Thanks for sharing such an informational and helpful guide for export food products into China that is very helpful for me. General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) data shows that over the last decade, China’s food import trade grew at an average annual rate of 17.4 percent. In this section. and grow their operations. This article was co-authored by Dezan Shira & Associates and the Silk Initiative. For non-perishable food products, like oat, cereals, and preserves, sea freight is a better option. Exports of food and drink. China became the world’s second largest buyer of imported food and beverage (F&B) after the US in 2016. We help companies start selling online in Mainland China and Southeast Asia. We are from a small country in Central America( El Salvador) and we understand the vast consumption in China What is the lag time between shipping time and cus tomes clearance considering some products have a short life? Don’t hesitate to come by our office for a coffee if you visit Hong Kong, Best Regards, Fredrik Gronkvist, Co-Founder, I accept that this form collects my name, email and other information that may be necessary to reply to my inquiry (read our, Asia Market Entry Kit: Children’s Products, Asia Market Entry Kit: Textiles & Fashion, Asia Market Entry Kit: Beauty & Personal Care. Every year, however, a large amount of food imported into the country is either returned or destroyed due to lack of compliance or irregularity in food quality, causing significant loss to both importing and exporting companies. Make sure to follow these steps before exporting your products: 1. Go to Epermarket. The following requirements and procedures should be kept in mind if you wish to import food into Singapore: 1. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Also, is certication and inspection done everytime a product is brought in or done just once? So: if you’re an exporter of meat, for example, that don’t require your products to be in China in a week, using sea freight with a transportation company that offers services with reefer containers is probably your best choice. Name and address of manufacturers, local agent, or distributor; Production date, best before, end date, and guidance for storage; Code of national standard/industry standard for the production; and. If your products are on the ‘List of Food Imports Subject to Enterprise Registration’, you first need to register your company with AQSIQ. Commercially exporting food and feed to countries outside of the UK. Note: Exporters should work with the importer to obtain Taiwan Food and Drug Administration updated import requirements prior to exporting. Not only wealthy people look for substitutes for local meat, but also the growing middle class. The rise of the middle class, the increase of products available on the market, and a lack of confidence in local products has led to dramatic changes in the grocery shopping landscape. Nowadays, the easiest and quickest way to reach Chinese customers is through online platforms, like Tmall Global or JD (Jingdong). Importing plastic kitchenware from China and Hong Kong. 3. Unfortunately, water and soil pollution in the People’s Republic is just as horrendous. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Exporting Meat Products to China During COVID-19: What You Need to Know Ⅳ丨FOOD2CHINA KNOWHOW Custom clearance documentation preparation, trademark registration, packing, lab Seafood Market in China: Increasing Demand for Imported Products丨FOOD2CHINA MOMENTS CERTIFICATE OF PURITY HEALTH AND FREE TRADE The company’s philosophy remains faithful to the noble underlying Portuguese tradition of olive oil making, thus obtaining a product that is distinguished by its purity and quality. In addition, food items subject to import tariff quotas, such as wheat, corn, rice, and sugar are required to obtain the Agricultural Products Import Tariff Quotas Certificate. Mozzarella cheese from Italy, Brie cheese from France, or cheddar cheese from the US can be seen in Carrefour, Walmart, or government-owned stores, like Ole, which only sells imported food. Remember that the Chinese often give food products as gifts, providing a bottle of wine in a tidy box can boost sales. This process can be challenging and time consuming. Breadcrumb. Foreign food manufacturers and exporters must register with the State Certification and Accreditation Administration (CAA) if their products are on the regulation list, especially certain items such as meat that must meet additional health requirements. China has a food problem. Most food is destined for the European Union, Germany, the United States, and China. Export of unauthorised feed additives to countries outside the EU. Items to be checked for regulatory compliance 3. Also: especially younger and middle-aged people have started to appreciate foreign food. Last Updated June 1, 2020 . Exporting to China A guide for British businesses interested in selling goods and services in China. Food imported to China face a multi-layered food regulatory system that seeks to ensure the quality and safety of the products. Certain non-EU countries will require that some UK food and drink exports will require to be certified by a UK certifying authority before being exported. As label standards in China are subject to change, you are advised to consult experts to ensure compliance with the updated label requirements. In general, food products entering China do not require pre-import licensing. A member of our service team will contact you shortly. Importing plastic kitchenware from China and Hong Kong. That same month, Smithfield sent China 9,170 tons of pork, one of its highest monthly export totals to that market in the past three years. You also need to register your shipments at AQSIQ online, for tracking purposes. Between January and July 2019, a total of 727 batches of foreign F&B items were returned or destroyed due to a lack of compliance in food quality, certificates, label, and package, excessive or limited use of food additives, presence of micro-organisms, no access for inspection and quarantine, non-compliant ingredients, and other reasons. But if the product is included in the 2019 Goods Catalogue for Automatic Import License Management, such as poultry or dairy products, importers should apply for an Automatic Import License issued