China

1.1. Prohibited

Unless specified within the commodity list below, the Department is not aware of any edible non-prescribed goods (NPG) prohibited for export to China.

1.2 Conditions

Chinese government registration is required for all food processing and storage facilities handling food exported to China. The processing facility registration number is required on labels.

Effective 1 January 2022, the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) implemented changes to registration and labelling requirements for food processing and storage facilities handling food exported to China in accordance with both:

• Decree 248 – Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Producers of Imported Food
• Decree 249 – Administrative measures on Import and Export Food Safety.

This means all food products must have a registration with GACC before export to China through either the process described in section A or section B.

A. Food processing and storage facilities handling products for export to China that require Departmental recommendation for registration with China

Article 7 of Decree 248 requires the following foods to come from GACC registered food processing and storage facilities:

• Meat and meat products, casings, aquatic/seafood products, dairy products, eggs and egg products, bee products, edible fats and oils, stuffed pasty products, edible grains, milled grain products and malt, fresh-kept/ preserved and dehydrated vegetables and dry beans, condiments and seasonings, nuts and seeds, dry fruits, unroasted coffee and cocoa beans, food for special dietary uses, health foods.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a list of HS codes for foods (XLSX 570 KB) for which processing and storage facilities are required to be registered with GACC.

Refer to the relevant Micor pages for registration requirements for:

• meat and meat products, including casings
• aquatic/ seafood products
• dairy products
• plant products, including edible grains, milled grain products, malt, fresh-kept/ preserved and dehydrated vegetables, dry beans. nuts, seeds, dry fruits, unroasted coffee and cocoa beans.

Facilities requiring registration with GACC are:

• food processing facilities that carry out the final processing step
• storage facility before export.

Each physical facility (location) needs to be registered.

Facilities not considered to be processing or storage facilities and do not require registration with GACC are:

• freight forwarders that do not store products for extended period
• brokers
• other export business or brand owners that do not handle or store food.

Applications for recommendations for registration with GACC

Applications from Australian food facilities submitted to the Department by 15 December 2021 were assessed, collated and submitted to GACC on 20 December 2021.

The Department has not yet received details from GACC on the ongoing process for new applications for registration.

GACC confirmation of registration required prior to export

Facility registration must be approved and published on GACC Registration information of overseas manufacturers of imported food (CIFER) before a food can be exported to China. This information will be used by GACC border officials as the basis for border clearance.

Food labelling requirements for products registered with GACC

In addition to the existing labelling relevant to the product type, the processing facility registration number is required on label. The storage facility registration number is not required on label.

The processing facility registration number can be either the:

• competent authority issued registration number (Department establishment number)
• GACC issued registration number (CHINA REG. NO.) as published on GACC Registration information of overseas manufacturers of imported food.

The processing facility registration number must be on both the:

• inner packaging (smallest sale unit)
• outer packaging (transport packaging).

Bulk goods in containers or vessels with no packaging, must include the processing facility number on commercial documentation accompanying the export.

For all foods, except foods for special dietary uses and health foods, the processing facility registration number can either be:

• printed on original packaging
• affixed using a stick-on/adhesive label.

For foods for special dietary uses and health foods, the processing facility registration number must be printed on the original packaging only. Stick-on/adhesive labels will not be accepted.

B. Food processing facilities requiring businesses to self-register with GACC through the China Import Food Enterprises Registration (CIFER) Single Window System

Article 9 of Decree 248 requires the food processing facility producing food other than those listed in Article 7 (Section A, to be self-registered with GACC (that is, Article 9 foods).

The USDA has published a list of HS codes of foods for which processing and storage facilities are required to be registered with GACC.

Facilities that only handle Article 9 foods must be self-registered through the GACC Single Window System. The registration can be completed by the facility or through an agent.

Guidance on the self-registration process is provided in the China International Trade Single Window - user manual for the Single Window (PDF 4.5 MB).

Facilities that are registered with GACC for Article 7 foods (refer to Section A) must use the login details provided by the department to access the GACC Single Window System to register Article 9 foods. If you do not have your login details, contact ExportListing@awe.gov.au

GACC confirmation of registration required prior to export

Facility registration must be approved and published by GACC before a food can be exported to China. This information may be used by GACC border officials as the basis for border clearance.

Food labelling requirements for food self-registered with GACC through the Single Window System

In addition to the existing labelling relevant to the product type, the processing facility registration number is required on the label. The storage facility registration number is not required on the label.

Facility registration number can be either the:

• competent authority issued registration number (that is either the department establishment number, domestic government food business registration, ABN or ACN)
• GACC issued registration number provided through the GACC Single Window System.

The facility registration number must be on both the:

• inner packaging (smallest sale unit)
• outer packaging (transport packaging)

The facility registration number can be either:

• printed on original packaging
• affixed using a stick-on/ adhesive label.

Government certification

Some processed plant products such as pancake mix require a phytosanitary certificate.

For further information refer to Micor Plants – China.

2.1 Prohibited

The Department is not aware of any inedible non-prescribed goods prohibited for export to China.

2.2 Conditions

Compliance with relevant Australian domestic requirements. The Department is unaware of any specific requirement for inedible non-prescribed goods that are for export to China.

1. Preconditions for market access

1.1 Import permit

Exporters are not required to obtain an import permit; however, they are encouraged to confirm the importing conditions through their importer or, if needed, the government authority of China.

1.2 Listing and audit

1.3 Prohibited products

The Department is not aware of any prohibited edible apiculture products for export to China.

2. Documentation requirements

2.1 Government certification

An EX188B 'certificate as to condition' has been accepted in the past for consignments of edible apiculture products exported to China. The Department can issue an unendorsed EX188B certificate for edible apiculture products. However, exporters are encouraged to confirm the importing conditions through their importer, or if needed the government authority of China.

2.2 Supporting documents and exporter declarations

It has been brought to the attention of the Department that Chinese border inspection officials are routinely testing Australian edible apiculture products for the presence of American foulbrood (AFB), European foulbrood (EFB), small hive beetle and Varroa destructor (varroa mite). Producers and freight forwarders should ensure that edible apiculture products do not contain these bee pests and diseases when exporting to China. Positive detections within the consignments will result in the rejection of the entire consignment. Exporters should work closely with importers when sending honey to China to ensure that they are able to meet these importing country requirements.

The Department's understanding is that the only method to screen for the presence of these pests and diseases is using PCR testing prior to the export of honey to China.

Exporters are required to provide the following supporting documents when exporting edible apiculture product to China:

• Certificate of origin (China–Australia Free Trade Agreement format)
• Free sale certificate (contact NPGExports@agriculture.gov.au)
• Invoice
• Packaging list

Again, exporters are encouraged to check these requirements with their importer prior to exporting.

3. Other requirements

Honey and other edible apiculture products must satisfy China's national food safety standard GB 14963–2011 issued by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China. An unofficial draft translation (PDF 670 KB) of this standard provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service.

4. Exemptions granted by China

The Department is not aware of any exemptions being granted by China for edible apiculture products. Exporters are encouraged to confirm if any exemptions apply by contacting their importer or, if needed, the government authority of China.