June 10, 2025
The Market Access Secretariat (MAS) reminds all Canadian establishments registered with the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine (DAPQ) online system to verify that their enterprise info is accurate before shipping products to China in order to avoid delays.
The DAPQ online system includes establishments involved in the production, processing, storage, and/or export of certain plant-based commodities and non-edible animal-based products destined for the Chinese market (see list of products included below). Because Chinese customs authorities refer to the published information within this system as part of the import clearance process, it is critical that you verify that all of your establishment's listing in the DAPQ online system is fully accurate. Prior to exporting/shipping any product, it is also critical to ensure that the export documentation, including the enterprise name (English), establishment address, overseas official registration number and the product name(s) matches exactly the information in the system.
MAS has recently been made aware of delays and shipment holds at Chinese ports of entry due to discrepancies between enterprise details published in the DAPQ online system and information appearing on Canadian companies' export documentation. Please note that even the smallest inconsistencies can trigger a rejection at the port of entry. To minimize the risk of such disruptions, prior to shipping any product to China, industry stakeholders are strongly encouraged to verify that all their establishments' export documentation matches exactly the information in the DAPQ online system, including:
- Company name (English)
- Overseas official registration number
- Address
- Product(s) listed
The most efficient way to query your company in the DAPQ online system is by using your overseas official registration number, which would have been provided by MAS or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) upon your establishment's initial registration. You may access the system through the following web link:
If you identify any discrepancies or require updates, please send your corrections to MAS at: aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind stakeholders that GACC continues to expand the scope of agricultural and agri-food commodities requiring registration in the DAPQ online system, including commodities which were added to the system in 2024. For reference, please see below a list of commodities which we understand require registration on the DAPQ online systemFootnote 1:
- Grains and oilseeds (e.g., wheat, barley, canary seed, mustard seed, canola seed, soybeans, flaxseed, oat seed for propagation)
- Pulses (i.e., peas, beans (e.g., kidney, cranberry))
- Fresh fruit (i.e., cherries, blueberries)Footnote 2
- Fresh vegetables
- Plant-based seasonings
- Animal hides and skins, and greasy wool
- Plant-derived fertilizers and cultivation media (e.g., peat moss)
- Plant-derived feeds (i.e., alfalfa and timothy hay)Footnote 2
- Feed additivesFootnote 2
- Rapeseed (canola) meal and pellets
- Live aquatic animalsFootnote 2
- Genetic materialFootnote 2
- Tobacco
- Animal Derived Feed (i.e. pet food)Footnote 3
- Traditional Chinese medicine (e.g., ginseng)
- Frozen shrimp products (for feed)
- Heat-treated deer antlers/bones
- Unprocessed shrimp and crab shells
- Mint
- Raspberries
- Pepper
- Ginkgo leaves
- Borage seeds
We strongly encourage companies that handle any of the above-listed commodities to confirm with their local importers whether their establishment is subject to registration in the DAPQ online system.
Please note that while MAS prepares and submits registration and update requests to GACC, the Government of Canada does not control or have advance notice of when the DAPQ online system will be updated. Unfortunately, delays by GACC in approving new market access requests and updating the DAPQ online system are common.
Before shipping to China, exporters are also encouraged to contact their local CFIA office for details on applicable export conditions and certification requirements.
Lastly, as China may impose specific import requirements for any given product, it is important that companies work with their Chinese importer(s) to obtain the official and detailed import requirements that apply to their product(s)—including any required steps, documentation, or registrations. Close coordination with your Chinese importer is essential to help ensure that all import conditions are met and shipments are not delayed at port.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Market Access Secretariat.
Sincerely,
Market Access Secretariat
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Email: aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca
Government of Canada