China (People's Republic of) – Export requirements for medium risk foods – Registration in China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER)

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Eligible/ineligible products

Eligible products

Under Decree 248 and Decree 249, food and agri-food products have been classified by China's General Administration of Customs China (GACC) as either "high risk", "medium risk", or "low risk".

As far as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is aware, Canada has market access for China for all medium-risk food products which require registration in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system maintained by GACC, including:

  • bee products (for example, honey, royal jelly)
  • meat casings (salted)
  • flours of cereals and pulses (for example, wheat flour, oat flour, soy flour, dry bean flour)
  • processed grain products (for example, malt, oatmeal)
  • edible vegetable oils (for example, canola oil)
  • functional foods
  • foods for special dietary purposes

Note: for information on other medium risk commodities, with establishment registration outside of CIFER, please refer to China (People's Republic of) – Export requirements for unprocessed agri-foods – listing registration

Note: for information on low-risk food products for export to China, please refer to China (People's Republic of) – Export requirements for low risk foods – CIFER registration

Note: for information on high-risk food products for export to China, please refer to the individual product type webpages for meat and poultry, fish and seafood, and milk and dairy products in the CFIA's Food export requirements library.

Ineligible products

It is unknown if there are any medium risk food products from Canada currently ineligible for registration.

CFIA pre-export requirements

Pre-export registration in CIFER

Food establishments that manufacture, process or cold store medium risk food products for export to China must be approved by CFIA prior to submitting their "applications for registration" in the CIFER system.

Note: Establishments responsible for ambient storage should verify with their importer in China whether CIFER registration is required.

Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence

Establishments submitting medium risk applications in the CIFER system must first be licensed under, and in compliance with, all aspects of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).

Establishment SFC licences must include the activity "preparing food for export".

Note on name and address: Establishments should ensure their company name and address on their SFC licence exactly matches their information in CIFER.

Note on SFC licence expiry: Establishments are advised to renew their existing SFC licence well in advance of its expiration date. Expiration of an SFC licence automatically retires the previous SFC licence number; only a new number may be issued by CFIA. A change in SFC licence number could negatively affect an establishment's registration status with GACC and subsequent clearance of shipments upon arrival in China.

CFIA application form for CIFER

The CFIA requires food establishments responsible for medium risk products to complete a CFIA application form prior to submitting applications in CIFER.

The form legally authorizes CFIA to submit establishment information to GACC in the CIFER system and is a legal waiver of CFIA liability for GACC decisions related to CIFER applications.

The CFIA application form can be obtained from the local CFIA office.

Establishment ID numbers

GACC requires all medium risk establishments to have an "overseas registration number" issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. CFIA issues an establishment identification (ID) number for this purpose, on request, prior to establishments creating their profile/account in CIFER. The establishment ID number can be either:

  • a CFIA-issued 4-character identification number; or
  • a registration number that was issued by CFIA prior to the SFCR, that is, prior to 2019

Note: Establishments may request a 4 character ID number through their local CFIA office.

Note: Establishments should not use their SFC licence number as their "overseas registration number" because the SFC licence number is subject to change in certain circumstances, for example, when a licence expires.

Note on China registration numbers for products: After an establishment is registered in CIFER, they may apply for product registrations. Each product type approved by GACC in CIFER will be assigned an 18 digit "China registration number" which begins with the designation "CCAN".

Pre-export registration by competent authority of importing country

CIFER accounts and application processes

To be eligible to export food to China for human consumption, all medium risk food product establishments, including processors, manufacturers, and cold storage warehouses must:

  • create an account (also known as a profile) in the CIFER system
  • request to have their account "certified" by CFIA in CIFER. A certified account allows establishments to submit applications for product registration in CIFER
  • apply for product registrations in CIFER for review by CFIA and submission to GACC in CIFER

The following changes must be submitted as applications in CIFER for CFIA review and submission to GACC for review and approval:

  • applications for new registrations
  • product additions
  • product modifications
  • cancellations of product registrations
  • registration renewals
  • company legal name changes

For additional information on making applications in CIFER, please refer to the following 2 webpages:

Establishment information

Some establishment information cannot be changed in CIFER after an account is created, for example, the overseas registration number and the physical address.

Product registration approval date in CIFER

Products produced, processed, or manufactured at an establishment prior to the product registration approval date in CIFER may not be exported to China.

Harmonized System (HS) codes and China Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) codes in CIFER

It is critical that individual products are registered in CIFER with the correct Harmonized System (HS) code and China Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) code. Shipments arriving in China with an incorrect HS or CIQ code in CIFER may be rejected at the border. Exporters are advised to communicate with their importer in China for verification of HS and CIQ codes.

Functional foods and foods for special dietary purposes – registration with State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR)

Functional foods and foods for special dietary purposes include (but are not limited to) the following products:

  • Special dietary foods (excluding milk-based formula for infants and young children)
  • Soy-based infant formulas
  • Formula foods for special medical purpose
  • Complementary foods for infants and young children
  • Food supplements
  • Sports nutrition products
  • Capsules containing plant-based or animal-based oils
  • Health foods

These products generally require additional approval by China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) prior to registration in CIFER. Registration documentation issued by SAMR may need to be uploaded to CIFER by establishments as part of their applications.

Canadian establishments planning to register these products in CIFER should first confirm with their Chinese importer whether product registration with SAMR is required. The CFIA understands that applications for product registration with SAMR must be submitted by either the exporter's Chinese representative in China or by the Chinese company responsible for the product in China.

Additional considerations

Canadian establishments should always consult their importer in China to identify any additional requirements for foods and agri-foods exported to China.

Ambient storage establishments

The CFIA understands that Canadian ambient storage establishments may not be exempt from registration with GACC depending on the activities they perform with respect to the food product. Such establishments should verify with their importer in China whether CIFER registration is required.

Food hubs

Companies which function as "food hubs" and are responsible for all equipment and licensable activities conducted on foods or agri-foods at the establishment should register in CIFER. When only limited activities are performed by a client within the hub, the client is considered an "exporter" and, accordingly, may not need to register in CIFER.

However, when a client company is responsible for all licensable activities within the food hub facility, CIFER registration by the client is required. The client should confirm with their importer whether CIFER registration of the food hub establishment is also required.

Both food hubs and client companies should contact their local CFIA office prior to registering in CIFER.

Packaging, labelling and marking requirements

It is the responsibility of Canadian establishments and exporters to communicate with their importers in China to verify that packaging, labelling and markings meet China's requirements.

Establishment registration number on packaging

Foods must be marked on the inner and outer packaging with GACC-issued China registration number or the CFIA-issued establishment identification number (overseas registration number)

It is the responsibility of Canadian establishments and exporters to communicate with their importers in China to ensure that packaging, labelling and markings meet Chinese 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

Some plant products may 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

Audit by GACC

Food establishments registered in CIFER may be subject to audits by GACC at any time. CFIA anticipates that the objective of GACC auditors would be to verify establishment and product compliance with China's regulatory requirements; however, the scope of potential future audits is unknown.

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 food and 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 food products, they should contact the AAFC-MAS single window at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.

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