Basis for filing

01 Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China

Article 96 Overseas exporters or export agents that export food to China, and importers shall be put on filing at the AQSIQ.

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

Article 8, Paragraph 2 The departments of quality inspection and drug supervision and administration shall, according to the integrity and quality management level of the manufacturers and operators and the results of risk assessment of the imported products, implement classified management of the imported products, and implement filing management of the consignee of the imported products.

03 Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety

Article 19 An overseas exporter or agent that exports food to China (hereinafter referred to as the "overseas exporter or agent") shall make a filing with the General Administration of Customs.

A food importer shall make a filing with the Customs Administration in the place of his or her domicile.

An overseas exporter or agent, or food importer shall be responsible for the truthfulness and validity of the materials provided when making a filing.

A list of overseas exporters or agents and food importers that have made a filing shall be published by the General Administration of Customs.

Condition of acceptance

The enterprise has obtained the business license.

Handling process

I. System input

1. Login "Internet + Customs" platform (http://online.customs.gov.cn)  — "enterprise management and check" — "filing of importers and exporters for imported food and cosmetics" — "filing of importers for imported food".

2. Login by user registration or by "e-port card".

3. Filling in information: Importers should fill in information and submit it through the filing system.

II. Submit paper materials on site

After submitting the filing application in the system, please submit the required paper materials to the local Customs, which need to be stamped with the official seal of the enterprise, and the Customs will accept the system application through the paper materials received.

1. Application Form for Filing of Consignee

Login "Internet + Customs" platform (http://online.customs.gov.cn)  — "guidelines" — "enterprise management and check" —  "filing of importers and exporters for imported food and cosmetics" — "filing of importers for imported food" — "catalogue of handling materials" — "consignee filing application form".

2. Organizational structure, department functions and post responsibilities related to food safety;

3. Food categories and place of storage;

4. 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).

III. Check the progress

After importers submit the information, the filing system will automatically generate the filing application number and query number, by which importers may check the process or modify the information. (Note: Customs will accept only after the enterprise system application + paper materials are submitted)

IV. Customs review

Where the application information for the filing is complete, the Customs will review it within 5 working days from the date of accepting the application. If the information and materials are true and complete, the enterprise will be recorded and published.

If the enterprise fails to pass the review, the Customs will inform the reasons through the filing system and return the application.

Q&A

1. How to determine whether it is necessary to handle the "filing of importers for imported food"?

Inquire "scope and code of imported food and cosmetics to be filinged". The path is to login the "filing system of importers and exporters for imported food and cosmetics" — "user manual" — "scope and code of imported food and cosmetics to be filinged", and the foods listed in the table need to be handled the filing of importers for imported food.

2. How long is the filing period for importers of imported food?

The filing is permanent.

3. Is it necessary to apply to the competent customs for change when the filing information of the importers which have been recorded change?

According to Article 20 of the Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety, where the contents of the filing information have changed, overseas exporters or export agents that export food to China, and importers shall, within 60 days from the date of change, handle the change formalities with the filing authority. Refer to the filing application for the process.

4. What application does the consignees of imported meat need to do for the filing?

According to the Announcement on the Cancellation of the Filing of the Consignee of Imported Meat and the Domestic Consignee of Imported Cosmetics (GACC Announcement No. 108 of 2021), the filing of the consignee of imported meat is cancelled from January 1, 2022.

If an enterprise needs to import meat, it needs to complete the filing of the recipient and consignor of the imported and exported goods, and tick "meat" in the category of food in the filing of importers for import food.

Source: Tianjin Customs 12360 Hotline

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