Guidelines for Overseas Registration of Export Food Manufacturers

GACC 4/20/22

About overseas registration

Overseas registration means that an overseas country (region) requires the competent authority of the country (region) where it is located to recommend a food production enterprise that is exported to the country (region) to confirm that it complies with the relevant regulations and technical requirements of the importing country (region). It is a management system to allow its products to enter the domestic market after being reviewed and approved by an overseas country (region).

Many overseas countries (regions), such as the European Union, the United States, Japan, South Korea, etc., implement a registration management system for specific types of food production enterprises imported by them.

Reference

    1. Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China
    2. Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People’s Republic of China
    3. Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety of the People’s Republic of China
    4. Measures for the Administration of Application for Overseas Registration of Exported Food Production Enterprises (Announcement No. 87 [2021] of the General Administration of Customs)

Process

Some enterprises must pass the on-site inspection of the competent authorities of the importing country (region) before they can obtain the registration qualification. The enterprise should cooperate with the relevant inspection work according to the requirements of the importing country (region).

The final approval information is subject to the announcement of the importing country (region), and the approval progress of the enterprise is determined by the competent authorities of the overseas country (region).

 

Registration requirements

An export food production enterprise applying for overseas registration shall meet the following conditions:

  1. The filing procedures for export food production enterprises have been completed
  2. Establish and improve a traceable food safety and hygiene control system, ensure the effective operation of the food safety and hygiene control system, and ensure that the production, processing and storage of export food continue to comply with relevant Chinese laws and regulations, and the safety and hygiene requirements of export food production enterprises
  3. If the relevant laws and regulations of the importing country (region) and relevant international treaties and agreements have special requirements, they should also meet the relevant requirements
  4. Effectively perform the main responsibility of the enterprise, be honest and self-disciplined, operate in a standardized manner, and have a credit status of non-customs untrustworthy enterprises
  5. Have not been notified by the competent authority of the importing country (region) due to the safety and health problems of the enterprise within one year

Information for filing application

  1. Application for overseas registration of export food production enterprises (Image A)
  2. Self-assessment form for overseas registration of export food production enterprises (Image B)
  3. Enterprise production conditions (including but not limited to factory layout, workshop floor plan, flow chart/logistics map, water flow diagram/airflow diagram, pictures of key processes, etc.), production process, etc.
  4. The traceable food safety and hygiene control system document established by the enterprise
  5. Accompanying information required by the importing country (region)

Registration steps online

The registration application of overseas production enterprises for imported food can be handled online throughout the entire process: enterprises can apply online at any time, and the time for foreign official recommendation through diplomatic channels and customs review is from 8am to 5pm on legal business days.

CCIC Chicago can help overseas food manufacturers to register in the GACC Registration System. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Useful links:

  1. GACC Website: http://online.customs.gov.cn
  2. The recording management system for China exported food producers: http://qgs.customs.gov.cn:10081/efpe/login
  3. China International Trade Single Window: https://app.singlewindow.cn/cas/login?service=http://qgs.customs.gov.cn:10081/efpe/login

Reference: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yzJ6J-OomTCvEzA34paKLg

Image A
Image B