China — All Categories
China received 356 RASFF border-rejection notifications across all food categories between 2024-Q1 and 2026-Q4. Volume is roughly flat year-on-year. The most-cited issues are cetrimonium chloride, genetically modified, and formaldehyde. The list below gives the 20 most recent rejections by date and RASFF reference, with the country that notified it and the hazard found; 9 carry the laboratory result and 15 say what happened to the consignment.
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Key figures
- What happened to rejected consignments, last 3 years
- Held, final fate not recorded: 36%; Re-dispatched or destroyed: 22%; Destroyed: 19%; Re-dispatched: 15%; Not stated: 6%; Treated, sorted or diverted: 3%. Source: RASFF Window notification records.
Quarterly rejections, last 12 quarters
Show the numbers
| Quarter | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2024-Q1 | 29 |
| 2024-Q2 | 23 |
| 2024-Q3 | 34 |
| 2024-Q4 | 36 |
| 2025-Q1 | 32 |
| 2025-Q2 | 26 |
| 2025-Q3 | 34 |
| 2025-Q4 | 28 |
| 2026-Q1 | 42 |
| 2026-Q2 | 33 |
| 2026-Q3 | 34 |
| 2026-Q4 | 5 |
By year
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 114 |
| 2025 | 120 |
| 2024 | 122 |
| 2023 | 128 |
| 2022 | 118 |
| 2021 | 124 |
| 2020 | 88 |
| 2019 | 3 |
By category, last 156 weeks
| Category | Rejections | Per $1B EU imports | Most-cited hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products | 27 | 40.0 | chlorate |
| Food Contact Materials | 114 | — | primary aromatic amines |
| Cocoa and Cocoa Preparations, Coffee and Tea | 62 | — | tolfenpyrad |
| Nuts, Nut Products and Seeds | 38 | — | Aflatoxin B1 |
| Cereals and Bakery Products | 27 | — | genetically modified |
| Herbs and Spices | 25 | — | Salmonella |
| Fruits and Vegetables | 19 | — | chlorpyrifos |
| Food Additives and Flavourings | 15 | — | chlorate |
| Dietetic Foods, Food Supplements and Fortified Foods | 12 | — | ethylene oxide |
| Fish and Fish Products | 11 | — | histamine |
| Other Food Product / Mixed | 10 | — | tolfenpyrad |
| Confectionery | 8 | — | — |
| Pet Food | 4 | — | protein poultry |
| Soups, Broths, Sauces and Condiments | 4 | — | genetically modified |
| Prepared Dishes and Snacks | 4 | — | import |
| Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 3 | — | — |
| Meat and Meat Products (Other Than Poultry) | 2 | — | semicarbazide (SEM) |
| Milk and Milk Products | 2 | — | — |
| Wine | 1 | — | — |
| Crustaceans and Products Thereof | 1 | — | — |
| Compound Feeds | 1 | — | — |
| Honey and Royal Jelly | 1 | — | — |
| Ices and Desserts | 1 | — | — |
| Cephalopods and Products Thereof | 1 | — | — |
Recent rejections
- 2026.9373 Exceeded amount of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) equivalent in organic hemp seeds from ChinaNuts, Nut Products and Seeds. Notified by Latvia. Treated, sorted or diverted. Result 4,95 ± 0,89 (limit 3 mg/kg - ppm). tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP) unauthorised novel food ingredient
- 2026.9348 Absence of Official Controls and CHED-D at the Border Control Post of First Entry for Teas of Chinese Origin.Cocoa and Cocoa Preparations, Coffee and Tea. Notified by Latvia. Destroyed.
- 2026.9014 Prohibited tolfenpyrad and exceed maximum levels of pesticides residues: lambda-cyhalothrin 0,091 ± 0,046 mg/kg, thiamethoxam 0,18 ± 0,09 mg/kg; Cocoa and Cocoa Preparations, Coffee and Tea. Notified by Latvia. Re-dispatched or destroyed. Result 0,23 ± 0,12 (limit 0,01 mg/kg - ppm). lambda-cyhalothrinthiamethoxamtolfenpyrad
- 2026.8945 przekroczony poziom zawartości pestycydu prochlorazu w suszonych pomarańczach z Chin// Excessive levels of the pesticide prochloraz found in dried oranges from ChinaFruits and Vegetables. Notified by Poland. Re-dispatched. Result 1,3 ± 0,7 (limit 0,3 mg/kg - ppm). prochloraz
- 2026.8711 Migracja formaldehydu z misek z melaminy// Formaldehyde migration from melamine bowls Food Contact Materials. Notified by Poland. Re-dispatched. formaldehyde
- 2026.8480 Non-authorized GMO events in rice cakes originating from ChinaCereals and Bakery Products. Notified by Belgium. Destroyed. Result detected (limit 0 null). genetically modified
- 2026.8461 Unauthorized GMO in spicy puffed rice cakes of Chinese origin // OGM non autorizzato in dischetti di riso soffiato piccante origine CinaCereals and Bakery Products. Notified by Italy. Result Nel campione è stata riscontrata la presenza del Terminatore NOS (limit PRESENZA / ASSENZ… genetically modified
- 2026.8417 Presence of Centrimonium Chloride in Tea originating from China and dispatched from UKHerbs and Spices. Notified by Malta. Re-dispatched or destroyed. Result 0.066 ± 0.033 (limit 0.01 mg/kg - ppm). cetrimonium chloride
- 2026.8414 Presence of Centrimonium Chloride in Tea originating from China and dispatched from UKHerbs and Spices. Notified by Malta. Re-dispatched or destroyed. Result 0.35 ± 0.18 (limit 0.01 mg/kg - ppm). cetrimonium chloride
- 2026.8412 Presence of Centrimonium Chloride in Tea originating from China and dispatched from UKHerbs and Spices. Notified by Malta. Re-dispatched or destroyed. Result 0.086 ± 0.043 (limit 0.01 mg/kg - ppm). cetrimonium chloride
- 2026.8283 Shipment of green tea from Serbia without accompanying documentation Cocoa and Cocoa Preparations, Coffee and Tea. Notified by Croatia. Re-dispatched.
