GACC Clarifies Implementation Rules on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food

On March 18, 2026, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) issued the GACC Announcement No. 27 of 2026 (Announcement on Matters Related to the Implementation of the Provisions of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food) (the “Announcement”), to take effect on June 1, 2026.

Focusing on supporting the implementation of the Registration Provisions, the Announcement makes arrangements in three aspects. First, it issues supporting catalogues and scope, clarifying the catalogue of imported food that requires registration upon official recommendation (covering 16 categories, including meat, edible bird’s nest, dairy products, aquatic products, and foods for special dietary use, health foods, etc.), and specifying that the list of foods whose registration will not be automatically extended includes only meat and meat products and bird’s nest and its products. It also brings overseas cold stores used for storing land animal–derived food and aquatic products into the scope of registration administration, and provides that the relevant catalogues shall be subject to dynamic management. Second, it refines declaration requirements by providing that, for food imported in the form of goods and intended for consumption or processing, the registration number in China of the overseas manufacturer shall be declared in the “Product Qualification” field of the customs declaration form under the license category code “519”, and the word “for consumption” shall be accurately declared in the “Usage” field. It distinguishes the conditions under which food produced by enterprises requiring registration upon official recommendation, by enterprises applying for registration on their own, and by enterprises whose registration has been suspended, cancelled, or revoked may be declared, and provides that false declarations will be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law. Third, it specifies the channels for handling registration and inquiring about information, designating the Registration Administration System for Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food as the platform for handling applications, modifications, renewals, suspensions, and resumptions, and for inquiring about the registration progress of enterprises, review opinions, the list of registered enterprises, the corresponding commodity codes and regulatory identification codes for product categories. It reiterates that no fees shall be charged for the registration of overseas enterprises producing imported food and primary edible agricultural products, and that the relevant requirements for inbound primary edible agricultural products shall continue to be implemented in accordance with Announcement No. 219 of 2025.