139 notifications on herbs and spices from China since 1 January 2020. That is 7% of all EU notifications on products from China and 7% of all notifications on herbs and spices from any origin; China ranks 4 of 90 origins for this category. 27 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 31 in the 365 days before, down 13%.
Most reported: Salmonella (24), pesticide residues (19) and chlorpyrifos (15). 40% were border rejections (44% for herbs and spices from all origins) and 58% had a serious risk decision. The products named most often were paprika (24), Sichuan pepper (10) and chillies (9).
Counts start on 1 January 2020 and run to 8 November 2026, the day the list was last read. A notification that names two countries of origin counts for each. Findings come from our word list matched against the EU subject line, which is never shown; 96% of all notifications match it, the rest count as other finding. Each reference links to the official record on RASFF Window. How this works.
Latest notifications on herbs and spices from China
The newest 25 of 139, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Border rejection notified by Malta: a finding outside our word list in herbs or spices from China, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8414, validated 23 September 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Malta: a finding outside our word list in herbs or spices from China, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8412, validated 23 September 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Malta: a finding outside our word list in herbs or spices from China, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8417, validated 23 September 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Malta: a finding outside our word list in herbs or spices from China, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8189, validated 16 September 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: pesticide residues in herbs or spices from China, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.7275, validated 17 August 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: chlorpyrifos in Sichuan pepper from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.7279, validated 17 August 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Austria: pesticide residues and illegal import or unapproved establishment in spice mixes from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.5595, validated 7 July 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: cadmium in garlic powder from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5781, validated 30 June 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: pesticide residues in chillies from China, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.5496, validated 22 June 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: pesticide residues in herbs or spices from China and Poland, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5233, validated 12 June 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Finland: chlorpyrifos in Sichuan pepper from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.4998, validated 8 June 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Latvia: thiamethoxam and clothianidin in paprika from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.5021, validated 8 June 2026.
- Alert notified by Austria: pesticide residues in Sichuan pepper from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4785, validated 1 June 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Austria: pesticide residues in herbs or spices from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.4723, validated 28 May 2026.
- Alert notified by Austria: pesticide residues in herbs or spices from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4640, validated 27 May 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: ochratoxin A in herbs or spices from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4598, validated 26 May 2026.
- Alert notified by Denmark: chlorpyrifos in Sichuan pepper from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4558, validated 22 May 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: tebufenpyrad in herbs or spices from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4047, validated 8 May 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Spain: Salmonella in paprika from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3248, validated 16 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Spain: pesticide residues in cumin from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3114, validated 13 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Switzerland: pesticide residues in Sichuan pepper from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.2092, validated 12 March 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: anthraquinone in dried herbs from China, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.1988, validated 10 March 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: foreign bodies and insects or pest damage in cinnamon from China, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.1769, validated 4 March 2026.
- Alert notified by Ireland: a finding outside our word list in herbs or spices from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.0379, validated 16 January 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: pesticide residues in chillies from China, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.0213, validated 13 January 2026.
More: all notifications on products from China and herbs and spices from every origin.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 26 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 55 | 40% |
| Alert | 45 | 32% |
| Information for follow up | 13 | 9% |
| Information for attention | 26 | 19% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 80 | 58% |
| Potentially serious | 20 | 14% |
| Potential risk | 17 | 12% |
| Not serious | 10 | 7% |
| Undecided | 9 | 6% |
| No risk | 3 | 2% |
| Finding | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Salmonella | 24 | 17% |
| Pesticide residues | 19 | 14% |
| Chlorpyrifos | 15 | 11% |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) | 12 | 9% |
| Other finding | 8 | 6% |
| Unauthorised novel food | 7 | 5% |
| Cadmium | 6 | 4% |
| Ethylene oxide | 6 | 4% |
| Ochratoxin A | 5 | 4% |
| Acetamiprid | 4 | 3% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Paprika | 24 |
| Sichuan pepper | 10 |
| Chillies | 9 |
| Cumin | 8 |
| Garlic powder | 8 |
| Ginger | 7 |
| Spice mixes | 4 |
| Chilli powder | 3 |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 29 | 21% |
| Spain | 25 | 18% |
| Germany | 15 | 11% |
| France | 13 | 9% |
| Denmark | 8 | 6% |
| Poland | 8 | 6% |
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