Some may say computers, or gold or jewelry is smuggled most to China. But it's chicken, said Mr Yonghao, chairman of the board at New Hope Group.

Reports show that in December 2012, Nanjing customs authority cracked down on four frozen meat smuggling cases, seizing products valued at over 330 million yuan ($52.24 million). Kunming customs authority seized more than 1,000 tons of frozen meat during the first 10 months of 2011.

The main cause of meat smuggling is the great price difference between home and abroad, said Mr Yonghao. The price of meat, eggs and milk in China is usually higher than international levels. Chicken price is much higher than in the US.

In November 2011, pork price was 17 yuan/kg in China, 1.79 times the price in the US, 1.48 times Europe. When it's smuggled to China, the price is still lower than products from the domestic market.

Smuggling not only harms China's agriculture, but also hurts China's customs system and export and import policies. More important, no one knows where the meat is from and whether they might carry diseases, said Mr Yonghao.

Mr Yonghao suggested controlling the import of meat and severely cracking down on meat smuggling as well as loosening exports of corn as feed to boost domestic livestock industries.