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Why do we need to register on GACC?
On April 12, 2021, the GACC issued Decree No. 248 of Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of
Imported Food (hereinafter referred to as the Decree 248). The new Regulations into force on January 1, 2022.
GACC Decree 248 that requires any establishment involved in the production, manufacture or storage of a food product intended for import into China to be registered in the GACC system. The responsibility for GACC registration sits with the establishment. Establishments undertake a commercial decision to trade with China and must manage their GACC registration as an importing country requirement for this market.
The Decree 248 introduces the risk management principles of the Food Safety Law, adopts the “official recommended registration” mode for overseas manufacturers of 18 categories of foods, and adopts the simplified “enterprise independent application” mode for overseas manufacturers of other foods other than the 18 categories, so as to further improve the efficiency of registration management.
GACC Decree 248 that requires any establishment involved in the production, manufacture or storage of a food product intended for import into China to be registered in the GACC system. The responsibility for GACC registration sits with the establishment. Establishments undertake a commercial decision to trade with China and must manage their GACC registration as an importing country requirement for this market.
The Decree 248 introduces the risk management principles of the Food Safety Law, adopts the “official recommended registration” mode for overseas manufacturers of 18 categories of foods, and adopts the simplified “enterprise independent application” mode for overseas manufacturers of other foods other than the 18 categories, so as to further improve the efficiency of registration management.
What are the 18 categories of foods that adopt the "official recommended registration" mode?
High-risk food categories
Meat and its products, casings, aquatic products, dairy products, edible bird's nest and its products.
Medium-risk food categories
Bee products,eggs and its products, edible fats and oils, stuffed pasta, edible grains, grain milling industrial products and malt, fresh and dehydrated vegetables, and dried beans, seasonings, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, unroasted coffee beans and cocoa beans, foods for special dietary uses, health food.
Why implement the "Official recommended registration" mode for 18 categories of foods?
Based on the analysis of sources of food raw materials, production and processing technology, food safety historical data, consumer groups and consumption methods, combined with international practices, it is determined that overseas manufacturers of 18 categories of foods adopt the “official recommended registration” mode.
What are the 18 categories of foods that adopt the "Enterprise independent application" mode?
Low-risk food categories
1- Vegetables and vegetable products (excluding fresh or dehydrated vegetables)
2- Grain products and other products
3- Tea
4- Nuts and seed products
5- Alcoholic beverages
- - Fermented wines and prepared fermented wines
- - Distilled spirits and prepared distilled spirits
- - Other spirits and edible alcohols
6- Beverages and frozen beverages
- - Packaged drinking water
- - Fruit and vegetable juice, fruit and vegetable juice beverage
- - Protein beverages
- - Carbonated beverages
- - Tea beverages
- - Coffee beverages
- - Botanical beverages
- - Powdered beverages
- - Other beverages
- - Beverages for special uses
- - Frozen beverages and their preparations, edible ice
7- Biscuits, cakes and bread
8- Sugars (including raw sugar, sugar, lactose, syrup, etc.)
- - Raw sugar
- - Sugar
- - Lactose
- - Syrup
- - Other sugars
9- Confectionery, chocolate (including chocolate, cocoa butter, substitute chocolate and its products)
- - Candy
- - Chocolate
- - Other sweets, chocolates
10- Seasoning (excluding sugar)
- - Salt
- - Soy sauce
- - Vinegar
- - MSG
- - Other seasoning
11- Roasted coffee beans, cocoa beans and other products (excluding chocolate)
- - Roasted coffee beans and its products
- - Roasted cocoa and its products
12- Fruit products
- - Jams
- - Fruit powdered
- - Canned fruit
13- Other miscellaneous foods
- - Candied fruit
- - Puffed food
- - Brewing ingredients
- - Strains for food processing
- - Jellies
- - Fruit powdered
- - Protein and its derivatives
- - Palm cores
14- Frozen fruit
What are the evaluation procedures of registration management for overseas manufacturers of imported food?
- 1- The GACC, by itself or by entrusting related agencies to organize an evaluation team, conducts evaluation and review of overseas manufacturers of imported food applying for registration through written check, video check, on-site check and combinations thereof.
- 2- The GACC should, based on the evaluation and review, register the overseas manufacturer of imported food that meet requirements and give Chinese registration number, and notify the competent authority of the country (region) where it is located or the overseas manufacturer of imported food in writing; for those that do not meet requirements, they should not be registered, and the competent authority of the country (region) where they are located or the overseas manufacturers of imported food should be notified in writing.
The new "Decree 248" supplemented a variety of evaluation and review forms such as written check, video check, and on-site check, and the review forms are more diverse and flexible.
What is an 18-digit registration number and what does it mean?
The below picture has clearly explained the meaning of each of the 18-digit GACC Registration Number Structure.