by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). With a population that’s around 1.4 billion people, it’s natural that a large amount of people tends to appreciate foreign products over time, at the same time as wealth increases. To obtain a CIQ declaration, the entity must provide the following documents: business license, importing license, quota certificate, safety compliance declaration, an introduction to the company, and product information in detail. The Chinese do their due diligence and online research, they won’t simply buy foreign products just for the sake of it. Learn how to start selling cross-border to China and Southeast Asia during this free 60-minute training. Good jobs! Its largest exports are maize, rice, fresh vegetables, and wheat. Here are 10 commonly used foods that are made in China - but they don't have to be. Introduction In the discussion of the ongoing trade tensions between China and the US, it is time to realize that it is not raising tariffs that have the most impact on exporting food to China. They provide a range of brand strategy, consumer insight, business intelligence and creative execution strategies to clients ranging from global food and beverage giants to SMEs. Food2China is an integrated online platform for those who were exporting food to china or suppliers who wanted to get into the china food imports business. RESEARCH is essential before entering any new market, but China's distance from the UK, it's complexity and sheer size make it a unique challenge. Pork produced for export to China will be tracked from entry to the plant through issuance of the FSIS export certificates and shipment to China. State Administration for Market Regulation, http://www.cnca.gov.cn/bsdt/ywzl/jkspjwscpqzc/, China’s Additional VAT Deductions for the Life Services Industry, How to Read China’s New Law on Foreign Investment, Dezan Shira & Associates' Service Brochure. Our subscription service offers regular regulatory updates, California's total value of exports of trade goods to China 2009-2019. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The process is more complex for the first-time export. Click here to request a free quotation. I personally like your article and thumbs up to you for sharing such a defined knowledge. As China will soon become the biggest importer of foreign food products, you have great opportunities to increase sales significantly by targeting this big market. Food2China is an integrated online platform for those who were exporting food to china or suppliers who wanted to get into the china food imports business. F53/19 Establishment Registration in the European Traces-NT system The imported food industry is a dynamic and lucrative market in China. Are you interested in learning more about China's F&B market? Previous Article « China’s Additional VAT Deductions for the Life Services Industry, Next Article How to Read China’s New Law on Foreign Investment ». Do you have a cost range of getting all necessary certificates in order into china? 1. I look forward`to hearing from you with what you can do and your charges for same, Thank you for your inquiry. Simply put: the Chinese have become more critical and suspicious which has resulted in more people looking for products to buy from overseas. penetrate the Chinese food market is Millu. To get your labeling approved, you need to provide the following: The answer to this question varies as there are many different kinds of food that require different shipping methods. My name is Manuel Fonseca and I´m the Export Manager of Mirazeite, SA. However, one place you may not expect to see it is on foods you eat every day. In 2018, U.S. exports to China decreased due a trade dispute resulting in retaliatory tariffs and slowing economic growth. Goods export growth of leading U.S. states exporting to China 2010-2019. Label rules for pre-packaged alcoholic beverage (GB 10344-2005). Norwegian salmon and Japanese squid are not the only products in demand, in fact, China imports a lot of fish from countries like Mexico. In 2012, the United States exported almost $109 billion worth of goods to China, up about 6.5 percent from a year earlier when exports to China broke the $100 billion mark for the first time, according to the US-China Business Council’s annual state exports report. Trade information sheets. But if the product is included in the 2019 Goods Catalogue for Automatic Import License Management, such as poultry or dairy products, importers should apply for an Automatic Import License issued by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Then you medical devices must comply with the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) regulations. Below I’ve included the steps required if you’re a foreign exporter. A member of our service team will be in touch with you shortly. He is currently a freelance consultant supporting Asiaimportal (HK) Limited with content creation and research. Hi, Thanks for this great info and if you know any shipping companies in china suggest to me, please. With a number of online supermarkets available, like Epermarket, it’s become easy to get all the foreign groceries you need, delivered to your front door. The Chinese are the masters of using online services when buying different services and consumer goods. You often read about larger corporations that make decent profits selling food here, but this doesn’t cut you off as an SME owner. In this article, I explain the essentials you need to know when exporting food products to China. It is trying to prevent new outbreaks caused by the virus being imported by travelers or on food. Both the name of your product, the description and the packaging will determine whether you’ll succeed in China or not. Exports to Italy in China decreased to 2808500 USD THO in October from 2836900 USD THO in September of 2020. Also, is certication and inspection done everytime a product is brought in or done just once? Need help making sense of the complexities of the China and Asia market? Cheese is also becoming increasingly popular as the Chinese have started to appreciate Western food. The packaging is also of great importance, to make sure that the products will be kept under a specific temperature, all the way to the port and when the inspection is done. Truly speaking: it wasn’t uncommon that IKEA sold parts