MAA 2023-09: China: Dairy, Seafood, Honey and Other Edible Non-prescribed Goods: ‘China Import Food Enterprise Registration’ release note

Date of issue: 7 June 2023

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA2023-09

Attention:

Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, Australian Food and Grocery Council

Exporters

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Central and Regional offices

Purpose:

This Market Access Advice (MAA) is to inform Australian manufacturers, processors and cold storage establishments exporting products to China of information provided in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system as a ‘release note’.

Notification:

On 9 May 2023, General Administration of Customs China (GACC) published a ‘release note’ in the CIFER system. The note is in the ‘Version Description’ (see Figure 1 below) and the following changes have been identified:

1. CIFER now allows an eligible establishment to submit a modification application and extension application to GACC successively (i.e., the second can be submitted whilst the former is being considered)
2. There is a new food type, ‘health food raw materials’, under ‘Other miscellaneous foods’.
3. Overseas food manufacturers will receive a confirmation email after GACC has reviewed the application and the inspection of an application is ‘passed’.
4. Overseas manufacturers registered in CIFER may now change their ‘State/Province/Territory’, ‘Address of manufacturing facility’ and ‘Legal representative – name’ by submitting a modification application. Overseas manufacturers should provide the official certification materials in the ‘Supporting materials to modify information’ section.
   • This advice contradicts Article 19 of Decree 248. Establishments are no longer required to cancel their registration and re-apply if they have changed their address or legal representative. To update your registration details, you will need to complete a modification application in CIFER.
5. Suspended overseas manufacturers can now apply for a modification and/or extension application for their establishment whilst still suspended.

Please note that whilst these changes provide additional opportunities to submit registrations, it is important to finalise the extension of a registration and the updating of the information required by China through a modification application so that your establishment registration continues after 30 June 2023 deadline or the establishment registration expiry date.

Please contact exportlisting@aff.gov.au or call 02 6272 5105 if you have any queries related to the above information or if you require access to your account within CIFER.  Please note that the department will only be able to provide establishment CIFER details to persons registered with the department as being in a position of management control for that establishment.

The information provided above is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.