Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. : EIC 631/2/5/1

14 December 2021

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 872/2021

The Mainland of China : Notice Concerning Certain Implementation Issues Related to the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" and the "Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety"

The General Administration of Customs issued on 13 December 2021 a notice concerning certain implementation issues related to the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" ("Regulations") and the "Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety" ("Measures"). Both the "Regulations" and the "Measures" will be implemented on 1 January 2022. Please refer to the Appendix (pdf format) for the notice (available in Chinese only).

2.With effect from 1 January 2022, all overseas manufacturers (including those from Hong Kong) must have been registered with the General Administration of Customs (GACC) before exporting food to the Mainland of China (the Mainland). A registered manufacturer should mark the Mainland registration number approved by GACC or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the respective country/region on the inside and outside packaging of the food exported to the Mainland. Food items whose packaging do not carry the registration numbers will be rejected entry into the Mainland. Also, the requirements of the "Measures" on packagings, labels, and marks of food exported to the Mainland are applicable to those produced on or after 1 January 2022, and packagings, labels, and marks of food produced before 1 January 2022 and exported to the Mainland would be subject to the original regulatory requirements.

3.For the above-mentioned "Regulations" and "Measures", please refer to CIC No. 254/2021 and CIC No. 255/2021 (both dated 15 April 2021) respectively for details.

ENQUIRIES

4.If you have any questions on the content of the document mentioned in this circular, please contact the issuing authority of the Mainland direct (enquiry hotline of the GACC: +86-10-12360). For questions related to the required recommendation by the competent authority of the respective country/region to the GACC for registration and other relevant matters, as well as questions related to export of food (made or processed in Hong Kong) to the Mainland, please contact the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department/the Centre for Food Safety (email: fsc@fehd.gov.hk). For other questions on this circular, please contact Mainland Branch (I) (tel: 2398 5444) of the Department.

Yours faithfully,

(Calvin CHOY)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.