Market
Licorice root powder in China is an ingredient made by milling dried licorice roots/rhizomes from pharmacopoeia-recognized Glycyrrhiza species. Supply is concentrated in northern and northwestern producing belts, and the product participates in international trade channels that classify medicinal plants as “whether or not cut, crushed or powdered”.
Market RoleMajor producer; active exporter in medicinal/botanical ingredient supply chains
Domestic RoleUpstream ingredient for domestic herbal/pharma and food flavoring applications
Risks
Human Rights Trade Enforcement HighIn markets applying Xinjiang-related forced-labor enforcement (notably the United States under the UFLPA), goods produced wholly or in part in Xinjiang (or linked to listed entities) can be detained or refused entry unless the importer rebuts the presumption with strong evidence. Licorice supply chains that include Xinjiang-origin inputs face elevated disruption risk.Implement end-to-end traceability to farm/collection area and processing sites, segregate and document non-Xinjiang sourcing where feasible, and maintain an evidence pack (supplier affidavits, transport records, third-party audits, and batch-level chain-of-custody) for importer requests.
Food Safety Contaminants MediumBotanical powders can fail destination-market controls due to pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbiological contamination, or undeclared processing aids, resulting in shipment holds, testing costs, or rejection.Use a buyer-aligned testing plan (residues/metals/micro), validate labs, and set release criteria in the COA before shipment; ensure packaging prevents moisture ingress.
Authenticity MediumSpecies substitution/mislabeled botanical identity or inconsistent marker-compound profiles can trigger buyer disputes, regulatory non-compliance (where monographs apply), and recalls in downstream products.Require botanical identity verification (documented species, validated analytical methods) and maintain retained samples and batch records.
Labeling Compliance LowFor domestic China sales of prepackaged licorice root powder as a food/ingredient, non-conforming labeling can lead to enforcement actions or channel rejection.Align label content and claims to GB 7718-2025 requirements and avoid disease-treatment claims on food labels.
Labor & Social- Forced-labor due diligence risk for supply chains with Xinjiang-origin inputs in high-scrutiny markets (e.g., U.S. UFLPA), requiring robust origin/traceability evidence.
FAQ
Which licorice species are commonly recognized for licorice root raw material in Chinese herbal supply chains?A commonly cited definition for licorice raw material is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Glycyrrhiza inflata.
Which Chinese regions are widely cited as key licorice-producing areas for Chinese licorice?Peer-reviewed sources describing China’s licorice distribution and pharmacopoeial context commonly cite northern and northwestern producing belts, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Shanxi.
What is the single biggest trade-disruption risk for China-origin licorice powder entering the United States?If the supply chain includes Xinjiang-origin inputs (or listed entities), U.S. CBP may detain shipments under the UFLPA’s rebuttable presumption unless the importer provides strong evidence that forced labor was not involved.
Which China food standards matter if licorice root powder is sold domestically as a prepackaged food/ingredient?Prepackaged labeling requirements are covered by GB 7718-2025, and any use of food additives in formulated foods follows the national food additive usage standard (GB 2760 series).