Brie and Camembert have been banned in China

Chinese authorities have banned imports of certain types of European soft cheeses over health concerns. The ban applies to many popular soft cheeses, including brie, camembert, roquefort and others.

The claims of Chinese regulators were caused by the bacteria contained in these cheeses. It is not known exactly when the ban was introduced: some European food suppliers say it has been in effect since June, others learned about it in mid-August.

The ban does not apply to the supply of hard cheeses. It is also not forbidden to sell soft cheeses made in China. In the past, the Chinese authorities have repeatedly imposed a ban on the import of a particular cheese. In 2014, a temporary ban was imposed on all cheese from the UK due to non-compliance with sanitary standards, and in 2008 mozzarella was banned, which did not fall under the new ban.