Where can I find the approved list of manufacturer registration numbers?
The list of registered manufacturers can be queried on the website of the GACC at customs online
What documents need to be provided when registering 18 categories of food overseas manufacturers?
List of required documents for High and Medium-risk food categories
List of required documents for Low-risk food categories
- 1- Application Form;
- 2- Products label;
- 3- Recommendation letter from the competent authority of the country (region) where manufacturers are located;
- 4- Government-issued Production facility inspection approval documents;
- 5- Manufacturer identification documents, Government-issued company name certificate;
- 6- Applicant Statement of Compliance where the manufacturer meets the requirements of the regulations;
- 7- The review report issued by the competent authority of the country (region) where the manufacturer is located for reviewing and checking the related manufacturers.
- 8- The floor plans of the manufacturer's factory area, workshop and cold warehouse, as well as process flow diagrams.
- ** It should be noted that, if risk analysis or evidence shows that the risk of a certain type of food has changed, the GACC may conduct registration methods and application documents for the corresponding food overseas manufacturers;
if the registration methods and application documents are otherwise agreed between the related countries (regions) and China, it should be implemented in accordance with the agreement of both parties.
List of required documents for Low-risk food categories
- 1- Application Form;
- 2- Products label;
- 2- Product packaging photos;
- 3- Government-issued Production facility inspection approval documents;
- 4- Manufacturer identification documents, Government-issued company name certificate;
- 5- Applicant Statement of Compliance where the manufacturer meets the requirements of the regulations;
- 6- Use text to describe in detail the production process and production flow chart of the product.
What is the cost and timeline of GACC registrations?
Different types of GACC registration have different costs and timeline;
1. The general GACC registration fee for Exporters is $390 and the application time is within 7-8 days;
2. The GACC registration fee for low and Medium-risk food producers is $780 and the application time is within 2-3 weeks;
3. The GACC registration fee for High-risk food producers is $980 and the application time is within 1-2 months;
For details, please visit GACC registration costGACC registration cost
1. The general GACC registration fee for Exporters is $390 and the application time is within 7-8 days;
2. The GACC registration fee for low and Medium-risk food producers is $780 and the application time is within 2-3 weeks;
3. The GACC registration fee for High-risk food producers is $980 and the application time is within 1-2 months;
For details, please visit GACC registration costGACC registration cost
We are manufacturer, our products export to China directly by us, How do I application for GACC registration?
You need to submit at least two GACC applications, one is GACC registration for Overseas Exporters
The other is GACC registration for Overseas Manufacturer
If your product involves medium and high-risk food categories, you also need to submit a recommendation application process in applicant government food management department.
The other is GACC registration for Overseas Manufacturer
If your product involves medium and high-risk food categories, you also need to submit a recommendation application process in applicant government food management department.
If I can find our company's GACC registration number, does that mean I don't need to register again?
- Unless the product category are exporting is associated with an already obtained registration number, otherwise, you need to resubmit a new registration application to GACC.
- Please note
One registration number corresponds to one HS Code. Suppose you have 10 different categories of products/HS Codes export to China, then the applicant must obtain different registration numbers associated with different HS Codes.
Different food categories need to apply for different types of China GACC registration, There are 3 types of GACC registration for Overseas Producers of imported food, Each type of GACC registration process, application document requirements, time and cost are different.
How long is the validity period of registration of overseas manufacturer of imported food?
According to Article 16 of the new "Decree 248", the validity period of registration of overseas manufacturer of imported food is 5 years.
If an overseas manufacturer of imported food needs to renew its registration, what should be done?
An application for registration renewal should be submitted to the GACC through the registration application channel within 1 to 3 months before the expiration of the registration validity period.
The application documents for registration renewal include:
Application for registration renewal
A statement that promises to continue to meet the registration requirements.
The new "Decree 248" relaxed the time for initiating registration renewal from the previous need to initiate a renewal application one year before the expiration of the registration validity period to 1 to 3 months before the expiration of the validity period.
The application documents for registration renewal include:
Will I still be able to export if I do not register?
If your product is covered under Decree 248, you will not be able to export product or supply export product through the export supply chain to China if you are not registered on GACC.
Attempts to do so may result in detained, rejected or destroyed consignments.
Attempts to do so may result in detained, rejected or destroyed consignments.
What happens if one establishment within the export supply chain is not registered?
You will not be able to use product/s sourced from this establishment in the export supply chain to China. Attempts to do so may result in detained or rejected consignments.
For processed foods, not all establishments in the supply chain are required to be registered - just the last processing step. For example, farms do not need to be registered.
For processed foods, not all establishments in the supply chain are required to be registered - just the last processing step. For example, farms do not need to be registered.
Who should apply for the registration—is it the processor, manufacturer, storage facility or the exporter?
