7. Importation Requirements

General Foods
China

This section provides information on the importation process (shipment, customs, licenses required, and test requirements). 

7.1 Shipment Declaration

According to “Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety” [1] and “Cargo Declaration Guide” [2], the general shipment declaration procedure is as follows:

7.2 Customs Procedure

According to “Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety” [1], the general food customs procedure is as follows:

1. Product pre-categorization decision by GACC: http://www.customs.gov.cn/eportal/ui?pageId=373571 
2. Documents Submission for Review: Commercial documents such as contracts, invoices, transport documents, packing lists, etc., permits and accompanying documents required for import and export, and other import and export documents stipulated by the GACC
3. On-site inspection: Check whether the document is consistent with the name, quantity (weight), packaging, production date, container number, exporting country or region, name of the manufacturer and registration number, label, and sensory inspection
4. Taxation
5. GACC conducts the inspection and quarantine for food, and will issue the "Certificate of inspection and quarantine of inbound goods"
6. GACC Released

7.3 Manufacturing License

According to “Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food” [4], overseas manufacturers shall provide the manufacturing license issued by the original country (region) during registration application. There is no manufacturing license for importing food, instead, there is a certification once the GACC overseas manufacturer registration is done. 

Furthermore, the importer/local distributor shall obtain the import license issued by GACC.

7.4 Test for Importation

According to “Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety” [1] and “Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection” [3], the import general food inspection shall be carried out in accordance with the mandatory requirements of the national technical specifications.

7.5 Other Notes or Requirements for Importation

There are some key notes for the importation of General Foods.

For Customs Declaration Entity:

According to “Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Notification of Customs Declaration Entities” [5], the following keynotes are for all the customs declaration entities:

1. Where the consignee or consignor of import and export goods or the customs declaration enterprise applies for the notification, it shall obtain the qualification of the market entity. 
2. Where the consignee or consignor of import and export goods applies for the record, it shall also obtain the record of foreign trade operators.
3. Where the consignee or consignor of import and export goods or the customs declaration enterprise has filed with the customs declaration unit, its branches that meet the conditions of the preceding paragraph may also apply for notification with the customs declaration unit.
4. When applying for the record, the customs declaration unit shall submit the Information Form for the Record of the Customs Declaration Unit to the Customs.
5. The record of the customs declaration unit shall be long-term effective.

The customs declaration entity can apply notification through China International trade "single window" standard edition (https://www.singlewindow.cn/)", enterprise qualification subsystem" or "Internet + customs (Http://online.customs.gov.cn/)" enterprise management subsystem, fill in relevant information and submit an application to the customs. The administration time is 3 business days.

For Food Importers:

According to “Announcement on the Promulgation of the Provisions on the Administration of the Notification of Imported Food Importers and Exporters and the Provisions on the Administration of Food Import Notification and Sales Notification (Former AQSIQ No. 55 of 2012)” [6], the following keynotes is for all food importers:

A. The consignee of imported food (hereinafter referred to as the consignee) shall apply to the inspection and quarantine institution of its industrial and commercial registration for the notification and shall be responsible for the authenticity of the information provided for the notification.

The consignee shall apply to the local inspection and quarantine institution for the record before the food import. The following materials shall be provided for notification:

1. Prepare an accurate and complete consignee notification application form.
2. Copy of the industrial and commercial business license, organizational code certificate, legal representative's identity certificate, and foreign trade operators' record registration form and submit the original for inspection.
3. Enterprise quality and safety management system.
4. Organizational setup, departmental functions, and post responsibilities related to food safety.
5. The type of food to be traded and the place of storage.
6. Those who have engaged in food import, processing, and sales within 2 years shall provide relevant descriptions (food variety and quantity).
7. For self-care inspection, the photocopy of the registration certificate of the self-care inspection unit shall be provided and the original shall be submitted for inspection. After verifying the information provided by the enterprise, the inspection and quarantine institution shall approve the filing.

B. The administration time is 5 business days.

7.6 Overview Flowchart for Importation Process

The food import's main process briefing is as follows:

7.7 References

1. Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety

http://www.customs.gov.cn//customs/302249/302266/302267/3625391/index.html 

2. Cargo Declaration Guide http://online.customs.gov.cn/static/pages/guides/000629002001/%E2%80%9C%E8%B4%A7%E7%89%A9%E7%94%B3%E6%8A%A5%E2%80%9D%E6%94%BF%E5%8A%A1%E6%9C%8D%E5%8A%A1%E4%BA%8B%E9%A1%B9%E5%8A%9E%E4%BA%8B%E6%8C%87%E5%8D%97.pdf 

3. Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection

http://www.customs.gov.cn//customs/302249/302266/302267/2369445/index.html 

4. Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food

http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/zcfg18/bmgz91/3979122/index.html

5. Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Notification of Customs Declaration Entities

http://www.customs.gov.cn//customs/302249/302266/302267/4020542/index.html 

6. Announcement on the Promulgation of the Provisions on the Administration of the Notification of Imported Food Importers and Exporters and the Provisions on the Administration of Food Import Notification and Sales Notification (Former AQSIQ No. 55 of 2012)

http://shijiazhuang.customs.gov.cn/shanghai_customs/423446/423449/cjfw/qyzzbacjsfw/flfg10/4041490/index.html