Basis for filing

Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China

Regulations on the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection

Special Provisions of the State Council on Strengthening Supervision and Administration of Food and Other Product Safety

Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety (Order No. 249 of the General Administration of China Customs)

Announcement on the Release of the Provisions on the Administration of the Filing of Importers and Exporters and the Provisions on the Administration of Food Import Records and Sales Records (Announcement No. 55 of 2012 of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine)

Scope of application

Applicable to the filing of importers in China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao).

Food categories

Food categories mainly include:

Meat, egg and egg products, aquatic and products, Chinese medicinal materials, grain and grain products, oil and fat and oil-bearing materials, beverages, sugar, vegetables and vegetable products, vegetable seasonings, dried fruit and nuts, other plant-derived foods, canned dairy products, bee products, wine, pastries and cookies, preserved fruits, cigarettes, tea, condiments, other processed foods, special foods, bird’s nest products, overseas ocean fishery products.

Materials for filing

Importers should be filed with the Customs of the domicile and provide the following materials:

(1) Application Form for Filing of Consignee;

(2) Enterprise quality and safety management system;

(3) Organizational structure, department functions and post responsibilities related to food safety;

(4) Food categories and place of storage;

(5) Those who have engaged in the import, processing and sale of food in the past two years should provide relevant descriptions (food category and quantity).

Procedure

1. Importers make application to the Customs for filing through "Internet + Customs" (http://online.customs.gov.cn) or the China international trade "Single Window" (https://www.singlewindow.cn), and submit paper materials to the filing department of the competent Customs at the same time, who should be responsible for the authenticity of the information provided.

2. After importers submit the information, the filing system will automatically generate the filing application number, by which importers may check the process or modify the information.

3. The Customs will verify the filing materials and electronic information of importers. Where the information and materials are true and complete, the Customs will generate the filing number through the filing system and publish the list of enterprises filed; where the information and materials need to be modified after verification, the Customs will return to importers through the filing system, who may resubmit after revising the application information; where filing is not be granted after verification, the Customs will inform the reasons through the filing system and return the application.

What if the information changes

Where the contents of the filing information have changed, importers should, within 60 days from the date of change, submit an application for change to the Customs, who shall verify and modify the information.

Where the Customs finds that the filing information of importers is wrong or change of information has not been handled in time, the Customs may order them to make corrections within the prescribed time limit.

Validity period of filing

The filing is permanent.

Tips

Where the contents of the filing information have changed but importers fail to go through the change formalities in accordance with relevant provisions, and if the circumstances are serious, the Customs will give a warning.

If importers provide false information for filing, the Customs will impose them a fine of less than 10,000 Yuan.

Source: 12360 Customs Hotline

Note: This article is compiled by Antion, please indicate our source if reprint it.