Includes a list of goods that are prohibited from being exported to the country or are otherwise restricted.
Last Published: 7/30/2019

The following items are prohibited from entering China: arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds; counterfeit currencies and counterfeit negotiable securities; printed matter, magnetic media, films, or photographs which are deemed to be detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of China; lethal poisons; illicit drugs; disease-carrying animals and plants; foods, medicines, and other articles coming from disease-stricken areas; old/used garments; and local currency (RMB). Food items containing certain food colorings and additives deemed harmful to human health by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) are also barred entry.

In addition, China restricts or prohibits the importation of certain commodities related to the processing trade. The "Catalogue of Commodities Which are Restricted or Prohibited from Importing for Use in the Processing Trade” is designed to shift the direction of China's processing trade toward handling commodities with higher technological content and greater value-added potential.

The catalogue identifies the following "prohibited commodities": used garments; used publications with licentious content; radioactive or harmful industrial waste; junk cars, used automobiles or components; seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, feed, additives, or antibiotics used in the cultivation or breeding of any export commodity. The catalogue lists seven general types of "restricted commodities": raw materials for plastics, polyester sections, raw materials for chemical fibers, cotton, cotton yarn, cotton cloth, and some steel products. This list was updated yearly beginning in 1999, with the last one published in 2010.

However, these reports only show updates and do not reflect the final list. U.S. firms should contact the China General Administration of Customs for guidance regarding the import of any of these products. (See below for contact information).

All wood packages should carry an IPPC mark, or it will be subject to further requirements. The latest rule is called the Measures for the Administration of Quarantine and Supervision of Wooden Packages of Imported Goods, promulgated by AQSIQ, effective from January 1, 2006. 
 
Scrap: In 2007, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) published a “Notice Regarding Renewal Procedures for the License and Registration of Overseas Enterprises of Imported Scrap Materials.” All written application materials should be marked “Renewal Application Materials for Registration of Overseas Supplier Enterprise for Scrap Materials” and mailed to:
Division of Inspection & Supervision, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine of the P.R. of China (AQSIQ)
No. 9, MaDian East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100088, China
Tel: (86 10) 8226-0092
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.