China’s new system hastens entry of food, other imports

The Chinese government recently adopted a new registration system which will hasten the entry of food and beverages, and cosmetics imports into China.

In a report to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Enrico Mariano, DTI Commercial Attache in Beijing said that starting April 1 this year China would allow the label registration of food and beverages to be done by local inspection and quarantine bureaus (CIQs) at the port of entry.

In effect, the new procedures would decentralize the registration and approval of labels of new products entering China.

Importing new foods and beverages into China could be hastened by these changes in the registration system.

For the past two years, launching a new food product for the Chinese market required a label registration with the State Administration on Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the national safety authority in Beijing. Under this system exporters faced long periods without feedback on their applications.

If an application was rejected, the entire process had to be repeated. This procedure posed a significant barrier to the introduction or launching of new products in the Chinese market.

Mariano’s report was supplemented by a summary on the new regulations from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

The HKTDC summary points out that starting April 1, 2006 the procedures for approving labels of imported foods and cosmetics are to be combined with their inspection and quarantine procedures.

"Approval of labels in advance is no longer required, and the relevant authorities at all levels will no longer entertain such requests. Entry/exit inspection and quarantine authorities will no longer demand for Import and Export Food and Cosmetics Label

Approval Certificate to be presented on a compulsory basis for customs clearance," the HKTDC summary stated.

The words "labels approved" would be stamped on the inspection certificates of products, which pass the examination. Labels of food and cosmetics imported before Oct. 1, 2006 not complying with Chinese laws, regulations or mandatory standards may be changed under the supervision of the entry/exit inspection authorities.