1. My enterprise has owned  more than one factories, can one registration number works for all factories?

A: One factory or one enterprise can make application for different products. However one registration number is only valid to one factory,which means different product categories and different manufacturing sites must be registered separately.

2. Inquires about the registration number on package?
A: Decree 248 requires all the exported food to China has to print the registration number on the package, the registration number can either be Chinese registration number or located country(region) registration number granted by your domestic national food safety and sanitation administration.


3. In which cases do i need to re-apply for registration?
A: Decree of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China No.248 Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food Article 19: If an overseas manufacturer's registration information changes while the registration is valid, it shall submit an application for change to the GACC through the application path In cases of changing production site, legal representative, or registration number in the country/region where the manufacturer is located, the overseas manufacturer shall re-apply for registration, and the original Chinese registration number will automatically become invalid.

4. Is the data of the original ire/Information Recording System for Manufacturer Overseas is still valid?
A: This part of data has already been invalid.

5. What should i pay attention to when i am making the registration through GACC official website?
A: If you has already created account for enterprise, your local competent authority cannot assign you with a new account.You can only make application to non-18 categories of food in such case. You can apply Authority Certification to located competent authority in the system. You can make application to all categories after your account has been certified.

6. Can i modify the located country(region) registration number?
A: You can fill up the blank if you haven't do it when you create the account. It can't be modified if the blank was filled up. Or else you have to re-apply the registration.

7. Why can i make the customs clearance even though i have the registration number?
A: It may happen because you made the incorrect category application or the wrong registration method is applied, or in the actual customs clearance operation, the freight forwarder or customs broker will classify the feasible preference according to the minimum regulatory conditions, the optimal tax preference, etc., and the exporters are separated in the middle, resulting in the manufacturer, the consignee and the customs broker cannot exchange opinions in a timely manner, and we have already dealt with many cases of emergencies caused by this.

8. What shall i do if my account cannot make the registration for 18 categories of food?
A: You can either contact the local competent authority to assign you with a new account or you can use your own account to apply account certification by the local competent first, then you are authorized to make registration for 18 categories of food.

9. What happen if i make the application to a incorrect competent authority?
A: GACC will decline your application, which happens a lot recently. Competent authority complained their concerns during our communication. However, competent authority should not transfer this application but refuse.

10. What are the registration procedures and requirements for grain (soybean, wheat, barley, rapeseed, corn, etc.), fruit, plant-derived feed (meal feed, forage grass, etc.)?

(1) Overseas production, processing and storage enterprises of plant products that implement registration management shall be recommended to the General Administration of Customs after passing the examination by the competent department of the exporting country or region.

(2) The General Administration of Customs will review the recommended materials, and if necessary, after consulting with the competent authority of the exporting country or region, send experts to the exporting country or region to inspect and evaluate the enterprises applying for registration.

(3) Overseas production, processing, and storage enterprises in countries or regions that meet the requirements shall be registered if they pass the inspection. Overseas production, processing and storage enterprises in countries or regions that do not meet the requirements shall not be registered

Information requirements:

(1) Laws, regulations and standards related to animal and plant epidemics, veterinary hygiene, plant protection, pesticide and veterinary drug residues, production enterprise registration management and hygiene requirements in the country

(2) The establishment and personnel of the competent authority in the host country

(3) Enterprise information: enterprise name, address, official approval number

(4) Registered product information: registered product name, main raw materials, usage

(5) The assessment answer sheet of the competent authority of the country (region) where it recommends the inspection and quarantine and the actual situation of health control of the enterprise

11. Among the 18 categories of products stipulated in decree of the GACC No.248, which ones have changed the quarantine access department and the registration method of overseas production enterprises?

A: Primary edible agricultural products such as unprocessed coffee beans and cocoa beans, fresh vegetables, seasonings, edible grains, dried beans, and oilseeds with high quarantine risks have changed the responsible department and registration process; the registration of overseas manufacturers of these products is no longer through Cifer system, and different types are handled by different GACC experts. For details, please contact us in order to obtain the correct guidance.

12. What kind of arrangements have the General Administration of Customs made for overseas manufacturers of dairy products, meat, aquatic products, bird's nests, casings, and bee products that were originally approved by CNCA?
A: The data has been transferred to CIFERQUERY database, and the list will not be updated by GACC's business information column.

13. Are the other two module in ire system abolished?
A: No, the overseas exporter and importer within borders have to make the record filling in the ire system.

14. What kind of enterprise has to make application to GACC?
A: Decree 248 applies to the registration management of overseas manufacturers of production, processing, and storage (hereinafter referred to as "overseas manufacturers of imported foods") that export foods to China.