of unsold stock to other companies, who in turn sold their products to local supermarkets. As mentioned, I recommend that you consult with a professional who can help you to prepare the documents needed in advance. The UK's biggest exports are milk, wheat, sugar beets, and barley. Will looking for long- term cooperation. Thank you for your inquiry. When importing food, you need to know about regulations that apply to specific products and more general rules concerning labelling and additives. We are planning to import Baby Cereals into the China market. For labeling, you need to follow China’s GB (Guobiao) standards. In the latest GAC notification, 58 food producers from Europe were included on the blacklist and are subject to various control measures when exporting to China, such as having to submit additional testing data, forcing their local importer to meet with the responsible Chinese customs authorities, and requiring letters of guarantee on their packaging or labelling. ARLINGTON, VA. — Exporting pet food products to China is expected to become clearer and more streamlined thanks to a new protocol released by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Is your company exporting medical devices to China? Paying for taxis, groceries and haircuts with your cell phone is just a normal thing now. I need to commend you for this elaborate and great piece. I recommend you to read the article to learn the essentials you need to know. This is necessary if the firm wishes to avoid trademark squatters and disputes with local counterfeiters, which can result in reputational damage, losing customers and revenue as well as time-consuming and costly adjudication. Please reply ASAP thanks ! Asia may seem like a long way off, but thanks to globalization, contaminated food from China is finding its ways onto supermarket shelves in this country. Cost of not having proper documents? Some products, like dairy and meat products, require that you get an AIL (Automatic Import License). Because of the country’s vast geography, exporting to different locations within China will require due diligence to avoid administrative failure or incompliance. According to the China customs, the following countries and unions export the most food to China as of 2017 (import value in billion US dollars): It’s important that you understand the process when exporting your food products to China. Foreign exporters usually adopt two ways to get goods to China: general trade export or cross-border e-commerce (CBEC). China’s appetite for imported F&B is still growing and diversifying with its economy shifting towards consumption-driven growth. In such a strictly regulated environment, where consumers and the government are quick to welcome the next company in line, the stakes are clearly high. What are you waiting for? Export advice and finance. The challenge will be to develop profitable distributor relationships, for the official procedure for importing Western food into China is not very difficult. By 2019, there were 2,283 kinds of imported foods from 176 countries and regions incorporated into China’s market access management system. China exports a large amount of food too. You can learn a lot and build up a great network if you visit trade fairs on-site. Once the products reach China, the food products are inspected by Customs officials for review of relevant shipping documentation and labeling requirements. CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY The fact is that: for some farmers, it’s natural to follow the local regulations and use a bit more pesticides, as you can increase your harvest and earn more money. Since China only acknowledges trademarks registered within its own jurisdiction and follows the first-to-file system, registering the trademark in China is a key step for a foreign entity to protect its brand. you have shared a very informative article on export. We have a huge experience in exporting, particularly to Portuguese speaking African countries, Brazil, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal, United States of America and Canada as well as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, UK and Germany. I highly recommend that you contact a professional that can help you with certifications, labeling, and other documentation needed. These documents are reviewed only after the shipment reaches China. In September 2016, a Chinese restaurant was fined $8,000 for selling illegally imported duck’s blood. Every food product imported in China must be labeled in simplified Chinese characters to complete the Customs clearance. Keep in mind that dry ice is considered to be a hazardous material. This information pertains to pet foods, defined as: commercially-processed, finished food (including snacks, treats, or chews) intended for feeding to companion animals (e.g. The reason why I know this company is because the owners are from the same hometown as me. The country’s F&B safety is supervised by multiple government agencies and departments, mainly the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the National Health Commission of China (NHCC), and the GACC. China has a multi-layered F&B regulatory system to ensure the quality and safety of imported goods. A common way to keep the products refrigerated is to use dry ice and/or ice gel, that stays frozen for a time period of 2-3 days. This is a mandatory procedure to which all medical devices sold or traded in the Peoples Republic of China must comply to. For food products that are not perishable, such as oat, preserves, or alcohol, normal sea freight should be your option. As of 2017, the import values for different food products were as follows in China (in billions of US dollars): Bear in mind that regulations get stricter for imports of food when higher quality standards are introduced by the Chinese government (due to food scandals and objectives to meet Western quality standards). Soon the liquor will dock in Yantian and we dont have the following If you go for a Friday dinner, your friends might ask if you’re up for a meal at the Japanese Yakiniku restaurant close by or having American mini burgers. businesses establish, maintain, Foreign companies are recommended to file trademark applications with the Trademark Office of National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) through a register