On this page
- Eligible/ineligible products
- CFIA pre-export requirements
- Pre-export registration by competent authority of importing country
- Additional considerations
Eligible/ineligible products
Eligible products
On November 7, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) announced an official catalog of imported agricultural products, including various aquatic animals and unprocessed agri-food products, which require registration in the online system managed by GACC's Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine (DAPQ), which came into effect December 15, 2025.
Canadian exporters should consult with their importers and review the Catalog of Imported Agricultural Products Requiring Overseas Official Recommendation for Registration (Chinese only). Note that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published an English courtesy translation of the announcement and catalogue.
Note
- For China's phytosanitary requirements for plants and plant-based products, contact a plant health inspector at your local Canadian food Inspection Agency (CFIA) office
- For information on food products for export to China requiring registration in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system, refer to the individual product type webpages in the CFIA's Food export requirements library
Ineligible products
Agri-food products for which Canada does not have market access are not eligible for export to China and cannot be registered with DAPQ.
Currently ineligible agri-food products from Canada which cannot be registered by DAPQ include:
- lentils (raw grain)
- chickpeas (raw grain)
- fava beans (raw grain)
- adzuki beans (raw grain)
- oats (raw grain)
- most types of fresh fruits and vegetables (due to plant health restrictions)
- unroasted cocoa beans
Note: exporters interested in exporting currently ineligible products to China may contact Agriculture and Agri-food Canada's (AAFC) Market Access Secretariat (MAS) single window by email at: aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.
CFIA pre-export requirements
Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence
Companies submitting information to MAS for DAPQ registration for agri-food products do not need a SFC licence unless they are already required to be licensed for reasons unrelated to exports to China.
Canadian establishment ID number
Canadian companies which self-identify to MAS their interest in processing, manufacturing, or storing agri-food products requiring registration by DAPQ and are not registered in CIFER will be assigned a unique identification number by MAS.
Canadian companies already registered in CIFER for other products should provide MAS with the establishment identification number used to create their CIFER account (for example, CFIA issued 4-character ID number or pre-SFCR registration number).
Note: after an establishment is registered with DAPQ, they will also be assigned a 17 digit "China registration number" which begins with the designation "QCAN".
Pre-export registration by competent authority of importing country
Registration with DAPQ
Food companies that manufacture, process, or store the agri-food products identified in the Catalog of Imported Agricultural Products Requiring Overseas Official Recommendation for Registration (Chinese only) must apply for registration in China's DAPQ system via MAS.
To apply for registration, contact the MAS single window at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca and provide the following information:
- company name
- complete company address
- CFIA-issued establishment identification number (if applicable)
- product type
- establishment activity type
Note: GACC's announcement (English courtesy translation of the announcement and catalogue) clarified that companies which only export and do not handle, process, or store products do not require registration.
Chinese registration number
GACC's announcement clarified that the Chinese registration number of each foreign facility responsible for production, manufacture, processing, or storage must be cited directly on customs documentation for each commodity (importer responsibility). The USDA has provided an English courtesy translation of the announcement and catalogue.
This Chinese registration number is issued by GACC at the time of registration in the DAPQ online system and differs from the Canadian establishment ID number. Companies can verify the Chinese registration number issued by DAPQ at:
Verify DAPQ registration
Once approved by DAPQ, registered Canadian companies may review their related corporate and registration information on the following website managed by DAPQ:
DAPQ online system - Quarantine Registration List of Overseas Animals and Plants and Relevant Products – This includes grain, pulses and oilseeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, live aquatic animals, plant-based spices, plant-derived traditional Chinese medicines, as well as unroasted coffee beans and unroasted cocoa beans
Search the DAPQ online system using the following main filters:
- under "Type", select "Plants and plant products"
- under "Country/Region", select "Canada"
Note: the dropdown menu is not in alphabetical order and to find Canada, select the arrow in the search field and type 'CAN' - under "Product Type", users may refine the search by one of DAPQ's product type categories. Currently, Canada has companies listed in the Portal for the following agri-food product types
- Grain, including miscellaneous grains and beans and oil crops, (subject to China's plant health approvals and restrictions)
- Fresh fruits and vegetables (subject to China's plant health approvals and restrictions)
- Live aquatic animals (subject to China's approved species list and disease restrictions – refer to the China – Export requirements for fish and seafood)
- Plant-based spices
- Plant-derived traditional Chinese medicines (subject to China's plant health approvals and restrictions)
- Unroasted coffee beans
Optional secondary filters in the Portal are as follows:
- under "Overseas official registration No. (English)", users may also enter a specific Establishment ID Number that was submitted at the time of company registration with DAPQ
- under "Registration No. of Chinese side (English)", users may enter a registration number that was issued in China
Note: this is a 17- character number that begins with 'QCAN' - under "Product category", users may further refine the product type
- under "Registration status", users may filter by "Normal" or "Suspension"
- "Product name" is a free text field
- "Enterprise name" is a free text field
Note: companies who have trouble locating their registration information can contact the MAS single window at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.
Additional considerations
Canadian establishments should consult their importer in China to identify any additional requirements for foods and agri-foods exported to China.
Packaging, labelling and marking requirements
It is the responsibility of Canadian establishments and exporters to communicate with their importers in China to ensure that packaging, labelling and markings meet China's requirements.
Other documentation requirements
Export certificates
Exporters should consult their importer in China on whether a CFIA-issued export certificate is required for their shipment.
Phytosanitary certificates
Canada does not have market access to China for all plant products due to plant health risks. If Canada has market access, many plant products require phytosanitary certification by CFIA prior to export to China. Exporters should contact their local CFIA office well in advance of export to verify whether a phytosanitary certificate is required by China for specific plant products.
Other information
GACC general information
Further information on import requirements can be obtained from GACC. The CFIA encourages Canadian establishments to work with their importers in China to confirm the regulatory requirements of agri-food shipments prior to export.
Market access enquiries
If Canadian establishments have questions or are seeking support regarding Canada's market access to China for certain agri-food products, they should contact the AAFC-MAS single window at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.