertisement Law of the People's Republic of China

Provisions for the Administration of Food Labels

Administrative Measures for the Packaging and Marking of Agricultural Products

The standards related to food label in China

GB 7718 General standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods

GB 28050 General standard for the nutritional labeling of prepackaged foods

GB 13432 National Food Safety Standard Regarding Labeling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses

GB 2760 National food safety standard-Standards for uses of food additives

GB 14880 National food safety standard standard for the use of nutritional fortification substances in foods