Confusion reigns supreme in regard to China’s new import laws which go into effect on 1 January.

According to Reuters, China’s customs authority published new food safety rules back in April. However, detailed instructions on how to get the required registration were only announced in October and the website to do the registration only became available last month.

Besides UK/Irish spirt manufactures being affected, US distillers are as well. Some diplomats are saying the regulations and how China is going about implementing them amounts to a low-keyed trade war.