15 July 2021
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise manufacturers of food exported to China that new Chinese requirements for imported food and overseas food establishments will take effect 1 January 2022.
Summary of changes and key points
- Effective 1 January 2022, all manufacturers and exporters of food to China must be registered with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
- The requirements capture a broad range of food products including low risk foods.
- Additionally, food products exported to China will be subject to new labelling requirements.
- Exporters are encouraged to work closely with their importers to continue to ensure compliance with China’s requirements.
- Further advice will be issued as additional information becomes available.
Background
- The requirements were notified in Decree 248 – Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Producers of Imported Food and Decree 249 – Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety.
- A summary of these Decrees may be obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, Global Agricultural Information Network reports via the following links:
- The Decrees also notify changes to labelling requirements in Decree 249, Article 30 and Decree 248, Article 15.
Food manufacturers’ responsibilities
Decrees 248 requires all food manufacturers, processors and storage facilities that handle food exported to China be registered with GACC in one of two ways:
- Registration through the competent authority (in Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment), which will first require assessment and approval.
This requirement applies to meat and meat products, casings, aquatic products, dairy products, edible bird’s nest and bird’s nest products, bee products, eggs and egg products, edible fats and oils, stuffed wheaten food, edible grains, milled grain industry products and malt, fresh and dehydrated vegetables and dry beans, condiments and seasonings, nuts and seeds, dry fruits, unroasted coffee beans and cocoa beans, food for special dietary uses and health food.
Note: Health food refers to food that claims to have specific health functions or aims to supplement vitamins and minerals.
or
- Self-registration with GACC directly or via an agent or importer.
This requirement is applicable for all foods other than those listed above.
Labelling changes
Foods must be labelled in Chinese, or Chinese and English (Decree 249, Article 30) and a GACC-issued registration number or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the exporting country (Decree 248, Article 15) must be displayed on both the inner and outer packaging.
Next steps
- We are seeking implementation guidance from China and working on processes for implementation.
- To assist this effort, please provide questions or comments on the decrees to your industry body for forwarding to us.
- Exporters are encouraged to work closely with their importers to continue to ensure compliance with China’s requirements.
- Further advice will be issued as it becomes available.
Contact information
If you have any questions or comments regarding this IAN please email the Grain and Seed Export Program or the Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch