The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an advisory to those who export food products to China.
Effective January 1, 2022, they will need to comply with two new Chinese regulations for imported food and overseas food establishments.
Decree 248: Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Producers of Imported Food will require all overseas food manufacturers, processors and storage facilities to register with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
Decree 249: Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety covers a broad range of requirements on food exports to China, including overseas facilities registration, record filing by importers and exporters, quarantine and inspection and product labeling.
In advance of China's implementation of the decrees, Canadian food exporters should ensure their products are in compliance with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations as well as with China's import requirements, the CFIA said in its advisory.
“It is critical that companies exporting and involved in the export of certain food products to China contact the Market Access Secretariat (MAS) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada before October 22, 2021, to provide necessary contact information to enable the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to compile an exporter list that will be shared with GACC,” the agency said on Oct. 21, one day before the deadline.
“This new registration process is required in order to maintain continued access to the Chinese market for the specified food products,” it said.
