China
No agreement yet · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05
27 screening rules
- Labeling: 12 rules — 9 blocking, 2 conditional, 1 advisory
- Additives: 4 rules — 4 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
- Contaminants & residue limits: 4 rules — 4 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
- Import & registration: 7 rules — 7 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Market profile
- Main food law
- Food Safety Law 2021 (EN HTML)
- Labeling regulation
- GB 7718-2011 (EN); GB 7718-2025 (GAIN)
- Additives and residue limits
- GB 2760/2762 via GAIN (see notes)
- National standards body
- GB official EN translations — paywalled
- Latest USDA FAIRS report
- 2026
Certificates required
- China GACC overseas food manufacturer registration (CIFER; Decree 248 → Decree 280) — Mandatory (Applies to: All overseas food manufacturers/storage facilities)
- Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Mandatory (Applies to: Meat, dairy, aquatic products, bird's nest, other high-risk categories)
- Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Animal products from approved countries/plants)
- Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Plant products with market access protocols)
- Certificate of origin – non-preferential — Mandatory (Applies to: All imports)
- Other FTA origin certificates (ASEAN Form D, RCEP, AfCFTA, China FTA Form E etc.) — Mandatory (Applies to: Goods claiming FTA preference)
- Certificate of analysis (CoA) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Dairy (infant formula), high-risk foods)
- FSSC 22000 — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers)
Import and export
Documents to import
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / air waybill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (non-preferential; preferential FTA forms e.g. ASEAN Form D / RCEP where claimed) — Issued by: Exporting-country chamber or authority — Conditional
- Import customs declaration — Issued by: China Customs (GACC) — Mandatory
- Overseas food manufacturer registration (Decree 280, replaces Decree 248 from 1 Jun 2026) — Issued by: GACC via CIFER (competent-authority recommendation for 17 high-risk categories; self-registration for others) — Mandatory
- Importer (consignee) filing record — Issued by: GACC — Mandatory
- Overseas exporter/agent filing record — Issued by: GACC — Mandatory
- Official health / sanitary certificate from exporting country — Issued by: Exporting-country competent authority (format agreed with GACC) — Conditional
- Phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: Exporting NPPO — Conditional
- Quarantine Import Permit (QIP / entry animal and plant quarantine permit) — Issued by: GACC — Conditional
- Chinese-language label (GB 7718 / GB 28050) affixed before import — Issued by: Importer — Mandatory
- Test report / certificate of analysis — Issued by: Accredited lab / manufacturer — Conditional
- CIQ inspection and quarantine at port (release after conformity assessment) — Issued by: GACC port customs — Mandatory
Documents to export
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / air waybill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Export customs declaration — Issued by: China Customs (GACC) — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (non-preferential and FTA forms) — Issued by: GACC / CCPIT — Conditional
Government fees
- Overseas manufacturer registration (Decree 280) (Import) — 0 CNY
- Entry inspection and quarantine fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Importer / exporter filing record (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Certificate of origin (GACC/CCPIT) (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Customs single window: China International Trade Single Window; CIFER
Customs duties are not included.
A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.
Official sources
- Food Safety Law of the PRC (2021 amendment) — English text (2021) Open the source
- GB 7718-2011 — General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods, Part I (EN, USDA FSIS translation) (2011) Open the source
- GB 7718-2011 — Part II appendices (EN, USDA FSIS translation) (2011) Open the source
- USDA GAIN — GB 7718-2025 Prepackaged Food Labeling Standard finalized (EN translation, CH2025-0070) (2025) Open the source
- USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — China (CH2026-0026) (2026) Open the source
- USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report — China (CH2025-0061) (2025) Open the source
- USDA GAIN — Exporter Guide China (CH2024-0076; GACC Decree 248/249 context) (2024) Open the source
Reference documents
- USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — China (2026) Open the source
- GB 7718-2025 Prepackaged Food Labeling Standard (EN GAIN) (2025) Open the source
- USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report — China (2025) Open the source
- USDA GAIN — Exporter Guide China (2024) Open the source
- Food Safety Law of the PRC (2021 amendment) — EN (2021) Open the source
- GB 7718-2011 Labeling of Prepackaged Foods Part I (EN FSIS) (2011) Open the source
- GB 7718-2011 Part II (EN FSIS) (2011) Open the source
- Official English versions of GB standards (GB 2760, GB 2762 etc.)
Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.
Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.