In this issue, Global Foodmate brings you the "GACC Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of imported Food" in the series of articles on "Exporting Food to China".

From January 1, 2022, the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of imported Food (Order No. 248 of the General Administration of Customs of China) came into effect, and China requires all types of overseas manufacturers of imported food to register with the General Administration of Customs of China, and requires overseas food manufacturers to indicate the registration number in China or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the country (region) where they are located on the inner and outer packaging of the food. So how do I apply for a "China Registration Number"?

1.Conditions of Registration

The registration conditions for overseas manufacturers of imported foods are as follows:

a. The food safety management system of the country/region where the nanufacturer is located (“country/region”) has passed GACC’s equivalence assessment or review;

b. (The manufacturer was) established with approval by the competent authority of the country/region, and (the manufacturer is) under effective oversight by the competent authority;

c.  (The manufacturer) has an established, effective food safety and sanitation management system and food defense system, legally produces and exports food in the country/region, and ensures that foods exported to China comply with relevant Chinese laws, regulations, and national food safety standards;

d. (Foods export to China) conform with relevant inspection and quarantine that have been agreed upon after discussion by GACC and the competent authorities of the country/region.

2. Registration Methods

Registration of overseas manufacturers of imported foods include recommendation for registration by competent authority of the country/region, and application for registration by a manufacturer.

Overseas manufacturers of the following foods shall be recommended by the competent authorities of their countries/regions to the GACC for registration: meat and meat products, casings, aquatic products, dairy products, bird’s nests and bird’s nest products, bee products, eggs and egg products, edible oils and fats, oilseeds, stuffed pastry products, edible grains, milled grain industry products and malt, fresh and dehydrated vegetables and dried beans, condiments, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, unroasted coffee beans and cocoa beans, foods for special dietary purposes, and functional foods.Other overseas producers of foods, by themselves or by agents, file applications for registration with GACC.

For specific products, please refer to the HS code, and enterprises can log in to the system to query in the "Product Type Query" section.

3. Registration Materials

Recommendation for registration by competent authority of the country/region,the competent authority of the country/region shall examine and inspect the manufacturer to be recommended for registration; after confirming that the manufacturer conforms with the registration requirements, the competent authority of the country/region recommends the manufacturer to the GACC for registration, and submits the following application materials:

a. Letter of recommendation by the competent authority of the country/region;

b. List of recommended manufacturers and the manufacturers’ applications for registration;

c. documents certifying identification of the manufacturer, such as the business license issued by the competent authority of the country/region;

d. Statement that the manufacturer recommended by the competent authority of the country/region conform with requirements of these regulations;

e. Reports of examinations/inspections/review conducted by the competent authority of the country/region to relevant manufacturers.

f. If necessary, the GACC may request documents related to the manufacturer’s food safety, sanitation, and protection system, such as floor plans of the factory/workshops/cold storages, and the processing flow chart and others.

Application for registration by a manufacturer shall, by themselves or by agents, file applications for registration with the GACC and submit the following application materials:

a. Manufacturer’s application for registration;

b. documents certifying the identification of the manufacturer, such as business license issued by the competent authority of the country/region;

c. Statement by the manufacturer that it conforms with requirements of these Regulations.

4. Registration System

The link to the registration management system for overseas manufacturers of imported food is https://cifer.singlewindow.c.

For overseas food manufacturers recommended for registration by the official recommendation, the overseas competent authority shall allocate the account number of the overseas enterprise system, and the account can be registered as an overseas food manufacturer of all product categories after logging in to the system.

Overseas food manufacturers registered by enterprises or entrusted by themselves, and overseas enterprises apply for system accounts on their own.

An overseas enterprise can only apply for one overseas enterprise account.

5. Registration Process

General approval process for the registration of officially recommended products: enter the information→ preview → submit it to the competent authority → recommended by the competent authority → the General Administration of Customs of China for approval (obtain the food registration number in China).

The general approval process for self-registration or agent registration of enterprises: entering information→ preview→ declaration (to the General Administration of Customs) → approval by the General Administration of Customs of China (obtaining a registration number in China).

The registration of overseas manufacturers of imported food is valid for 5 years, and food enterprises shall handle registration changes and renewals in accordance with the provisions of Order No. 248 of the General Administration of Customs of China.

Summary

The above are the basic requirements and procedures for the registration of overseas manufacturers of imported food. Global Foodmate will share more knowledge about exporting food to China compliantly and help food enterprises gain access to the Chinese market smoothly.