2.

Agency responsible: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC)

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Foods

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X]     All trading partners

[ ]      Specific regions or countries:

5.

Title of the notified document: Administrative Provisions of the People's Republic of China on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (Draft for comments). Language(s): Chinese. Number of pages: 8

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2025/SPS/CHN/25_00356_00_x.pdf

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2025/SPS/CHN/25_00356_01_x.pdf

6.

Description of content: In order to implement the relevant provisions of Article 96 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, adapt to China's further expansion of opening-up and the rapid growth of imported food trade, safeguard the safety of imported food and promote trade facilitation, the existing Administrative Provisions of the People's Republic of China on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (GACC Decree 248) will be optimized and improved.

The main amendments include:

1.    Based on the recognition of equivalence of the exporting countries (regions)' food safety inspection systems, GACC will approve the officially recommended registration manufacturers lists in bulk as well as optimize and simplify the registration procedures;

2.    Following the principle of risk management, GACC will add the Food Manufacturers List that Requires A Recommendation Letter from the Competent Authority and adjust it dynamically, while improving the registration classification and categorization management;

3.    GACC will optimize the pre-registration assessment and review, the verification of registration information at border posts, the post-registration review, and problems sorting after finding them;

4.    Following the principle of being prudent and pragmatic, GACC will optimize the expression of some provisions such as suspension, modification, and extension, etc. to enhance the flexibility and operability of the provisions;

5.    An exemption clause will be included, which allows overseas food manufacturers of food delivered by mail or courier, food samples, or food for display, etc. to be exempted from registration.

7.

Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.

8.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[X]       Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text): CAC/GL 34-1999 and CAC/GL 47-2003

[ ]        World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number):

[ ]        International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):

[ ]        None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[X] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): To be determined.

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): To be determined.

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): To be determined.

[ ]      Trade facilitating measure

12.

Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 11 March 2025

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

WTO/SPS National Notification and Enquiry Center of the People's Republic of China

Tel: +(86 10) 5795 4645

       +(86 10) 5795 4642

E-mail: sps@customs.gov.cn

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

WTO/SPS National Notification and Enquiry Center of the People's Republic of China

Tel: +(86 10) 5795 4645

       +(86 10) 5795 4642

E-mail: sps@customs.gov.cn