Edible vegetable oil refers to crude vegetable oil extracted from edible oil-bearing materials, and processed edible vegetable oils manufactured from either edible oil-bearing materials or crude vegetable oil. As living standards continue to rise, imported edible vegetable oil has become a crucial supplement to China's edible oil market. This guide outlines how customs conducts comprehensive control over imported edible vegetable oil, covering enterprise qualifications, customs declaration documents, inspection and quarantine, and transportation and storage.
I. Enterprise Qualification Requirements
(1) Registration of Overseas Production Enterprises
Overseas production enterprises exporting edible vegetable oil to China must register with the General Administration of Customs (GACC) prior to export. The list of enterprises that have successfully registered in China is available for query on the "Registration Management System of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" (https://ciferquery.singlewindow.cn/).
(2) Importer and Exporter Registration
Importers and exporters of edible vegetable oil are required to submit their registration applications to customs via the International Trade "Single Window" or "Internet + Customs" platforms. Alternatively, importers can submit a hard copy of the "Consignee Registration Application Form" along with relevant supporting documents to their local customs office for registration. Information regarding the registration of importers and exporters of edible vegetable oil can be accessed through the "Directory of Administrative Counterparties with Specific Qualifications" section on the "Disclosure Platform of Enterprises' Import and Export Credit Information."
II. Declaration Document Requirements
Documents required for declaration mainly include, but are not limited to: inspection and quarantine certificates issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country or region, documentation demonstrating compliance with China's current national food safety standards, bills of lading, packing lists, invoices, and other relevant documents. Specifically:
(1) For imports of bulk edible vegetable oil, manifests for the three preceding voyages of the transport vehicle must be provided.
(2) Imported edible vegetable oil declared as genetically modified must include the approval number of the "Biosafety Certificate for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms."
III. Entry Inspection and Quarantine and Handling of Non-compliant Products
(1) Conducting Conformity Assessment
When imported edible vegetable oil arrives at the port of entry, customs conducts conformity assessment on imported the products in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements, such as document review, on-site inspection, and supervisory sampling. Products that successfully pass the conformity assessment are permitted for import.
(2) Handling of Non-compliant Products
For products found to be non-compliant with safety, health, or environmental protection requirements, customs will notify the importer in writing and order their destruction or re-export. For other non-compliant items, import is permitted only after technical rectification ensures compliance with conformity assessment requirements. If the relevant imported edible vegetable oil cannot complete technical rectification within the stipulated timeframe, or if it remains non-compliant after such treatment, customs will order the importer to destroy or re-export the goods.
IV. Guidance on Storage and Transportation of Imported Bulk Edible Vegetable Oil
(1) Storage tanks and transport containers for imported bulk edible vegetable oil must not be made of copper or its alloys. Stainless steel is the most suitable material.
(2) International transport tanks and containers for imported bulk edible vegetable oil must be kept clean and sanitary, undergoing regular cleaning and maintenance inspections.
(3) When imported bulk edible vegetable oil is transported in disposable containers, such as container liquid bags, these containers must be made of clean, non-toxic, harmless, and food-grade materials. They shall be used only once within their validity period (shelf life)and are prohibited from reuse.
(4) Conveyance (tanks/holds) used for edible vegetable oil must have a previous cargo history limited to food or items listed in the "Codex Alimentarius List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes." They shall not be used if their previous cargo was any item listed in the "Codex Alimentarius List of Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes." For imported bulk edible vegetable oil transported in non-disposable containers, domestic importers or agents are required to provide cargo manifests for at least the three preceding voyages of the conveyance during import declarations.
(5) When imported bulk edible vegetable oil requires a change of conveyance or container during its transport from the port to the destination, or when it circulates within special customs supervision zones or bonded facilities and is subsequently imported after production and processing, it transportation shall be undertaken by duly qualified domestic carriers using specialized conveyances or containers that meet the requirements of "Hygiene Requirements for the Bulk Transportation of Edible Vegetable Oils" (GB 44917).
