Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormDried
Industry PositionProcessed Agricultural Product
Market
Dried burdock root in China is supplied mainly through domestic cultivation and drying/processing and used as a culinary ingredient and in herbal-tea style products. As a shelf-stable dried plant product, it trades via ingredient wholesalers and retail packs, with market access governed by GACC import food safety/registration requirements and compliance with China’s GB standards for pesticide residues, contaminants, food additives (if used), and labeling.
Market RoleMajor producer and domestic consumption market with established processing (drying) capacity
Domestic RoleShelf-stable dried vegetable/herbal ingredient used in home cooking, foodservice, and tea/infusion-style products
SeasonalityYear-round availability in China due to drying and ambient storage; fresh-harvest seasonality is dampened in the dried-product market.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Clean, well-dried slices or pieces with uniform cut as specified by buyer
- Free from visible mold, insect infestation, and excessive foreign matter
- Controlled moisture to reduce caking and spoilage risk during storage and transport
Compositional Metrics- Pesticide residue compliance against China GB maximum residue limits (MRLs)
- Contaminant compliance (e.g., heavy metals) against China GB maximum levels
- Food additive residues only where additives are used (e.g., anti-browning) and within applicable GB limits
Grades- Form-based grades (whole/root pieces vs sliced/cut) and size/shape specifications set by buyer
- Foreign matter and defect tolerance set by importer/manufacturer specifications
Packaging- Food-grade inner liner (bag) with outer carton for wholesale/retail packing
- Bulk sacks with inner liner for industrial ingredient channels (buyer-dependent)
- Moisture-barrier packaging for humid-season distribution and long-distance shipment
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest → washing/trim → slicing/cutting → drying → sorting/grading → foreign-matter control (incl. metal detection) → packaging → domestic distribution or import clearance and distribution
Temperature- Ambient-temperature handling is typical; protect from heat/humidity to prevent moisture uptake and quality degradation
Atmosphere Control- Moisture control is critical (barrier packaging; avoid container condensation and wet storage environments)
Shelf Life- Shelf-life is primarily driven by moisture uptake and storage hygiene; humidity excursions can trigger mold risk and off-odors
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Market Access HighNon-compliance with China’s imported food registration and entry requirements (including GACC overseas producer registration where applicable under Decree 248) can block customs clearance for dried burdock root shipments.Confirm Decree 248 applicability for the exact product and HS classification; ensure the overseas producer is properly registered (if required) and align documents/labels to the importer’s GACC compliance checklist before shipment.
Food Safety HighPesticide residue or contaminant non-compliance against China GB limits can trigger detention, rejection, return, or destruction at entry for dried burdock root.Use pre-shipment testing against applicable GB MRLs/maximum levels, maintain COAs tied to batch/lot, and implement supplier controls focused on residue and heavy-metal risk for root crops.
Phytosanitary Quarantine MediumAs a dried plant product, shipments may face enhanced inspection/quarantine actions if pests, soil contamination, or other quarantine concerns are detected at the port of entry.Apply robust cleaning/sorting and foreign-matter control; confirm whether a phytosanitary certificate is required for the specific product form and origin route under GACC requirements.
Logistics MediumContainer-rate volatility and port disruption can raise landed cost and delay replenishment for sea-shipped dried burdock root, especially for low-to-mid value bulk formats.Use forward freight planning (space guarantees where needed), humidity-protective packing for longer transit, and maintain safety stock for peak congestion periods.
Sustainability- Root-crop contaminant risk management (soil-linked heavy metals) and pesticide residue control aligned to China GB limits
FAQ
What are the main compliance checkpoints to import dried burdock root into China?Key checkpoints are meeting GACC’s imported food safety administration requirements, including overseas producer registration where applicable (Decree 248) and the broader import/export food safety rules (Decree 249), plus demonstrating that the product meets China’s GB limits for pesticide residues and contaminants and that retail packs meet GB labeling rules.
Which China GB standards typically anchor food-safety and labeling compliance for dried burdock root?Importers commonly use GB 2763 for pesticide MRLs, GB 2762 for contaminant maximum levels, GB 2760 if any additives are used, and GB 7718 for prepackaged labeling requirements.
Sources
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) — Decree 248 — Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Producers of Imported Food
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) — Decree 249 — Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety
National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) — GB 2760 — National Food Safety Standard: Standards for Uses of Food Additives
National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) — GB 2762 — National Food Safety Standard: Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods
National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) — GB 2763 — National Food Safety Standard: Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food
State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China (SAMR) / National Health Commission (NHC) — GB 7718 — General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods