China AQSIQ'S Measures on Imp. & Exp. Food Safety

In order to guarantee the safety of import and export foodstuff, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine (AQSIQ) issued on September 13, 2011 the Regulatory Measures on Safety of Import and Export Foodstuff (hereinafter referred to as the Regulatory Measures) as per the Law of the P. R. China on Food Safety, the Law of the P. R. China on Inspection of Import and Export Commodities, the Law of the P. R. China on Quarantine of Entry-Exit Animals and Plants, and China State Council's special regulations on food safety supervision.

The Regulatory Measures, which shall take effect from March 1, 2012, apply to the inspection, quarantine and supervision of import and export foodstuff; and other relevant regulations may govern as regards the safety supervision on importing and exporting food additives, related products, fruits, and edible live animals.

According to the Regulatory Measures, importers or their agents shall apply for commodity inspection to the inspection/quarantine agencies associated with governing customs by submitting the following documents:

1. Necessary certificates including contracts, invoices, packing lists, and bills of lading;

2. Relevant documents of approval;

3. Official certificates of quarantine (sanitation) issued by exporting countries/regions, which are required as per laws, regulations, bilateral agreements and protocols;

4. Sample labels and translated labels of any pre-packaged foodstuff that are imported for the first time;

5. Import Licenses prescribed by Article 8 of the Regulatory Measures for any foodstuff having no national safety standards and meanwhile imported for the first time;

6. Other certificates that shall accompany import foodstuff.

Upon the inspection, importers and their agents shall make declaration for import foodstuff one-by-one in terms of names or description, brands, countries of origin, specification, quantity/weight, total value, date/number of production, and other AQSIQ regulations.

The inspection/quarantine agencies shall examine the submitted documents and then conduct inspection for compliant imports.

According to the Regulatory Measures, exporters or their agents shall apply for export inspection to the inspection/quarantine agencies residing at the place of export-food producers by submitting necessary certificates as contracts, invoices, packing lists, product quality certificates, certificates of raw-material supply, and relevant approvals.

Upon the inspection, exporters or agents shall make declaration for export foodstuff one-by-one in terms of names or description, specification, quantity/weight, total value, and date/number of production.

The governing inspection/quarantine agencies may formulate spot-check programs for food exports within respective jurisdiction regions by means of risk analysis in the light of export-classification requirements, export food varieties, past export status, safety records, export-destination requirements, and so on.

According to the Regulatory Measures, the AQSIQ and local inspection/quarantine agencies shall timely adopt risk alerting and control measures where safety issues or epidemics are found in import and export foodstuff or where internal and external safety issues or epidemics are potential to imperil the safety of import and export foodstuff.