15. What will happen if I do not get registered before Jan.1st, 2022?
A: GACC requires you to fill in the Chinese registration number in your customs declaration form. You will not be able to claim for customs clearance without the Chinese registration number.

16. What does the 'competent authority' refer to?
A: The competent authority refers to your domestic food safety regulatory administration, who granted you the registration number and directly oversees the food safety affairs of your production plant. (e.g. FDA and USDA in the United States).

17. Is there a deadline for submitting my registration?
A: There is no deadline for submitting registration applications, you can submit online applications anytime.

18. Where should I apply for registration? Is there a website where I can submit my registration?
A: You can submit an online application through the China Imported Food Enterprise Registration system on the single-window platform. The single-window website is the only correct and legal platform for submitting the online registration application. When doing registration on the website page, the website will not ask you for any payment.

19. Do exporters or shippers need to record?
A: Yes, the exporter of the trade contract or shipper of BL has to do ire (Original AQSIQ) record. After recording will get an 11-digit record number, the record does not issue certificate nor validity limit. It should be noted that this record is very easy, we are obliged to help applicant record free of charge. Watch out for fraudulent websites.
(In China's administrative reform, AQSIQ no longer exist)

20. What are the ways to develop the Chinese market directly?

(1). Set up websites

Method: build websites and specially establish Chinese version, in which your company's products and services can be introduced in detail. This is the best mode of transmission spreading over a whole area from one point without contact and without time and spatial constraint.  To promote Chinese users’ experience of browsing products, it is recommended to configurate network servers or network nodes of China region and furnish with network acceleration. To ensure the safety of website data, SSL (Secure socket layer) security protocol certificate (it can be identified by confirming if the beginning of URL is “https:”, or the browser will provide information related to you) should be configurated for the websites. When Chinese customers are interested in your company’s products, they will proactively send email or call to your company to get further and detailed information about the products and services, setting the stage for conclusion of business.

(2). Promote through network

Method: if possible, keywords paid promotion can be made by the only mainstream search engine (https://www.baidu.com/) in China. Or you can pay for keywords promotion or SEO optimization by Google search engine (https://www.google.com/), since Chinese customers in demand always search the products they want to purchase through Google search engine.

(3). Join B2B e-commerce platform

Method: You can join B2B e-commerce platforms of your country, China, or international mainstream platforms which are also well equipped with excellent SEO optimizations or network servers in China region. Yet with extremely high cost, they need to be configurated with corresponding professional team or staff, which makes it not fit to middle and small-sized enterprises. Therefore, this kind of promotion measure is more a consideration than a recommendation.

(4). Obtain industry data via professional platform

Method: proactive delivery, for example, EDM email, which are of lowest cost, but low efficiency and effectiveness and relying on persistence.

(5). Cross-border e-commerce

Method: if your company’s products have been approved for their compliance in high tariff and high technology in China, it is recommended that the sale be made in China’s B2C cross-border e-commerce platforms, in which most products will be generally exempt from the restriction of regulatory requirements such as official documents for products and Chinese label. It occurs typically in health food and cosmetics.

(6). Set up Chinese company and build market team based on Chinese employees.

Method: directly make expansion on Chinese market, and establish your own supply chain and client base so that more material benefits can be produced for buyers and sellers with the decrease of middleman, bringing more convenience on taking part in various market activities within China. Build market team based on Chinese employees, providing them with reasonable salary and indicators for performance check, assigning professionals for market development.

(7). Attend industry exhibitions in China

Method: With a complete range of exhibitions in China, it will be extremely advantageous for expanding Chinese market by attending authoritative industry exhibitions that are closely related to your company’s products. Good exhibitions represent good opportunity to find out potential customers and develop agencies.

(8). Proactively join the associations or chambers of commerce of China

Method: As foreign merchant, proactively joining China’s related industry associations or chambers of commerce will provide you with the access to business publications and research reports, etc., and with the opportunity of participating in large-scale industry exhibitions in which the associations are engaged, as well as with assistance and support from the associations when there are any doubts. It is important to note that prudence is needed when choosing proper and legal associations and organizations so that misleading by network false information can be avoided.

(9). Flexibly use WeChat and its business functions

Method: WeChat is a mainstream social software in China with a variety of features. In daily market development, all types of customers can be added as contacts. The most effective ways of business communication, including individual communication with potential customers, group communication by building customer group, and sharing products or services by posting them on WeChat Moments, will greatly improve efficiency of communication and business transaction.

(10). Seek for the support of your country’s team in charge of commerce from the embassy in China, who can offer assistance, consultation or confirmation within their power.