Imported dairy products mainly include colostrum, raw milk and dairy products, such as pasteurized milk, sterilized milk, modified milk, fermented milk, cheese and process(ed) cheese, cream, butter, anhydrous milkfat, condensed milk, milk powder, whey powder and whey protein powder, milk-based infant and young children formula food and its production raw material base powder, casein and other milk and dairy products (such as milk mineral and milk protein).

The General Administration of China Customs supervises imported dairy products in accordance with the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations, Law of the People's Republic of China on Imported and Exported Commodity Inspection and its implementing regulations, Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety and Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food.

01 National access

After evaluating and reviewing the food safety management systems and food safety conditions of overseas countries (regions), the General Administration of China Customs will determine the list of dairy products from those countries (regions) that obtain access and publish the "Catalogue of Foods Imported to China from Countries or Regions that Meet the Evaluation and Review Requirements and Have Traditional Trade with China" on the website of the General Administration of China Customs.

02 Enterprise qualification

• Registration of overseas manufacturers

Overseas manufacturers that export dairy products to China should be recommended for registration by the competent authorities of their countries (regions) to the General Administration of China Customs, and cannot export to China before passing the registration with the General Administration of China Customs.

• Filing of overseas exporters or agents and domestic consignees

Overseas exporters or agents and domestic consignees should file their information through the Importer and Exporter Filing System for Imported Foods and Cosmetics of the General Administration of China Customs, and domestic consignees should file with Customs at their place of residence. Only after obtaining filing can importers and exporters handle food import business with Customs.

03 Quarantine approval

Entry quarantine approval procedures are required for importing raw milk, raw milk products, pasteurized milk and modified milk produced by pasteurization technology, and an entry animal and plant quarantine license should be obtained before the trade contract is signed.

04 Application and review

When importing food, importers or agents should apply for it truthfully to Customs in accordance with laws and provide the following documents:

• Health certificate, certificate of place of origin

• Certification materials that meet China national food safety standards

Dairy products imported for the first time should provide a testing report for the items listed in the corresponding national food safety standards.

Dairy products that are not imported for the first time should provide a copy of the first import testing report and the testing report of the items required by the General Administration of China Customs. The certification materials that meet China national food safety standards should be subject to the system of notification and commitment of certification matters. Enterprises can choose whether to use notification and commitment instead of certification materials based on actual conditions.

• The entry animal and plant quarantine license are required for importing raw milk, raw milk products, pasteurized milk and modified milk produced by pasteurization technology

• "Infant and Young Children Formula Milk Powder Formula Registration Certificate" "Food for Special Medical Purpose Registration Certificate"

• Organic product certification, organic product sales license, certification mark and product logo are required for importing organic products

05 On-site inspection

Customs inspection personnel conduct on-site inspection and take samples for inspection, and conduct inspection and quarantine of imported dairy products, internal and external packaging containers, means of transport and containers.

06 Release and non-conforming treatment

If the dairy products are qualified after the conformity assessment of Customs, they will be released and a certificate of qualification Certificate of Inspection and Quarantine of Entry Goods is issued; If not, Customs will issue a certificate of non-conformity Notice of Inspection and Quarantine Processing.

07 Other requirements

• A registered manufacturer shall mark the Chinese registration number or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the country/region on the inner and outer packaging of the foods exported to China.

• Imported infant and young children formula milk powder will not be allowed if the period from the customs declaration date to the expiration date is less than 3 months.

• Strictly prohibit importing large-packaged infant and young children formula milk powder to sub-package within China. Imported infant and young children formula milk powder should be canned in the smallest retail package sold to consumers.

• The label of an imported food for special dietary use such as infant and young children formula must be printed on the smallest sales package, and shall not be affixed thereto.

• The package of organic dairy products should be marked with an organic code, which can be queried through the Information Service Platform for Standardization of Certification and Accreditation of the State Administration for Market Regulation.

Source: Nanjing Customs 12360 Hotline

Note: This article is compiled by Antion. Please indicate the source for reprint.