Introduction:A popular café was fined 25,000 yuan by market regulators for using imported coffee beans without Chinese labels or identifiable sources. This case highlights a common compliance blind spot in the specialty coffee industry: self-roasted or sourced coffee beans lacking proper documentation are not only illegal but can also damage business reputation. This article breaks down key regulations to help businesses avoid common pitfalls.
The Shaoxing City Yuecheng District Market Supervision Bureau recently uncovered a violation involving a popular café. The establishment used imported "ETHIOPIA Guji G1" coffee beans that lacked Chinese labeling and valid import certification. Along with Italian coffee machines and grinders that also had no Chinese labels, the beans were confiscated, and the café was fined 25,000 yuan.
Enforcement officers found that the coffee beans had no Chinese markings whatsoever, and the shop could not provide supporting documents such as import customs declarations or inspection qualification reports. If classified as imported food, regulations require clear Chinese labels displaying origin and distributor contact information. If not imported through official channels, they may be considered "three-no products" (no production info, no license, no label).
According to Article 97 of the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, imported pre-packaged food must bear Chinese labels and instructions, including details on origin and domestic distributor information. Violators are prohibited from importing or selling such products and may face confiscation and fines.
Notably, besides food items, imported coffee equipment such as grinders and espresso machines must also carry Chinese labels. Yuecheng District Market Supervision pointed out that many small cafés promote themselves as offering “pour over with imported beans” but overlook import procedures and document retention rules. Some are even involved in false advertising or infringement issues.
Common compliance risks in the industry fall into two main categories: one is the use of unlabeled or untraceable coffee beans, possibly self-roasted or purchased from private roasters without full product information; the other is sourcing beans claimed to be self-roasted, though the actual roasting facility may lack proper food production licensing.
Regulations require that all coffee bean ingredients used by cafés—whether imported or local—must come from suppliers holding food operation or production licenses, with each batch accompanied by a valid inspection report. Self-roasting businesses must also apply for relevant food manufacturing registration to ensure hygiene standards are met.
Market regulatory authorities have intensified inspections in the coffee sector in recent years, especially targeting small specialty shops and popular brands. Key focuses include the completeness of import documentation, label compliance, and storage conditions. Businesses should maintain complete purchase and sales records and retain import certificates for at least two years for audit purposes.
Experts advise that when purchasing imported coffee beans, in addition to confirming Chinese labels, it’s recommended to request copies of documents such as customs declarations and inspection reports from suppliers, and to keep transaction records. Self-roasting operators should also regularly review equipment hygiene and process compliance to avoid major losses from minor oversights.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
