Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods

Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods

(GACC Order No. 280)
(Promulgated by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on October 14, 2025, and effective as of June 1, 2026)

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1
These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, the Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law and its implementing regulations, the Entry-Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law and its implementing regulations, and the Special Provisions of the State Council on Strengthening the Supervision and Administration of the Safety of Food and Other Products, for the purpose of strengthening the registration administration of overseas manufacturers of imported foods.

Article 2
These Regulations shall apply to the registration administration of overseas enterprises engaged in the production, processing, or storage of foods exported to China (hereinafter collectively referred to as "overseas manufacturers of imported foods").

The overseas manufacturers of imported foods specified in the preceding paragraph do not include enterprises engaged in the production, processing, or storage of food additives or food-related products.

Article 3
The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) shall be responsible for the unified administration of the registration of overseas manufacturers of imported foods.

Article 4
Overseas manufacturers of imported foods shall be registered with the GACC.

Article 5
In accordance with the principle of risk management, the GACC shall, based on the assessment and review of the food safety management system and food safety status of the country (region) where the enterprise is located, and taking into account the risk level of the relevant food, implement classified management and determine the registration methods, application materials, review procedures, and other requirements for registration.

Where risk assessment or evidence indicates that food safety risks have changed, the GACC may adjust the relevant registration management requirements accordingly.

Chapter II Registration Conditions and Procedures

Article 6
The GACC shall, based on an analysis of factors such as food raw material sources, production and processing technologies, food safety data, target consumers, and modes of consumption, and in line with international practice, determine and publish a Catalogue of Foods Requiring Official Recommendation for Registration (hereinafter referred to as “the Catalogue”).

Article 7
The registration conditions for overseas manufacturers of imported foods are as follows:

  1. The enterprise has been approved and is under effective supervision by the competent authority of the country (region) where it is located;

  2. The enterprise has established an effective food safety and hygiene management and protection system, legally produces and exports food in the country (region) where it is located, and ensures that the food exported to China complies with China’s relevant laws, regulations, and national food safety standards;

  3. The enterprise meets the inspection and quarantine requirements agreed upon between the GACC and the competent authority of the country (region) where it is located.

For foods listed in the Catalogue, overseas manufacturers shall also be recommended by the competent authority of the country (region) where they are located.

Article 8
For foods listed in the Catalogue, the competent authority of the country (region) where the manufacturer is located shall conduct audits and inspections of the enterprises and issue audit and inspection reports and recommendation letters for those that meet the registration requirements.

Article 9
Overseas manufacturers of imported foods shall either directly or through their agents submit the following application materials to the GACC:

  1. Registration application information;

  2. Enterprise identity documents, such as business licenses issued by the competent authority of the country (region) or equivalent certificates;

  3. A statement of compliance with the requirements of these Regulations.

For foods listed in the Catalogue, the enterprise shall also submit the audit and inspection report and recommendation letter issued by the competent authority of the country (region).

Where necessary, the GACC may require the enterprise to provide additional information, such as details of its food safety and protection systems, production types, or production capacity.

Article 10
The registration application shall include the following information:
enterprise name, country (region), address of production site, legal representative, contact person and contact details, registration number approved by the competent authority of the country (region), and the categories of food to be registered.

Article 11
Registration application materials shall be in Chinese or English.

The competent authority of the country (region) and the overseas manufacturer of imported foods shall be responsible for the authenticity, completeness, and legality of the materials submitted.

Article 12
Based on the level of food safety risk, the GACC may, on its own or through authorized institutions, conduct assessments and reviews of applicant enterprises via document review, video inspection, on-site inspection, or a combination of these methods.

Overseas manufacturers and their respective competent authorities shall cooperate with the assessment and review process.

Article 13
Based on the assessment results, the GACC shall register the enterprises that meet the requirements and issue them registration numbers for China, notifying them in writing. Enterprises that do not meet the requirements shall be notified in writing of the rejection.

Article 14
When exporting food to China, registered enterprises shall indicate their registration number in China or the registration number approved by their national (regional) authority on the food packaging.

Article 15
The registration of overseas manufacturers of imported foods shall be valid for five (5) years.

The GACC shall specify the start and end dates of the validity period when granting registration.

Article 16
The GACC shall publish a unified list of registered overseas manufacturers of imported foods.

Article 17
Where the food safety management system of the country (region) where the enterprise is located has been recognized by the GACC, and one of the following conditions is met, the GACC may, through written agreement with the competent authority of that country (region), implement a list-based registration system:

  1. The country (region) has signed a bilateral food safety cooperation agreement with the GACC;

  2. The country (region) has signed an agreement, memorandum of understanding, joint statement, or other cooperative document with China that includes food safety cooperation;

  3. Other circumstances where, following risk assessment, the GACC determines that a list-based registration system may be applied.

Article 18
Under the list-based registration system, the competent authority of the country (region) shall submit the following materials to the GACC:

  1. A list of enterprises recommended for registration in China;

  2. The information specified in Article 10 of these Regulations;

  3. A statement confirming that the recommended enterprises meet the conditions under the first paragraph of Article 7;

  4. A statement undertaking to continuously fulfill the responsibilities agreed in the bilateral cooperation documents.

The GACC shall review the materials and, for those enterprises that meet the requirements, grant registration and issue registration numbers in China; those that do not meet the requirements shall be rejected, and the competent authority shall be notified in writing.

Chapter III Supervision and Administration

Article 19
Based on the level of food safety risk, the GACC may, on its own or through authorized institutions, conduct follow-up reviews to verify whether overseas manufacturers of imported foods continue to meet the registration requirements.

