In recent years, with the rapid development of the farming industry, the demand for feed and feed additives in China has been continuously expanding. At the same time, there has been a rising demand for imported feed, leading to specific regulatory requirements imposed by customs on imported feed and feed additives.

Feed and Feed Additives

Feed refers to products and raw materials intended for animal consumption that have been cultivated, raised, processed, or manufactured, including live animals for bait, frozen or chilled animal products and aquatic products for feed purposes, processed animal proteins and fats, pet food and chews, forage, silage, bran, processed plant proteins and plant powders, compound feed, premix feed with feed additives, etc.

Feed additives refer to the small or trace amounts of substances added during the processing, production, and use of feed. They include nutritional feed additives, general feed additives, and feed additives excluding medications.

I. Legal Basis

1. Law of the People's Republic of China on import and Export Quarantine of Plants and Animals

2. Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Implementation of the Law of import and Export Quarantine of Plant Administration s and Animals

3. Regulation on the of Feed and Feed Additives

4.Measures for the Administration on the Inspection and Quarantine of the Genetically Modified Products imported and Exported the Territory

5.Measures for the Inspection, Quarantine, and Supervision Administration of imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives

6. Announcement on Adjusting the Supervision Requirements for Certain imported and Exported Goods

These regulations form the basis for the management and supervision of imported feed and feed additives in China. Compliance with these regulations is essential for the importation of such products to ensure food safety and animal health.

II. Qualification Requirements

Entry Requirements: The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) implements a quarantine admission system for feed and feed additives. The list of permitted types of imported feed and feed additives and their originating countries or regions can be found on the website of the GACC: http://dzs.customs.gov.cn/dzs/2747042/3995816/fsydwcp/index.html

Manufacturer Registration: The GACC has implemented a registration system for the production enterprises in countries or regions allowed to import feed. imported feed must come from registered overseas production enterprises.

Procedure: Access the "Internet + Customs" National Integrated online Government Service Platform (http://online.customs.gov.cn/), enter on the "Animal and Plant Quarantine" module, and select "Registration of Overseas Production, Processing, and Storage Units for imported Animal and Plant Products”.

Quarantine Approval: For imported feed that requires an import quarantine permit for plants and animals, the relevant import quarantine permit for plants and animals should be obtained according to the regulations. According to the form requirements in the "Risk Levels and Inspection and Quarantine Supervision Methods for imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives" by the GACC, feed and feed additives classified as "Level I" or "Level II" in terms of risk level must apply for and obtain an "import Quarantine Permit for Plants and Animals" before signing a trade contract.

Procedure: Access the "Internet + Customs" National Integrated online Government Service Platform (http://online.customs.gov.cn/), enter the "Administrative Approval" module, and select "Quarantine Approval for Transit Animals, Specific imported Animal and Plant Products”.

Quarantine Supervision: The GACC conducts quarantine supervision on the storage and processing sites for feed imports classified as "Level I" in the form of "Risk Levels and Inspection and Quarantine Supervision Methods for imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives”.

Currently, quarantine supervision is implemented on processing sites for the import of the following 6 categories of feed products: live animals for bait, frozen animal products for feed (including bait), raw pet food, feed grains, grass seeds for feed, and wheat bran from epidemic areas.

Filing Management: GACC implements filing management for feed import enterprises. import enterprises must file with the customs authorities in their respective locations before the initial customs declaration or at the time of declaration.

III. Declaration Requirements

Declaration Requirements: The consignor or their agent should declare to the customs before or upon the arrival of the feed. During the declaration, they should provide documents such as the certificate of origin, trade contract, bill of lading, and invoice. Depending on the specific requirements for the product, they should also provide inspection and quarantine certificates from the originating country or region.

Entry Requirements:

1. Under the "Product Qualifications" category, select "325-import Quarantine Permit for Plants and Animals" or "330-Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Certificate" based on the declared product, and fill in the permit or certificate number.

2. In the "Goods Purpose" category, choose "18-Feed use”.

3. In the "Goods Attributes" category, select "16-Genetically Modified Product" or "17-Non-Genetically Modified Product" based on whether the declared feed is genetically modified.

Special Attention: For products declared as genetically modified, an "Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Certificate" must be obtained. Customs will verify and compare the certificate.

IV. Inspection and Quarantine

Customs implements inspection and quarantine on imported feed and feed additives in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, national mandatory standards, relevant inspection and quarantine requirements, bilateral agreements, protocols, memorandum, and the requirements stated in the "import Quarantine Permit for Plants and Animals."

On-site and Laboratory Inspection and Quarantine: Customs conducts checks on import feed and feed additives, including verification of documents, label inspection, and sensory examination. Samples are taken from products produced by different categories of overseas enterprises according to the corresponding inspection and quarantine supervision mode. A "Sampling Certificate" is issued, and the samples are sent to the laboratory for safety and hygiene testing.

Qualified Inspection and Quarantine: After passing the inspection and quarantine, customs will issue an "import Goods Inspection and Quarantine Certificate" and release the goods.

Unqualified Inspection and Quarantine: If the inspection and quarantine is not passed, customs will issue a "Notice of Inspection and Quarantine Disposal”. Under customs supervision, the consignor or their agent should take measures for disinfection, return, or destruction. once the disinfection process meets the requirements, the goods will be allowed to enter. If a claim is needed, relevant certificates will be issued by customs.

Other Related Requirements:

1. For bulk imported feed, import enterprises should package the feed at designated places by customs and apply feed labels before entry. If the feed is directly transported to customs-designated production or processing enterprises for feed production, labeling is not required.

2. If there are restrictions on the use of imported animal-origin feed imposed by the country, the packaging of animal-origin feed sold in the market should indicate the scope of use.