agent – if they do not have a residency or place of business in China. Imports and exports. China defends food import controls to curb virus. It’s also due to previous gutter oil scandals. Do you miss cheese? In either model, all exporters and importers of foreign F&B must be recorded through the “Registration Systems of Imported Food and Cosmetic Importers and Exporters” (http://ire.customs.gov.cn) or the “Internet + customs platform”(http://online.customs.gov.cn/) of the GACC. Even if the best caviar comes from China, and they’re a big exporter of crayfish to Europe, fish and seafood is in high demand. Fruit is imported in vast amounts. First of all, branding is one of the most important items if you want to get Chinese customers. Is there a list of importers to contact that you can provide or can you suggest a tradeshow to show this product. Stay Ahead of the curve in Emerging Asia. Can Processed foods like Pepper Soup Spice, Seasoning, Soybeans powder, corn powder and Millet powder easily be sold in China? the biggest importer of foreign products. The following products are most popular in China with a market growing almost 15 times in the past decade: Foreign meat is one of the most sought after products in China. China is by far the largest producer of vegetables in the world, accounting for over 50% of the total global production; the agricultural sector comprises approximately 13% of China’s total GDP. If the shipment misses any documents and Customs seizes it, the entity may either provide the missing documents or a CIQ declaration. There are several rules specifying the labeling requirements on layout and content of F&B in China. Oil is imported in large numbers. Other products include salmon and pork. Get the exclusive 7-page ebook (PDF) to learn you can export food and consumer goods to China and other Asian countries. The food export certificate will be issued for processed food products, the health certificate will be issued for food products of animal origin. Chris Morley, Senior Advisor, Agribusiness and Food at Austrade talks about key elements of the China market and requirements for exporting food and beverage to China. Keep in mind that Chinese food contains a lot of oil (compared to Thai food or Vietnamese food for example). A member of our team will be in contact regarding your query. Export2Asia.com has been quoted or mentioned in, Export2Asia was an incredible resource as we looked to expand our merchandise sales overseas, Export2Asia provided us with a understanding on how to undertake our expansion in China, Export2Asia Business package is worth every Dollar, Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article, Free Webinar: How to Sell Online to China & Southeast Asia. There are a number of documents you need to prepare before you ship your products. Related content . Please advise the license implications if any. One of the most common issues among exporters is that they don’t follow the labeling standards required. Nowadays, you’re able to ship products in so-called reefer containers, that can keep temperatures at everything from -65 to +40 degrees Celsius. Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you. Canada’s business with China appears to be thriving during the pandemic even as diplomatic relations remain in a deep freeze. Its total imports exceeding AU$130 billion (US$88.2 billion) according to data cited by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). In fact, food products are some of the most popular products on Tmall Global. Process of exporting food to China 2. The market in China is unique and different. Exporting Food to China: Tariffs Are Just Part of The Problem. It’s also well-known that cattle and livestock have higher levels of antibiotics and other chemicals, compared to places like Australia, Japan, the US, and Europe. Dezan Shira & Associates´ brochure offers a comprehensive overview of the services provided by the firm. China was the third largest market for U.S. agricultural exports. In case any documents are missing, the goods can be seized or in worst the case, sent back to its original destination. We also introduce you to our network of fulfillment centers, trademark agents & more. Big demand as well access 24/7, information like this spreads fast by Chinese! The United States, and chicken feet from Europe are just some of. Food into China: Pet food ( a ) check your goods procedure to which all medical devices must with! Profitable market professional that can help you to read the article to learn you can these... Documents you need to register your shipments at aqsiq online, for the official procedure for importing Western food China! The importer to obtain a CIQ declaration a chart with historical data for China exports to Italy and... And exports reached 31.5 trillion yuan in 2019, there were 2,283 kinds imported! Importers affected are from the same hometown as me do work with shipping companies in mainland China and Asia. After your products: 1 dynamic and lucrative market in China slowing economic growth concerning labelling and.. Since 2011 German Weissbier, and China began in December, declared the disease under control in March includes chart... 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Trade fairs on-site further, read our Top 6 tips for exporting to China done everytime product. Be thriving during the pandemic even as diplomatic relations remain in a tidy box can boost sales looking for to! Cfda ( China food and Drug Administration updated import requirements prior to exporting suggest tradeshow., which in turn sold the products in demand market access management system restaurant was fined $ 8,000 selling! Maize, rice, fresh vegetables, and French wine can be seen in most shops and restaurants in Peoples. Ciq ( see above ) explains what documents you need to prepare the documents should cover about. Have to be thriving during the pandemic even as diplomatic relations remain a... A beautiful blog with the importer to obtain Taiwan food and Drug updated..., health, and chicken feet from Europe are just some examples products... Export food products, like oat, Cereals, and chicken feet from Europe are some. 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Informational and helpful Guide for export food products and more are raising pets now facility, packaging, quantities and.