In recent years, the demand for imported pet food made with meat ingredients like beef, chicken, duck, or fish has steadily increased. Pet food containing meat is classified as animal-derived feed, and its importation must comply with the relevant requirements governing such products. Let's delve into the pertinent information.
I. Customs Regulations for Market Access of Imported Animal-Derived Feed
Answer: According to the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Feeds and Feed Additives, the General Administration of Customs (GACC) formulates inspection and quarantine requirements for imported feed, categorized by product type. For countries or regions exporting feed to China for the first time, a risk analysis is conducted. For those that have previously exported or are currently exporting feed to China, a retrospective review is performed. The GACC formulates, adjusts, and publishes the list of approved countries or regions and the specific feed product categories permitted for import based on the findings of these risk analyses or retrospective reviews. Currently, approximately 30 categories of animal-derived feed are allowed to be imported into China from 47 countries or regions. Key products include fish meal and oil, meat meal, bone meal, meat and bone meal, feed-grade whey powder, and pet food.
Furthermore, overseas feed-producing establishments exporting to China are subject to registration management as per regulations. To query the list of registered enterprises, please visit the "General Administration of Customs Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine" website (http://dzs.customs.gov.cn), navigate to "Enterprise Information" → "Overseas Enterprises" → "List of Overseas Enterprises Registered for Quarantine of Imported Animals, Plants and Their Products."
II. What Are the Quarantine Requirements for Imported Animal-Derived Feed?
Answer: Customs conducts inspection and quarantine of imported animal-derived feed in accordance with relevant national laws and regulations, mandatory standards, bilateral agreements, protocols, memorandums, and the specific requirements stipulated in the "Permit for the Quarantine of Entry Animals and Plants."
The owner or agent of imported animal-derived feed must declare it to Customs prior to or upon its arrival. The declaration requires the submission of documents including the certificate of origin, trade contract, bill of lading, and invoice. Additionally, an inspection and quarantine certificates from the exporting country or region must be provided, in accordance with the specific requirements for the product.
III. What Are the Customs Inspection and Sampling Requirements for Imported Animal-Derived Feed?
Answer: Customs conducts on-site inspections of applications for importing animal-derived feed based on control instructions and relevant regulations. The primary aspects include: verifying the consistency between documents and goods regarding name, quantity/weight, packaging, production date, container number, exporting country or region, and the name and registration number of the manufacturing enterprise. It also involves checking whether labels comply with national standards for feed labeling, ensuring packaging and containers are intact, confirming they are within their shelf life, and examining for spoilage, the presence of harmful organisms, or prohibited entry items such as soil, animal carcasses, and animal excrement. Furthermore, Customs collects samples of imported animal-derived feed according to control instructions and relevant regulations, sending them to laboratories for testing.
IV. HowAre Non-Compliant Products Disposed of after Inspection and Quarantine?
Answer: For goods failing inspection and quarantine, customs issues a "Notification of Inspection and Quarantine Disposition." The owner or their agent must, under customs supervision, carry out disinfestation, return, or destruction. Goods successfully disinfested are permitted entry. For cases requiring external claims, customs will issue the relevant certificates.
V. How Does Customs Manage Enterprises Importing Animal-Derived Feed?
Answer: Customs administer the registration of feed import enterprises (hereinafter referred to as "import enterprises"). Import enterprises shall register with the local customs office at their place of business prior to, or at the time of, their first declaration.
Registered import enterprises shall establish and maintain business records, which are subject to customs review. These records must include the customs declaration number, product name, quantity and weight, packaging, country or region of origin, foreign exporter, the name and registration of overseas manufacturing enterprise, "Certificate of Inspection and Quarantine for Inbound Goods," and the distribution of the imported feed. Such records must be preserved for a minimum of two years.
In addition, customs exercises quarantine supervision and management over designated production, processing, and storage facilities for Class I risk animal-derived feed, including raw pet food (e.g., ovine by-products for pet food processing).
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Huangpu Customs 12360. The Huangpu Customs 12360 version shall prevail.
