On this page
- Eligible/ineligible products
- CFIA pre-export requirements
- Pre-export registration by competent authority of importing country
- Verifying DAPQ listing registration
- Additional considerations
- Packaging, labelling and marking requirements
- Other documentation requirements
- Other information
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".
Certain medium-risk agri-food products do not require registration in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system, but must undergo listing registration with China's Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine (DAPQ) prior to export to China, include:
- Most raw grains including oilseeds and pulses (except for those listed in the Ineligible products section below)
- Fresh cucumbers and gherkins
- Fresh or chilled peas (with or without pod)
- Plant based seasonings
- Plant products used for Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Unroasted coffee beans
- Fresh blueberries
- Fresh cherries
For China's phytosanitary requirements for these products, please contact a plant health inspector at your local CFIA office.
Note: For information on high, medium, and low risk food products for export to China requiring CIFER registration, please 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 undergo listing registration by DAPQ include:
- lentils (raw grain)
- chickpeas (raw grain)
- fababeans (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: Canada does not have market access for this product)
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 listing 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.
Listing registration with DAPQ – Apply via MAS
Food companies that export, manufacture, process, or store certain medium-risk agri-food products must apply for registration via Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Market Access Secretariat (MAS) for listing registration with China's DAPQ.
To apply for listing registration, please contact the MAS single window at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca and provide the following information:
- Company name
- Complete company address
- Previously issued establishment identification number (if applicable)
- Product type
Establishment ID numbers for DAPQ listing registration
Canadian companies which self-identify to MAS their interest in exporting, processing, manufacturing, or storing agri-food products requiring listing 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 be assigned a 17 digit "China registration number" which begins with the designation "QCAN".
Pre-export registration by competent authority of importing country
DAPQ listing registration
Basic company information for listing registrations and amendments are regularly submitted by the Market Access Secretariat (MAS) to China's DAPQ.
The relevant agri-food products cannot be exported to China before DAPQ approval and listing. Unfortunately, Canada has no control over timelines for DAPQ approvals.
Verify DAPQ listing registration
Once approved by DAPQ, Canadian companies with listing registration may review their related corporate and registration information at 2 separate websites managed by DAPQ:
- Portal – Quarantine Registration List of Overseas Animals and Plants and Relevant Products – This includes grain, pulses and oilseeds as well as unroasted coffee beans and unroasted cocoa beans from abroad. This site is actively updated by DAPQ; and
- Downloadable lists of registered establishments on the DAPQ website – Some DAPQ lists have not yet been migrated to the Portal. Note: To access the following 2 webpages, you must copy and paste the URL into the internet browser address bar
- List of registered enterprises that are allowed to export overseas seasonings (Chinese only) (click link number 12 on the webpage for Canada's list)
- List of registered enterprises that are allowed to import fresh vegetables from abroad (Chinese only) (click link number 4 on the webpage for Canada's list)
Search the DAPQ Portal 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 only has companies listed in the Portal for the following agri-food product types
- Grain (including miscellaneous grains and beans and oil crops)
- 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 always 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
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
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.