- 2026.8212 Composite Product ( Spicy plickled fish skin) from China- Health guarantee not filled out correctlyOther Food Product / Mixed. Notified by Portugal. Re-dispatched.
- 2026.8189 Presence of Centrimonium Chloride in Tea originating from China and dispatched from UKHerbs and Spices. Notified by Malta. Reached the market, re-dispatched or destroyed. Result 0.38 ± 0.019 (limit 0.01 mg/kg - ppm). cetrimonium chloride
- 2026.8152 Border Rejection due to Formaldehyde Migration from Royal Worcester Little Wren mugFood Contact Materials. Notified by Ireland. Destroyed. formaldehyde
- 2026.8145 Incomplite documentation for rice consgnment fro ChinaCereals and Bakery Products. Notified by Slovenia. Destroyed.
- 2026.8051 Label / Documents mismatchOther Food Product / Mixed. Notified by Slovenia. Re-dispatched or destroyed.
- 2026.7965 Poor temperature control in frozen tuna from China // Ruptura de la cadena de frío en atunes congelados de ChinaFish and Fish Products. Notified by Spain.
- 2026.7956 Absence of documentation for food contact materials from ChinaFood Contact Materials. Notified by Greece.
- 2026.7916 Insufficient documentation for plastic food contact materials from ChinaFood Contact Materials. Notified by Greece.
- 2026.7912 unauthorized GMO 35 S terminator Nos in rice sticksCereals and Bakery Products. Notified by Italy. genetically modified
Found on the EU market: alerts and information notifications
Besides border rejections, 1,270 notifications since 2020 concerned products from China found after entering the EU — 431 alerts, 839 information notifications. They are not part of the rejection figures or rates above, which measure border controls.
How they were found: official control on the market 55%, company's own check 22%, at the EU border 11%, consumer complaint or illness 5%, monitoring or surveillance sample 4%, other 4%. 338 led to a recall from consumers.
Show the numbers
| Year | Total | Alerts | Information notifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 116 | 61 | 55 |
| 2021 | 192 | 60 | 132 |
| 2022 | 193 | 56 | 137 |
| 2023 | 165 | 54 | 111 |
| 2024 | 224 | 79 | 145 |
| 2025 | 218 | 76 | 142 |
| 2026 to date | 162 | 45 | 117 |
- 2026.9489 info: attentionHigh levels of glycidol and 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) in krupuk (prawn crackers) from China Notified by Germany. 3-monochlor-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD)glycidyl esters
- 2026.9386 info: follow-upMigration of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) from a Nylon Serving Spatula from China Notified by Belgium. Official control on the market, reached the market. primary aromatic amines
- 2026.9335 info: attentionHigh volatile substance content in children's silicone bowl from China Notified by Slovenia. Official control on the market, reached the market. Result 1,82 (limit 0,5 %). volatile organic constituents
- 2026.9331 info: attentionUnauthorised radiation of dried squid from China Notified by Germany. Official control on the market, reached the market. irradiation
- 2026.9320 alertUnauthorised substance crystal violet in frozen fillets of fish from China Notified by Slovenia. At the EU border, reached the market. Result 0.71 (limit 0 µg/kg - ppb). crystal violet
- 2026.9229 info: follow-upMetal piece in cat feed from China Notified by Norway. Consumer complaint or illness, reached the market.
- 2026.9166 info: attentionOchratoxin A in food supplements from China Notified by Netherlands. Company's own check. Result 110 (limit not present null). ochratoxin A
- 2026.9121 info: follow-upwykryto migrację formaldechydu w talerzu z melaminy/ Migration of formaldehyde detected in a melamine plate. Notified by Poland. Official control on the market, reached the market. formaldehyde
- 2026.8995 alertExcessive levels of genotoxic and reproductive-toxic pesticides in a tea-like product from China, via the Netherlands Notified by Germany. Official control on the market, reached the market. Result 0,43. acetamipridcarbendazimchlorantraniliprolechlorfenapyr+21 more
- 2026.8989 info: follow-up Unauthorised ingredient (Angelica dahurica) in a flavouring product from China via Spain /Presencia de ingrediente no autorizado (Angelica Dahurica) en condimento saborizante origen China Notified by Spain. Official control on the market, reached the market, destroyed.
Recent weeks
| Week | Border rejections |
|---|---|
| 2026-W43 | 2 |
| 2026-W42 | 1 |
| 2026-W41 | 1 |
| 2026-W40 | 1 |
| 2026-W39 | 5 |
| 2026-W38 | 5 |
| 2026-W37 | 6 |
| 2026-W36 | 2 |
→ See all RASFF notifications for 2026-W43
Data and downloads
Download all 2,087 entries (CSV) — every notification behind this page, border rejections and those found on the market, with how each was found and what was done. Every entry is also listed by year above.
The file holds entries up to 2026-10-23. To get new ones for China by email, watch China.
China country report since 2020 — all notification types, not just border rejections →