Overseas manufacturers and the competent authorities of their respective countries (regions) shall cooperate in the conduct of such reviews.

Article 20
During the validity period of registration, where the registration information of an overseas manufacturer of imported foods changes, the enterprise shall submit an application for change to the GACC through the registration channel, and provide the following materials:

  1. A comparison table of the information before and after the change;

  2. Supporting documents related to the change.

Where the GACC, upon assessment, considers the change acceptable, it shall approve the change. However, if the change involves a relocation of the production site, change of legal representative, or alteration of the registration number granted by the local competent authority—thereby significantly affecting the enterprise’s food safety and hygiene management or protection system—the GACC shall not approve the change and shall require the enterprise to reapply for registration. The enterprise’s registration number in China shall become invalid from the date of notification.

Article 21
Upon expiry of the registration validity period, the registration shall automatically be renewed for another five (5) years, except under any of the following circumstances:

  1. The food concerned is listed in the Catalogue of Foods Not Subject to Automatic Renewal of Registration;

  2. The enterprise is under corrective action due to non-compliance with registration requirements;

  3. The GACC has lawfully suspended the importation of relevant foods from the country (region) where the enterprise is located.

The Catalogue of Foods Not Subject to Automatic Renewal of Registration, as mentioned in Item (1), shall be published separately by the GACC.

Article 22
For overseas manufacturers of foods listed in the Catalogue of Foods Not Subject to Automatic Renewal of Registration that wish to renew registration, an application for renewal shall be submitted to the GACC through the registration channel between 3 and 12 months prior to the expiration of the registration validity period.

The renewal application shall include the following materials:

  1. Information on the renewal application;

  2. A statement of continued compliance with registration requirements;

  3. For foods listed in the Catalogue, a statement issued by the competent authority of the country (region) confirming continued compliance with registration requirements.

The GACC shall, after review, renew the registration of enterprises that meet the requirements, extending the validity for another five (5) years.

Article 23
The GACC shall cancel the registration of an overseas manufacturer of imported foods, notify the enterprise and inform the competent authority of the country (region) concerned, and make the cancellation public, under any of the following circumstances:

  1. Failure to apply for renewal of registration as required;

  2. Voluntary cancellation by the competent authority of the country (region) or by the enterprise itself;

  3. Failure to continue meeting the condition specified in Item (1), Paragraph 1 of Article 7 of these Regulations.

Article 24
The competent authority of the country (region) where the overseas manufacturer is located shall fulfill its food safety regulatory responsibilities, effectively supervise registered enterprises, and urge them to maintain compliance with registration requirements.

If a registered enterprise is found to be non-compliant, the competent authority shall immediately adopt risk prevention and mitigation measures, suspend the enterprise’s export of foods to China, notify the GACC, and supervise corrective actions until compliance is restored.

Where an overseas manufacturer discovers that it no longer meets the registration requirements, it shall voluntarily suspend exports to China and implement corrective measures until compliance is reestablished.

Article 25
Where the GACC finds that a registered overseas manufacturer of imported foods no longer meets the registration requirements, it shall order the enterprise to rectify within a specified time limit and notify the competent authority of the country (region) to supervise the corrective actions. During this period, the importation of the enterprise’s related foods shall be suspended.

Upon completion of rectification, the enterprise shall submit a supervision and rectification report issued by its competent authority together with a written statement of compliance.

The GACC shall review the rectification results and, if compliance is confirmed, resume the importation of the enterprise’s foods.

Article 26
Where the GACC suspends or resumes the importation of foods from registered overseas manufacturers in accordance with Articles 24 and 25 of these Regulations, the relevant enterprise list shall be published by the GACC.

Article 27
The GACC shall revoke the registration of a registered overseas manufacturer of imported foods and make the revocation public under any of the following circumstances:

  1. A major food safety incident occurs due to the enterprise’s own fault;

  2. Food exported to China is found to have serious food safety problems during import inspection and quarantine;

  3. The enterprise’s food safety or hygiene management has serious deficiencies, making it unable to ensure compliance with China’s safety and hygiene requirements;

  4. The enterprise remains non-compliant after rectification;

  5. Submission of false materials or concealment of relevant information;

  6. Refusal to cooperate with the GACC in conducting reviews or incident investigations;

  7. Leasing, lending, transferring, selling, or fraudulently using registration numbers;

  8. Registration was granted to an enterprise that did not meet eligibility or registration conditions;

  9. Any other circumstances under which registration may be revoked in accordance with the law.

Chapter IV Supplementary Provisions

Article 28
Where the GACC suspends the importation of relevant foods from a particular country (region), registration applications for enterprises of that country (region) producing such foods shall not be accepted during the suspension period.

Article 29
Where the GACC and a relevant country (region) have made separate arrangements regarding the registration administration of overseas manufacturers of imported foods, such arrangements shall prevail.

Article 30
The scope of overseas food storage enterprises subject to registration under these Regulations shall be separately specified by the GACC.

The registration administration of overseas producers of primary edible agricultural products shall be formulated separately by the GACC.

The management requirements for overseas manufacturers of foods imported via cross-border e-commerce retail shall be implemented in accordance with relevant provisions.

Article 31
For the purposes of these Regulations, the term competent authority of the country (region) refers to the official department of the country (region) where the overseas manufacturer is located that is responsible for the supervision of the safety and hygiene of food production enterprises.

Article 32
The GACC shall be responsible for the interpretation of these Regulations.

Article 33
These Regulations shall take effect on June 1, 2026.
The Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods promulgated by GACC Order No. 248 on April 12, 2021, shall be repealed simultaneously.