Starting from 28 January 2026, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) implements a new guideline to enhance the application for Food Inspection Certificate [applicable to Export of Hong Kong-Manufactured Food Product to the Chinese Mainland through the Advance Release Arrangement (ARA)].
Enhanced Guideline
By using a single Advance Release Permission No., the applicant may apply for a Food Inspection Certificate with multiple Certified True Copies covering a Food Production Period of not more than three months. Upon approval of the application, food manufactured within the designated Food Production Period can be exported to the Chinese Mainland by multiple consignments.
Application Criteria
A food manufacturer should hold a valid Advance Release Permission issued by the FEHD.
Application Form Applicable to the Export of Food through ARA
- Application Form No. FEHB 311A
The applicant is required to complete the new application form FEHB 311A applicable to food export through ARA. To apply for a Food Production Period, the applicant needs to provide (i) a food production period of not more than three months; and (ii) the number of Certified True Copy of the Food Inspection Certificate (each consignment of food to be exported shall be accompanied by a Certified True Copy).
For single consignment of food to be exported, the applicant needs to state that no Certified True Copy is required. - Form No. FEHB 311B - Report Form for Certified True Copy of Food Inspection Certificate
Application involving Food Production Period, the applicant is required to provide a list of food details in each consignment by completing the Report Form FEHB 311B. The applicant may submit this form together with the application by FEHB 311A; or submit the Report Form upon approval of the relevant application. - Online Applications
The food manufacturers who have opened user accounts on the Food Trader Portal (FTP) may submit applications for “Food Inspection Certificate” on the FTP website. The website will provide guidance to complete the application, case progress messages, online payment option, etc., to facilitate the ease of operations.
Application and Export Procedures
To comply with the food testing requirements for the ARA, food manufacturers may be required to submit test certificates with relevant test reports issued by recognised third-party institutes when applying for the certificates. The FEHD will notify food manufacturers of the sampling and testing requirements for relevant food items. The current requirement that the food products have been subject to satisfactory superficial inspection remains applicable.
After the submission of the required Report Form for Certified True Copy of Food Inspection Certificate, upon vetting and approval by the FEHD, the Certified True Copy will be issued for the food manufacturer to export each consignment of food to be accompanied by such a Certified True Copy. The original copy of the Food Inspection Certificate will be issued upon the approval of the final consignment.
Fee
For application fees for the above Food Inspection Certificate, Certified True Copy and others, please refer to the Application Form FEHB 311A.
Notes
- For multiple consignments under the same application, the food product details of each consignment must tally with the contents of the corresponding approved Certified True Copy. All consignments shall be exported to the same consignee in the Chinese Mainland.
- This guidance is applicable to food products exported to the Chinese Mainland through the ARA. For export to the Chinese Mainland by other means, the Application Form No. FEHB 311 remains applicable.
Enquiries
For enquiries, please contact the Food Import & Export Section (Tel: 2867 5560) or 1823 Government Hotline. Enquiries may also be sent to the e-mail address: fsc@fehd.gov.hk or by fax on 2521 4784.
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department