On the evening of December 14, 2025, CCTV Finance's "Economic Investigation" program exposed year labeling fraud and origin falsification in the Chenpi market in Xinhui, Jiangmen, Guangdong, sparking widespread public concern. Following the exposure, regulatory authorities in Jiangmen and Pubei swiftly took action, launching investigations into the involved companies.
Incident Details
According to the CCTV report, some companies use "accelerated processing" methods that can transform fresh citrus peel into products appearing similar to 3-year or 5-year aged Chenpi in just one month. This "processed peel" costs about 70 RMB per jin (500g), but when labeled as "5-year aged" or "10-year aged," the retail price can soar to 500 RMB or even 1,000 RMB per jin—a profit margin exceeding ten times the cost.
The report also pointed out that some merchants obtain geographical indication credentials through improper means and mislabel products, selling Chenpi from other regions as authentic origin products, seriously damaging consumer rights and industry reputation.
Swift Regulatory Response
After the incident was exposed, the Jiangmen municipal government attached great importance and established a joint law enforcement task force to conduct special investigations on 6 involved production and business entities. Currently, relevant products have been seized, and investigations into suspected illegal business practices have been initiated.
On December 20, the Jiangmen Xinhui District Market Supervision Administration released a situation report: After verification, 6 involved business entities were suspected of selling counterfeit goods and unauthorized use of geographical indication product names. Law enforcement authorities will handle the 6 companies strictly and swiftly in accordance with the law, and seriously punish illegal and criminal behavior.
Meanwhile, the Pubei County Market Supervision Administration also established a joint investigation team to conduct comprehensive investigations into the business entities mentioned in the report, sealing relevant items and securing evidence.
Industry Association Response
On December 16, the Xinhui Chenpi Industry Association and the Xinhui District Agricultural Society jointly issued a statement declaring "zero tolerance" for illegal and dishonest behavior. The industry association revoked the membership of involved companies and placed them on a blacklist. The agricultural society terminated the geographical indication authorization of involved companies, and these entities will not be eligible for membership or authorization in the future.
Industry Reflection and Outlook
This incident exposed deep-seated problems in the rapid expansion of the Chenpi industry. Industry insiders point out that Chenpi aging has clear requirements: peel less than three years old must be sun-dried for 5-6 hours on sunny days from June to November, and stored for aging from November to May of the following year. This cycle must be repeated for three years to become qualified Chenpi.
Experts recommend building a three-level collaborative system of "government regulation—association supervision—enterprise self-governance" to achieve full-process quality assurance from cultivation to sales. At the same time, consumers should purchase Chenpi through official channels, verify the certification trademark on product packaging, and scan the traceability QR code to check producer information to avoid counterfeit products.
Summary
This enforcement action demonstrates the determination of regulatory authorities to maintain the reputation of the Chenpi brand. For consumers, understanding basic Chenpi knowledge, mastering identification methods, and choosing official purchasing channels are key to avoiding fraud. The healthy development of the Chenpi market requires joint efforts from regulators, industry associations, enterprises, and consumers.
References
- CCTV Finance "Economic Investigation" Program (2025-12-14)
- 21st Century Business Herald "Thousand-Yuan 'Aged Chenpi' Made in Just One Month?" (2025-12-17)
- CCTV.com "Jiangmen Xinhui District Reports Chenpi Origin Fraud" (2025-12-20)