Chinese poultry meat products maintain significant competitiveness in the international market by virtue of cost advantages derived from large-scale production, diversified product offerings, and mature processing technology. This article will explain the relevant regulations and procedures for poultry meat exports in accordance with the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, the Measures for the Administrative Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Safety of Food for Import or Export, and other applicable laws and regulations.
I. Qualification Requirements for Poultry Meat Export Enterprises
1. Registration of Export Food Production Enterprises
Export enterprises producing terrestrial animal-derived food products shall register with the customs office at their place of domicile. Applicants shall submit application information through the China International Trade Single Window or the Integrated Government Services Platform for Customs. The customs office at the applicant's place of domicile shall register production enterprises with complete documentation that meet legal requirements and issue a "Registration Certificate for Export Food Production Enterprises." Such registration remains valid indefinitely. The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) will maintain and publicly announce the registry of export enterprises producing terrestrial animal-derived food products.
2. Application for Foreign Registration of Export Food Production Enterprises
When a foreign country or region implements registration management for Chinese terrestrial animal-derived food production enterprises exporting to that country or region and requests recommendation from the GACC, such enterprises shall submit an application for recommendation for foreign registration with the customs office at their place of domicile. The customs authorities directly under the GACC shall organize reviews in accordance with enterprise applications and shall assess enterprises based on their credit standing, supervision and management record, and food safety in exports. Those meeting requirements shall be submitted to the GACC, which will recommend them to the competent authorities of the importing country or region according to established procedures. Export enterprises producing terrestrial animal-derived food products and their products may only submit export declarations to customs after obtaining registration approval from the competent authorities of the importing country or region. Foreign registration information for such enterprises shall be based on information published by the competent authorities of the importing country or region.
3. Registration of Farms for Export Food Raw Materials
The GACC implements registration management for farms producing raw materials for meat and meat products intended for export. Raw materials used in the processing of exported meat and meat products—including poultry, pork, rabbit meat, and other animal-derived materials—shall be sourced from farms registered with customs or from imported food raw materials. Applicants shall submit application information to the customs office at the farm's location through the China International Trade Single Window or the Integrated Government Services Platform for Customs. The customs office will conduct a review and grant registration to those meeting the requirements. The GACC will maintain and publicly announce the registry of farms for export food raw materials.
II. Export Declaration Procedures for Poultry Meat
Before the export of poultry meat, cargo owners or their agents shall declare through the China International Trade Single Window to the customs office at the place of origin or consolidation center, accurately declaring relevant information and uploading supporting documentation (scanned copies or other electronic versions) in accordance with the declaration requirements set forth by the GACC.
The following documents and materials shall be provided with the application:
1. Trade contracts, invoices, packing lists, and other commercial documents;
2. Supply certificate from the farm producing raw materials (required if the registered farm and the registered export food production enterprise are not under the same customs jurisdiction);
3. Factory inspection certificate;
4. Export License of the People's Republic of China;
5. Power of Attorney for Agency Declaration (applicable only when using agency declaration);
6. Other documents as determined by bilateral agreements, protocols, memoranda, and as stipulated by the GACC.
In accordance with the instruction content and applicable regulations, customs will accept the declaration upon electronic or manual examination and verification of compliance.
III. Key Points for Inspection and Quarantine of Exported Poultry Meat
After the customs office at the place of origin or consolidation accepts the declaration, it shall conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the content and requirements specified in the applicable normative documents and control instructions.
Inspection and quarantine procedures for terrestrial animal-derived food products intended for export are a critical step in ensuring that poultry meat successfully enters the international market. These procedures primarily consist of three key aspects: on-site inspection, laboratory testing, and result assessment.
1. On-site Inspection
Verify that the product name, quantity (weight), production batch number, and production date match the declared information; check that packaging meets hygiene requirements and labels are clear and properly formatted; inspect the cargo for deterioration, contamination, or foreign matter; verify that the storage temperature of the goods complies with requirements.
2. Laboratory Testing
In accordance with system instructions, when food safety supervision and sampling inspection of terrestrial animal-derived food products intended for export is required, on-site samples shall be collected and submitted for testing. A "Sampling and Testing Record Form for Import and Export Goods of the Customs of the People's Republic of China" shall be completed. Randomly selected cargo samples shall be submitted to the laboratory for food safety testing as appropriate.
3. Result Assessment
Assessment shall be conducted based on the comprehensive review of documents, on-site inspection findings, and laboratory testing results. If the exported poultry meat complies with the inspection and quarantine requirements or standards of the importing country or region as well as the inspection and quarantine regulations of China, and the comprehensive assessment is satisfactory, electronic record data will be generated and the electronic record data number will be provided to the enterprise. Upon meeting the requirements, an inspection and quarantine certificate will be issued as prescribed, and the export will be permitted. If the comprehensive assessment is unsatisfactory, remedial treatment may be applied, and if re-quarantine proves satisfactory, electronic record data will be generated and an inspection and quarantine certificate will be issued. If remedial treatment cannot be legally performed or the cargo remains unsatisfactory following remedial treatment, a "Notice of Non-compliance for Export Goods" will be issued and the export will be prohibited.
IV. Supervision and Sampling Inspection and Risk/Animal Disease Monitoring for Exported Poultry Meat
1. Supervision and Sampling Inspection
The customs office at the place of origin or consolidation center shall conduct food safety supervision and sampling inspection in accordance with the annual food safety supervision and sampling inspection plan issued by the GACC, control instructions (or notices), and other applicable requirements, and shall complete relevant record forms as prescribed.
2. Risk Monitoring
The customs office at the place of origin or consolidation center shall conduct monitoring of terrestrial animal-derived food products intended for export in accordance with the annual food safety supervision and sampling inspection plan issued by the GACC, performing sampling and sample submission with reference to applicable legal and standard requirements, and shall complete relevant record forms as prescribed.
3. Animal Disease Monitoring
The customs office at the place of origin or consolidation center shall conduct animal disease monitoring in accordance with the annual border biological security monitoring plan issued by the GACC, risk warnings, and applicable notice and announcement requirements.
(Liu Zhiyi)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
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