Philippine food exporters shipping to China are being urged to comply with new registration and documentation requirements after Beijing introduced stricter customs rules that could delay shipments or even suspend market access for non-compliant manufacturers.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) Decree 280, which took effect this month, revises the registration system for overseas food manufacturers by expanding coverage, updating renewal procedures, and introducing new compliance requirements.
Speaking during a China market briefing organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau, FDA nutritionist-dietitian IV Christian Grace Alcantara said exporters with strong food safety compliance records are more likely to enjoy faster customs clearance.
“Non-compliant exporters may face increased border inspections, be required to undertake corrective actions in coordination with the competent authority overseeing their overseas facility, and risk having their registration suspended or canceled if violations are found. We want to help exporters avoid these (outcomes),” she said in Filipino.
Under the revised rules, several primary agricultural products that previously required official government recommendation under GACC Decree 248 — including unroasted coffee beans, cocoa beans, fresh vegetables, dried legumes, oil seeds, and coarse grains — have been removed from the mandatory recommendation list.
Exporters of these products may now complete self-registration directly with the GACC or apply through the appropriate Philippine competent authority.
Alcantara advised exporters to carefully determine the specific requirements applicable to their products before filing registration, warning that incomplete or inaccurate submissions could result in rejection or cancellation.
“Knowing and complying with these requirements is essential, as even a single mistake could result in the rejection or cancellation of their registration,” she said.
The FDA also noted changes in the renewal process. Except for meat, meat products, bird’s nests, and bird’s nest products, registrations will automatically be renewed every five years unless an exporter is undergoing corrective action, has suspended exports to China, or has had its registration revoked.
Exporters not covered by automatic renewal must submit renewal applications through the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system.
The revised regulations also extend the renewal application period, allowing exporters to apply between three and 12 months before registration expiry instead of the previous three- to six-month window.
Meanwhile, storage facilities handling terrestrial animal products and aquatic products before export will now require separate GACC registration due to higher food safety risks associated with low-temperature transportation.
Alcantara encouraged exporters to prepare documentation well in advance and strengthen internal food safety systems to meet China’s stricter compliance standards.
She said companies should maintain comprehensive records proving product safety and quality, while ensuring all information submitted through the GACC registration system matches customs declarations and shipping documents.
She also reminded exporters that cold storage facilities, where applicable, must be properly registered to avoid disruptions in shipments to the Chinese market.
