General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Administration of the Registration of Foreign Producers of Imported Foodstuffs Provisions

Promulgated: March 14 2002
Effective: as of date of promulgation
Interpreting authority: Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) with authorization from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
Applicability: The Provisions apply to the registration of foreign-located enterprises that produce, process or store foodstuffs destined for importation to the PRC (Article 2). CNCA shall issue a list of foodstuffs that require registration (Article 4). A foodstuff for the purpose of the Provisions is any product or raw material that is intended for human consumption (Article 6).

Main contents: The Provisions state that the veterinary service, plant protection and public health systems in the country of product origin must be approved by CNCA (Article 7).
Article 10 lists the documentation to be submitted with a registration application. This includes laws and regulations on control of animal and plant epidemic situations, veterinary hygiene, public health, plant protection and pesticide residues in the country of product origin; a report on the quarantine and hygiene conditions of the enterprise by the local authorities; and a guarantee by the local authority that the enterprise conforms to PRC standards. A team from CNCA will perform an on-site inspection of production facilities (Article 11). Enterprises that pass the inspection will be registered.
CNCA may re-inspect registered enterprises (Article 12). Article 13 provides for a mandated time period in which enterprises that fail re-inspection can implement corrective measures. The packaging of the food products shall bear the registration number (Article 14). When imported products fail to meet standards, they will be returned, destroyed or treated in accordance with PRC legislation (Article 16). In serious cases, the enterprise's registration will be suspended. Article 17 explains that the registration number is non-transferable.
When an epidemic warning has been issued or when a serious public health threat exists in the country of product origin, CNCA may suspend importation (Article 18).
Related legislation: PRC, Quarantine of Plants and Animals Entering and Leaving China Law, Oct 30 1991, CLP 1991 No.10 p8; PRC, Quarantine of Plants and Animals Entering and Leaving China Law Implementing Rules, Dec 2 1996, CLP 1997 No.2 p12; PRC, Food Hygiene Law, Oct 30 1995, CLP 1995 No.10 p8; PRC, Import and Export Commodities Inspection Law, Feb 21 1989, CLP 1989 No.3 p10 and PRC, Import and Export Commodities Inspection Law Implementing Rules
Repealed legislation: Administration of the Registration of Foreign Producers of Imported Foodstuffs Guidelines (Trial Implementation), Dec 30 1999