In recent years, mainland China had actively encouraged businesses to import different quality food products from around the globe to enter a large and profitable market & meet domestic demand.
According to the figures released by the GAC, the value of China’s food imports has been climbing steadily in recent years ‑ from US$102.1 billion in 2016 to US$189.9 billion thru the first 11 months of 2021.
Such an increase in imports has also brought the danger of a rise in food safety hazards.
In a move to strengthen supervision over imported foods, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) released the Measures for the Safety Administration of Imported and Exported Food (GAC Decree No.249) and the Administrative Provisions on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (GAC Decree No.248) on April 12, 2021, where both regulations took effect January 1, 2022.
Under the new provisions, all overseas manufacturers of imported foods must:
At the same time, the food products must come with a label in Chinese or meet the labeling requirements for specific food products. Also, the quality of the imported foods must be approved by the GAC’s department of supervision responsible for import inspection and quarantine, otherwise, upon arrival at a mainland port, the whole shipment of food products in question may have to be destroyed, returned to the exporter or undergo technical treatment.
The GAC also named 19 categories of imported foods that must obtain a recommendation letter from the competent authority in the country or region of manufacture before they can proceed with registration.
Food manufacturers or traders who wish to tap the mainland food market should take note of the latest requirements implemented by the mainland on food imports. By taking the appropriate actions before their food products enter the mainland market, they can avoid losses in goods and money caused by non‑compliance with the relevant regulations.
As a world-leading provider of testing, inspection, verification, and certification services with 140 years of experience, we offer you in-depth expertise in addressing food industry challenges. With a global reach, we provide local experts who understand local culture and needs. We can support you across the entire supply chain to protect your brand, build customer trust and open the door to a more profitable business.
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