iTaoBuy’s 3 April 2026 food notice, section by section
Five short sections, quoted in full where it matters, with what each one means for a parcel and what later notices changed.
Section I: the eleven routes
The notice opens by saying that, “after multiple discussions with logistics carriers”, the platform is “now officially opening shipping channels for food products”. Section I then lists the routes that accept “pre-packaged foods with visible brand labels and expiry dates”.
In order: USA Duty Free Small Packet-T, Canada Line-TM, UK Line-T, AU Line-MG, Europe DHL Tariffless Line-T, Europe DHL Line - XWT, Europe UPS Truck-Air – Fixed Price, Europe UPS Air Line - MG, EU DHL Line - XWB, HZ-ETY and HZ-EMS-T. Four are named for one country, five for Europe and two are postal routes run with China Post.
The last two carry the same note: the route “prohibits liquids, powders, and meat products (high risk of seizure by destination customs)”. Note the wording of the heading too: these are routes that accept food, not a promise about any destination.
Section II: label, Sanwu, packaging, declaration
Label and expiry date. “All food items must have a clear brand label and an expiry date (production date or best-before date).” Either kind of date counts, which matters because many Chinese packs print a production date plus a shelf life rather than a best-before date.
Prohibited items. Sanwu is a Chinese shorthand meaning “three withouts”. The notice defines it: “no production date, no quality certificate, no manufacturer information”. Such products “are strictly forbidden”.
Packaging advice. Sealed, shockproof, leak-proof, food-grade packaging. This is advice, not a condition, but a leaking jar can damage a whole parcel.
Customs declaration. Declare “truthfully”, using specific descriptions such as “biscuits”, “candy” or “instant noodles”, and not vague words such as “food” or “gift”. That is the whole of the advice and we add nothing to it.
Section III: seizure risk, the liquid and powder ban, shelf life
Customs inspection and seizure risk. “Different countries have strict import rules for food. Meat, eggs, dairy, fresh fruit, and items containing liquids/powders are especially likely to be detained or destroyed. Please check destination customs regulations in advance.”
Liquid and powder ban. On HZ-ETY and HZ-EMS-T, “you must not include any liquid or powder food (e.g., jam, honey, milk powder). Violations will result in return or confiscation.” Jam and honey count as liquid here, which is why the pre-check flags pastes on these two routes as well.
Remaining shelf life. “It is recommended that shipped food has at least 3 months of remaining shelf life, to avoid expiry during transport and customs clearance.” It is a recommendation, worded as one; we use it as the line because it is the only number iTaoBuy gives.
Sections IV and V: meat, random checks, one business day
Meat. “Meat products (e.g., jerky, sausages, pork floss) have a high risk of being seized on most of the above routes. Please ship them with caution.” The notice does not say which routes are the exceptions. It also does not say meat is banned, outside HZ-ETY and HZ-EMS-T.
Random inspection. The platform “reserves the right to randomly inspect suspicious parcels”. If Sanwu products or prohibited items turn up, “penalties will be imposed according to platform rules, and your shipping access may be affected”. The rules setting those penalties are not linked from the notice.
Support. For questions about shipping food, or to confirm whether a product is allowed, contact online customer service: “We will reply within 1 business day.” That is the most useful sentence in the notice for anyone unsure about a specific packet.
After April: two later texts, no new food notice
Two later official texts touch food. On 10 June 2026 iTaoBuy updated its Prohibited Items List, which still lists milk powder, dairy drinks and cream as undeliverable, along with honey, eggs, wine, sugar and food over 200 ml, frozen meat, and corn, oil, soy sauce and salt. It does not mention the April notice.
On 23 June 2026 iTaoBuy closed seven postal routes to the 27 EU countries after China Post suspended item mail there; that notice marks HZ-ETY and HZ-EMS-T “(food items permitted)”. For EU addresses, both postal food routes have been shut since then, with resumption “in due course”.
What did not change: no newer food notice. We read all 86 entries on the iTaoBuy notice list on 16 October. Nothing renames the April routes, and nothing withdraws the notice. So the notice stands, with names the estimator no longer uses.