The registration is for food manufacturing, processing and cold storage facilities that handle products categorised as High-risk, Medium-risk and Low-risk food categories for export to China.
GACC recommends that all food processing facilities that carry out the final processing step as well as storage facilities where product is subsequently handled prior to export to China, should be registered.
For example, if you are a freight forwarder and only receive and forward foods without storing product for any length of time, the requirements do not apply. If you are a freight forwarder that stores cold product for extended periods of time, then the registration requirements will apply. If you are a brand owner and use contract manufacturers, then you do not need to register but your contract manufacturers will need to register.
GACC recommends that all food processing facilities that carry out the final processing step as well as storage facilities where product is subsequently handled prior to export to China, should be registered.
For example, if you are a freight forwarder and only receive and forward foods without storing product for any length of time, the requirements do not apply. If you are a freight forwarder that stores cold product for extended periods of time, then the registration requirements will apply. If you are a brand owner and use contract manufacturers, then you do not need to register but your contract manufacturers will need to register.
Can I apply on behalf of my manufacturer or storage facility?
No, only the establishment can apply and manage their registration. The application requires specific information to be submitted by the manufacturer, processor or cold storage facility, including the legal representative for the establishments. If the company does not process/store/handle food products, they do not need to register.
Of course, if you have been authorized by the applicant company, GACC agrees and accepts the application documents submitted by the agent.
Due to the language characteristics of some countries, business owners cannot normally complete application documents in English or Mandarin.
Agents must abide by the legal provisions of China Customs and submit authentic application documents to GACC.
Of course, if you have been authorized by the applicant company, GACC agrees and accepts the application documents submitted by the agent.
Due to the language characteristics of some countries, business owners cannot normally complete application documents in English or Mandarin.
Agents must abide by the legal provisions of China Customs and submit authentic application documents to GACC.
Do goods exported via e-trading/e-commerce need to register in GACC?
Decree 249 (under ‘supplementary provisions’) states that the safety oversight of import and export of food through mail, express delivery, cross-border e-commerce retail, or carried by travelers should be performed pursuant to the relevant GACC rules.
eCommerce is outside the scope of the new import requirements, and businesses will need to comply with the GACC rules that apply to the specific pathway used.
Businesses are recommended to inquire about the transport rules for packages less than 10KG at international air transport services companies to ensure their compliance with GACC provisions.
eCommerce is outside the scope of the new import requirements, and businesses will need to comply with the GACC rules that apply to the specific pathway used.
Businesses are recommended to inquire about the transport rules for packages less than 10KG at international air transport services companies to ensure their compliance with GACC provisions.
Where can requirements for product labels be found?
For the labeling requirements, please refer to Degree 249 that outlines existing Chinese laws, regulation and standards for food product labels and packaging - Administrative Measures of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Food Safety.
In order to facilitate overseas exporters/producers to design products that comply with GACC label standards, applicants can use the GACC label template generation system to design customized food label elements.
In order to facilitate overseas exporters/producers to design products that comply with GACC label standards, applicants can use the GACC label template generation system to design customized food label elements.
Inner Label and Exterior Label are required for the following high risk product categories: Mandarin and English
Inner Label and Exterior Label required on Meat and its products, casings, aquatic products, dairy products, edible bird's nest and its products.
Other food product labelling and packaging must comply with the relevant existing Chinese laws, regulation and standards. Please note that China’s Food Safety Law stipulates that pre-packaged food must be labelled in Mandarin.
Other food product labelling and packaging must comply with the relevant existing Chinese laws, regulation and standards. Please note that China’s Food Safety Law stipulates that pre-packaged food must be labelled in Mandarin.
I have completed the AQSIQ exporter registration number, do I still need to apply for the GACC exporter registration number?
AQSIQ and GACC share the exporter registration number in the database, you do not need to apply for the GACC exporter registration number again.
For some exporters who have their own production facilities, then they must submit an application in the new system again, Because China Customs needs 2 registration numbers when your goods arrive at the Chinese port for customs clearance. ( Exporter Registration Number and Manufacturer Registration Number )
For some exporters who have their own production facilities, then they must submit an application in the new system again, Because China Customs needs 2 registration numbers when your goods arrive at the Chinese port for customs clearance. ( Exporter Registration Number and Manufacturer Registration Number )
Has the AQSIQ organization been merged with China Customs?
Note: AQSIQ form an independent electronic pass system with China Customs and CIQ, responsible for all import and export declarations and inspections. Start running new institutions and electronic systems (Single Window E-systems) on January 1, 2022.
I already have a GACC manufacturer registration number, How do I add product category and HS Code to this registration number?
You can resubmit new application on this page:
Add product category and HS Code
Assuming you lose username and password in the CIFER system, you will need to recreate a new account for your registration application.
Assuming you lose username and password in the CIFER system, you will need to recreate a new account for your registration application.
