Mainland Chinese shoppers lose trusted Hong Kong veggie tag as customs revamp hits shelves

Mainland Chinese supermarkets, including US retailer Sam's Club, have stopped displaying the Hong Kong-bound vegetable label on their shelves following new customs rules. This move has raised concerns among consumers, who relied on the label as a mark of high-quality produce. The change is due to new regulations by the General Administration of Customs, which came into effect on September 1st.

Under the new rules, farms no longer need registration, whereas only food-processing firms must register. A Hong Kong consumer expressed frustration on RedNote, a Chinese social media platform, stating that she would now have to verify the details of the vegetables herself, a task she previously avoided by simply looking for the Hong Kong-bound label.

The Hong Kong-bound label, once a bestseller at Sam's Club, was a selling point for consumers who trusted its quality. The retailer added a tag to explain the new customs rule, but now shoppers are questioning the quality of the "Dali lettuce," named after the Cantonese pronunciation of "Italian," which sounds similar to "Dali."

Despite the new label, some consumers have reported that the lettuce lacks the crunch and moisture of the old version. Others argue that merchants could still claim the same quality, making it difficult for consumers to hold them accountable if the vegetables fail to meet old supply standards. Hong Kong imports over 90% of its food due to its limited land and industrial layout.

The mainland was its top supplier of fresh produce, providing 94% of fresh pork, 92% of vegetables, and 66% of eggs consumed locally. To meet Hong Kong's food-safety requirements, mainland food bound for the city has seen steady quality improvements. Supply farms for Hong Kong have become a priority for regional agriculture and a means to boost added value. Such sites are typically located in pristine and low-pollution areas.