Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration (Applicable to Meat Products and Dairy Products)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meat Products Exported to the Mainland

Q 1.1: What meat products are covered by the Memorandum of Understanding on the Inspection, Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Meat Products Exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland (the “Memorandum”)?
A 1.1: The meat products covered by the Memorandum refer to products made primarily from meat or poultry meat or its edible by-products, as the main raw materials, with or without the addition of auxiliary ingredients, processed through methods such as marinating, curing, brining, saucing, steaming, boiling, smoking, roasting, baking, drying, frying,or fermenting, which have undergone effective heat treatment where the core temperature reaches at least 75^oC for a minimum of 30 seconds.

Q 1.2: What are the requirements for the source of raw meat for meat products?
A 1.2: The meat used in products exported to the Mainland must come from food animals, poultry, meat or poultry meat supplied to Hong Kong from the Mainland, or from meat products permitted to be imported to the Mainland from meat manufacturers registered with the GACC from countries/regions approved by the Mainland. For the list of countries or regions meeting the assessment and requirements for meat products exported to the Mainland, please visit the GACC website: (http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/xxfw39/cpjgzyxx/lsdwyxsp/fhpgscyqdgjhdqshrlcpmd/index.html)

In addition, you can refer to the list of registered processing plants supplying meat to Hong Kong on the Centre for Food Safety website.
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/links/links_rs/links_rs.html)

The FEHD will require relevant manufacturers to submit test reports issued by a recognized third-party institute or conducted in-house for vetting in order to certify that the raw materials used comply with the national standards.

Q 1.3: How to verify whether meat products intended for export to the Mainland fall within the 18 food categories requiring recommended registration under Decree No. 248 Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food?
A 1.3: The classification of food products can be found on the China International Trade Single Window System. After registering an account, both the HS code and Inspection and Quarantine code of meat products to be imported into the Mainland can be located in the “Product Type Enquiry” section. The product category is displayed and whether the meat product requires recommendation on registration by the competent authority is also indicated.

Q 1.4: What specific hygiene requirements does the GACC have for meat products intended for export to the Mainland?
A 1.4: The residual levels of veterinary drugs, pesticides, heavy metals, food additives, and other toxic and harmful substances in the products must not exceed the limits set by the Mainland. The products must not be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and must comply with the legislations and requirements of the Mainland.

Q 1.5: Can meat or poultry meat originated from local farms be used for the manufacturing of meat or poultry products exported to the Mainland?
A 1.5: Please refer to the "List of Animals and Animal Products Prohibited from Import from Countries and Regions with Epidemic Diseases", which can be found on the GACC website: (http://www.customs.gov.cn/dzs/2746776/2753557/index.html)

Q 1.6: How to apply for exportation of Hong Kong-manufactured meat or poultry products to the Mainland?
A 1.6: The current application process for “Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration” is applicable to the applications for meat or poultry products. Food manufacturers can refer to the “Application Guide for Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration” on the Centre for Food Safety website:
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/export/export_fem/recommendation.html)

Q 1.7: After the recommended registration is accepted by the GACC, are there any additional hygiene requirements for each consignment of meat or poultry products to be exported to the Mainland?
A 1.7: Each consignment of meat or poultry products exported to the Mainland must be accompanied by a “Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin” (HCFAO) issued by the FEHD. Food manufacturers must ensure that the products are produced in a food factory with a valid licence issued by the FEHD, and that the products originated from establishments registered with the GACC, complied with Mainland legislations, regulations and standards and are fit for human consumption. For details on applying for the HCFAO, please visit the Centre for Food Safety website:
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/export/hcfao.html)

Q 1.8: Does the arrangement for certified true copies of the HCFAO apply to meat or poultry products exported to the Mainland?
A 1.8: When applying for the HCFAO for the export consignments, food manufacturers can apply for certified true copies (hereinafter referred to as “CTC”) of the HCFAO in the application, so as to allow meat or poultry products of the same production batch to be transported in multiple consignments by land to the Mainland. Each consignment of meat and poultry products exported to the Mainland must be accompanied by a HCFAO issued by the FEHD. For the same production batch of meat or poultry products transported by land (excluding railway) to the same consignee in multiple consignments, each consignment should be accompanied by a CTC issued by the FEHD. For the last consignment of the same production batch arriving at the land port, the original HCFAO must also be submitted together with the CTC.

Dairy Products Exported to the Mainland

Q 2.1: What products are covered under the Cooperation Arrangement for the Export of Dairy Products from Hong Kong to the Mainland (“the Cooperation Arrangement”)?
A 2.1: The dairy products covered under the Cooperation Arrangement refer to various types of dairy products manufactured from cow's milk and complied with the national food safety standards of the Mainland.

Q 2.2: What are the requirements for the raw milk used in dairy products?
A 2.2: Raw milk used should be sourced from Mainland manufacturing plants/milk farms which has passed inspections and quarantine checks. The residual levels of veterinary drugs, pesticides, and other toxic or harmful substances in the raw milk must not exceed the limits stipulated in the Mainland.

Q 2.3: How can I confirm whether the dairy products intended for export to the Mainland fall under the 18 categories of food that require recommended registration according to Decree No. 248 Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food?
A 2.3: The classification of food products can be found on the China International Trade Single Window System. After registering an account, both the HS code and Inspection and Quarantine code of dairy products to be imported into the Mainland can be located in the “Product Type Enquiry” section. The product category is displayed and whether the dairy product requires recommendation on registration by the competent authority is also indicated.

Q 2.4: What specific hygiene requirements does the GACC have for dairy products intended for export to the Mainland?
A 2.4: The residual levels of veterinary drugs, pesticides, contaminants, food additives, and other toxic and harmful substances in the products must not exceed the limits set by the Mainland. The products must not be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and must comply with the legislations and requirements of the Mainland.

Q 2.5: Are there any special requirements for the storage of dairy products?
A 2.5: Dairy products exported to the Mainland must be stored in dedicated areas under temperature conditions as required by that particular product, with clear labels for identification.

Q 2.6: How to apply for exportation of Hong Kong-manufactured dairy products to the Mainland?
A 2.6: The current application process for "Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration" is applicable to the applications for dairy products. Food manufacturers can refer to the “Application Guide for Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration” on the Centre for Food Safety website:
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/export/export_fem/recommendation.html)

Q 2.7: After the recommended registration is accepted by the GACC, are there any additional hygiene requirements for each consignment of dairy products to be exported to the Mainland?
A 2.7: Each consignment of dairy products exported to the Mainland must be accompanied by a “Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin” (HCFAO) issued by the FEHD. Food manufacturers must ensure that the products are produced in a frozen confection factory or milk factory with a valid licence issued by the FEHD, and that the establishments are registered with the GACC, as well as ensuring the products are fit for human consumption. For details on applying for the HCFAO, please visit the Centre for Food Safety website: (https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/export/hcfao.html)