Date of issue: 7 October 2021
Date of effect: From 1 January 2022
Reference Number: MAA2021-14
Related: MAA2021-07(NPG)
Attention:
- Industries— Australian Food and Grocery Council and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
- Exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment —Central and Regional offices
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Purpose
To provide an update on new Chinese requirements for manufacturers, processors and storage facilities for honey and other foods (non-prescribed goods) that are exported to China.
Summary of key points
- For urgent attention of all food businesses that export food to China. There are changes that will take effect from 1 January 2022 that will impact upon your exports from that date.
- Further to MAA2021-07 (NPG) which informed food processing and storage establishments of new requirements for imported food and overseas food establishments, the department has information from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) regarding the new registration processes for overseas food establishments, including storage facilities.
- Further detailed information is provided below.
- Information for new businesses wanting to start exporting to China will be provided soon.
Establishments including storage facilities of food listed in Article 7 of Decree 248 requiring department recommendation for registration with GACC
The Department will soon request information from all food processing and independent storage facilities exporting to China, to assist with the registration of establishments that process or handle Article 7 foods.
These foods are casings, bee products, eggs and egg products, edible fats and oils, stuffed wheaten food, edible grains, milled grain products and malt, fresh-kept/preserved and dehydrated vegetables and dry beans, condiments and seasonings, nuts and seeds, dry fruits, unroasted coffee and cocoa beans, food for special dietary uses, health foods.
Further description of these foods is provided in Attachment 1.
The required information for the department to recommend an establishment for registration is also provided in Attachment 1. The department will require information for registration and establishments will be advised about how to provide this information to the department shortly. The requested information will need to be provided within a tight timeframe (may be as soon as by 23 October 2021) in order to complete Australia's submission by 30 October 2021 and ensure that the registration process is completed by 1 January 2022. Late submissions may encounter delays in being registered and additional information may be required to support the registration process.
It is highly recommended that establishments start gathering this information immediately.
Where it is unclear whether your food is listed in Article 7
Where an establishment has reviewed the descriptions of Article 7 foods in Attachment 1 and are still not clear on whether the food that they process, pack or store is an Article 7 food, it is advisable to proceed with your registration as an Article 7 food and comply with these requirements.
Establishments including storage facilities of food not listed in Article 7 of Decree 248
Food establishments (including storage facilities) for all foods that do not have established registration processes for exports to China and are not listed under Article 7 of Decree 248 need to self-register. The department has been notified that the GACC has established a 'Single window service system' which is an online registration platform for establishments producing and exporting foods which fall under Article 9 of Decree 248 (foods not listed under Article 7). This registration process may either be completed by the food facilities or through the importer or an agent.
Attachment 2 - Provides a guide on how facilities can register using GACC's Single window service system. The department encourages applicable facilities to register as soon as possible.
Next steps
Food establishments including storage facilities for food listed in Article 7 of Decree 248 requiring department recommendation for registration with GACC are to prepare required information and await further instructions from the department.
Food establishments (including storage facilities) requiring self-registration with GACC are encouraged to complete as soon as possible the online registration process through the Single window service system.
Further advice will be provided for industries and exporters by the department when information is available.