Decree of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China No. 280 《Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers for Export of Food to China》and Decree of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China No. 249 《The Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety》

New Requirements on Export of Foods to the Mainland

Decree of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China No. 280 《Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers for Export of Food to China》(hereafter referred to as "Registration Provisions") took effect on 1 June 2026, and Decree of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China No. 249 《The Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety》(hereafter referred to as "Administrative Measures") took effect on 1 January 2022.  All overseas manufacturers engaged in production, processing and storage (including food factories and processing plants in Hong Kong) that export food to the Mainland are required to register with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereafter referred to as "the GACC").

According to the GACC Announcement No. 27 of 2026, overseas food manufacturers of 17 categories of food (including meat and meat products, casings, bird's nests and bird's nest products, bee products, eggs and egg products, edible fats and oils, stuffed wheaten food, edible grains, grain flour and malt, dehydrated vegetables, seasoning powder, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, special dietary foods, health foods/dietary supplements, dairy products and aquatic products) shall be examined and inspected by the competent authorities of their countries/regions. After confirming by the competent authorities of their countries/regions that the overseas manufacturers conform with the registration requirements, the authorities can make the recommendation by providing necessary application materials and reports to the GACC. The GACC has different registration requirements for manufacturers of different foods.  As for overseas manufacturers of food other than the 17 categories, they can visit the China International Trade Single Window and use the simplified "self-application by enterprise" mode to apply for registration with the GACC.

Regarding meat products and dairy products in the 17 categories of food, the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the GACC signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Inspection, Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Meat Products Exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland and the Cooperation Arrangement for the Export of Dairy Products from Hong Kong to the Mainland (collectively referred to as “co-operation agreements”) in Hong Kong on 19 May 2025. Hong Kong-manufactured meat and dairy products meeting the requirements set out in the co-operation agreements will be allowed to be imported into the Mainland.  Please refer to the Application Guide for Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration (Applicable to Meat Products and Dairy Products) for details.

Registration Procedures

The GACC has published on its official website a guide to the "Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods" to explain the registration process to the enterprises concerned.  The information required for application, covering food classifications and HS codes, the requirements for registration of the 17 categories of food and a compliance checklist, has also been uploaded onto the System of the China Import Food Enterprises Registration of the China International Trade Single Window.  Food manufacturers may find the detailed information after login/registration on the website.  This Department has been recognised by the GACC as one of the competent authorities in Hong Kong to make recommendations on manufacturer registration of the 17 categories of food under its purview.  Food manufacturers may refer to the Application Guide for Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration for details.

Overseas manufacturers of foods outside the 17 food categories can use the China Import Food Enterprises Registration system via the China International Trade Single Window to apply for registration themselves in accordance with GACC requirements.

Food manufacturers should note that as required by the GACC, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or brand name owners should determine the place of origin of a product in accordance with The Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Place of Origin of Imported and Exported Goods.  Entities engaged in production, processing and storage that are legally responsible for their products directly exported to the Mainland should be registered in accordance with the registration requirements. When declaring food imports, they should fill in the China registration number of the manufacturer registered in the place of origin.

GACC Official Website Information on "Registration Provisions" and "Administrative Measures"

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the details of the "Registration Provisions" and "Administrative Measures"?
A1: Please refer to the original texts of the Registration Provisions and Administrative Measures on the GACC website for details.

Q2: Who are required to undergo registration?
A2: Pursuant to Article 2, Article 3 and Article 4 of the Registration Provisions, all overseas manufacturers engaged in production, processing and storage (hereinafter referred to as "overseas manufacturers of imported foods") of foods that are exported to the Mainland are required to register with the GACC. Overseas manufacturers of imported foods do not include enterprises engaging in the production, processing and storage of food additives and food-related products.

Q3: What categories of food need to be recommended by the competent authorities of their countries/regions for registration with the GACC?
A3: According to Article 6 of the Registration Provisions, for the following 17 categories of food listed in the GACC Announcement No. 27 of 2026, namely meat and meat products, casings, bird's nests and bird's nest products, bee products, eggs and egg products, edible fats and oils, stuffed wheaten food, edible grains, grain flour and malt, dehydrated vegetables, seasoning powder, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, special dietary foods, health foods/dietary supplements, dairy products and aquatic products, the overseas manufacturers to be recommended for registration shall be examined and inspected by the competent authorities of their countries/regions.  After confirming by the competent authorities of their countries/regions that the overseas manufacturers conform with the registration requirements, the authorities can make the recommendation by providing the necessary application materials and reports to the GACC. The GACC has different registration requirements for manufacturers of different foods.  As for overseas manufacturers of foods other than the 17 categories, they can visit the China International Trade Single Window and use the simplified "self-application by enterprise" mode to apply for registration with the GACC. The GACC has published on its official website a guide to the Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods to explain the registration process for the related enterprises.

Q4: How can I tell if my food products fall into the 17 food categories?
A4: You can visit the China International Trade Single Window for information about the food categories concerned. After creating an account, you can see the food classifications and HS codes for registration.

Q5: How can overseas manufacturers of foods other than the 17 food categories undergo registration?
A5: Overseas manufacturers of foods other than the 17 food categories can visit the China International Trade Single Window and use the simplified "self-application by enterprise" mode to apply for registration with the GACC. For details, please refer to the guide to the Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods on the GACC website.

Q6: How should I fill in the column "registration number approved by the competent authorities of the country (region)" in the China Import Food Enterprises Registration System of the GACC?
A6: Food manufacturing/processing enterprises are advised to use their Food Factory Licence Numbers issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as the registration numbers.

Q7: Should food manufacturing/processing enterprises engaging in the production of a variety of foods apply for a registration number in respect of each category of food?
A7: Food manufacturing/processing enterprises engaging in the production of a variety of foods are required to apply for a registration number for each category of food. If a number of food manufacturing/processing enterprises are producing the same category of food at the same time, the same registration number cannot be shared. If a certain category of food is jointly produced by a number of food manufacturing/processing enterprises, the enterprise that completes the food manufacturing/processing operation should apply for a registration number for the food. The OEM or the brand name owner should determine the place of origin of a product in accordance with the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Place of Origin of Imported and Exported Products. Entities of production, processing and storage that are legally responsible for their products directly exported to the Mainland should be registered in accordance with the registration requirements. When declaring food imports, they should fill in the China registration number of the manufacturer registered in the place of origin.