I have 3 factories that belong to the same company and export the same products to China. Which factory should I submit for registration?
According to the requirements of the "GACC Decree 248: Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Producers of Imported Food"
All overseas food manufacturers, processors, and storage facilities need to register with the GACC, Each of the food category requires a separate GACC registration number, Each facility address requires a separate GACC registration number.
All overseas food manufacturers, processors, and storage facilities need to register with the GACC, Each of the food category requires a separate GACC registration number, Each facility address requires a separate GACC registration number.
Advance Reminder:
GACC strongly recommends that applicant register directly and do not leave this application process to their importer or distributor. Importers require your registration number to complete China customs clearance. Should you change your distributor, or have multiple distributors, they may be reluctant to share your registration number and authorization password if circumstances change. The authorization password will be the only credential when you enter the GACC system to go through customs clearance procedures in China.
Wrong application type and category
We often receive urgent inquiries from applicants:
"We have submitted an application for GACC registration in the single window, and it has been a long time, but it has not been approved, what should I do?"
If the GACC registration application documents are correct, it will usually be approved by GACC in 2-3 weeks, or get GACC's reply for corrective action,
if you have not received any reply from GACC, then there must be a problem in application process;
GACC registration is applied based on food categories. There are about 30 categories and 100 sub-categories in GACC-registered food categories.
Each sub-category needs to apply for a separate GACC registration number. If the products of the manufacturer involve multiple categories, then they need to apply for multiple GACC registration numbers;
"We have submitted an application for GACC registration in the single window, and it has been a long time, but it has not been approved, what should I do?"
If the GACC registration application documents are correct, it will usually be approved by GACC in 2-3 weeks, or get GACC's reply for corrective action,
if you have not received any reply from GACC, then there must be a problem in application process;
GACC registration is applied based on food categories. There are about 30 categories and 100 sub-categories in GACC-registered food categories.
Each sub-category needs to apply for a separate GACC registration number. If the products of the manufacturer involve multiple categories, then they need to apply for multiple GACC registration numbers;
GACC have 4 types registrations
Different food categories need to apply for different types of China GACC registration, There are 4 types GACC registrations:
- GACC registration for overseas manufacturers of Low risk food ==> GACC-I
- GACC registration for overseas manufacturers of Medium risk food ==> GACC-II
- GACC registration for overseas manufacturers of High risk food ==> GACC-III
- GACC registration for overseas exporters of imported food => GACC-E
Wrong classification for products listing
Applicants must fill in the correct products listing, including the correct HS code and CIQ code.in the registration system.
The classification rules of foods in China and the country of origin may be different. Wrong classification of foods will lead to failure of GACC registration;
The classification rules of foods in China and the country of origin may be different. Wrong classification of foods will lead to failure of GACC registration;
Incorrect application documents
Different types of GACC registrations for different food categories have different requirements for application materials,
The main application materials for GACC registrations include:
GACC registration application form.
Government issued company business registration certificate.
Government issued Production facility inspection number ID.
Certificate of production management system.
Recommendation letter from competent authority of country of origin (required for GACC-II, GACC-III types)
Use text to describe in detail the production process and production flow chart of the product.
Enterprise Commitment Statement.
Processing flow chart.
List of foods to be exported to China.
List of Major raw materials & affiliated company.
Product photos.
Ingredient Formula.
Mandarin label element.
These application documents need to meet the requirements of China’s regulations and national standards, and some application materials also require Chinese versions.
If some of the application documents do not meet the requirements of GACC, it may lead to the failure of GACC registration.
The main application materials for GACC registrations include:
GACC registration application form.
Government issued company business registration certificate.
Government issued Production facility inspection number ID.
Certificate of production management system.
Recommendation letter from competent authority of country of origin (required for GACC-II, GACC-III types)
Use text to describe in detail the production process and production flow chart of the product.
Enterprise Commitment Statement.
Processing flow chart.
List of foods to be exported to China.
List of Major raw materials & affiliated company.
Product photos.
Ingredient Formula.
Mandarin label element.
These application documents need to meet the requirements of China’s regulations and national standards, and some application materials also require Chinese versions.
If some of the application documents do not meet the requirements of GACC, it may lead to the failure of GACC registration.
Missing required application documents
Applicant does not submit all the necessary application documents to GACC, the GACC will not start the review process, but the applicant thinks that he has completed the application and waits for the GACC review, it will resulting in applicants waiting in vain and wasting time.
Need help?
Register & Certification Process
Ms. Susei
Email: info@gacc.app
Phone: +86 12360 # 1802
No. 9-1 Madian East Road Haidian District Beijing
CIFER Audit
Mr. Li xiao
Email: register@gacc.app
Phone: +86 12360 # 1803
No. 9-1 Madian East Road Haidian District Beijing
