How China’s new food safety rules affect importers and exporters
30 June 2022
On 1 January, China’s latest set of food safety laws came into effect, and British exporters and importers of food need to be aware of their implications.
These new rules from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (or GACC), found in Measures for the Safety Administration of Imported and Exported Food (GAC Decree No.249) and Administrative Provisions on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (GAC Decree No.248), were published on 12 April 202; by leaving nearly eight months until full implementation, those affected, including customs agents, brands and traders, were given time to assess their impact, and get ready.
The additional rules are wide-ranging in scope, covering aspects as diverse as overseas facilities registration, quarantine and inspection, product labelling, obligations for Chinese domestic food importers and more.
The rules emphasise that producers and operators are accountable for the safety of the food products they produce and handle, and introduces the concept of a “conformity assessment” to deal with the evaluation of foreign food safety management systems, the registration of overseas food export facilities, and the records that must be filed by importers and exporters.
Chinese food importers are now required to establish a system for review of their suppliers, including overseas exporters and production facilities.
The rules also stipulate the kinds of measures that may be taken in response to food-safety incidents in China. The affirm clearly that imported food which fails to meet safety standards may result in imports being suspended, and product recalls will follow the same procedures that apply to domestically-produced foods. Producers and operators may apply for a re-inspection if they object to the GAC's inspection results. The GAC may also take control measures when issues arise, such as increasing the level of supervision and inspection rates. Imports of certain food products may even be banned by the GAC, in extreme cases.
Overseas production enterprises whose products are exported to China are required to be registered with the GAC, a process that is done through the so-called “Single Window”. The new rules go into more detail than before about how the GAC will conduct food safety inspections and assessments, including “material examinations, video inspection, and on-site inspections”.
These new rules should be reviewed carefully by British food producers and exporters. Working closely with our network of in-market specialists, Chamber International is ready to assist when it comes to navigating food exports to China and keeping compliant – please do contact us if you are in need of support.
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