Step-by-Step Guide: Find out if you are ready to export your F&B products to China today

Image: Investopedia 

Always wanted to export your products to China but don’t know where to start? Below is a step-by-step process that will help you assess whether your company and products are ready to export to China. 

China enforced new rules on Import and Export Food Safety from January 1, 2022 amid tightening restrictions after the covid 19 pandemic – Read on to learn more about the latest requirements.  

Step 1 – Company Readiness 

Company Registration: Make sure you have an active local company registration number. If you have forgotten your number,  

• For Singapore based companies, this is a 9 or 10-digit UEN number. You can check your company’s number here. 
• For Malaysia based companies, you can verify your SSM registration number with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. 
• For Thailand based companies, you can verify your company registration info with DBD here. 

F&B Manufacturing License: You would need to have your F&B manufacturing license for your registered factory. If your factory is in Singapore, this would be a license number registered with the Singapore Food Agency. If you want to export from a factory in Malaysia or Thailand instead, you would need to be registered with the local food regulation authorities as well. 

Obtain export eligibility for your company: In order to successfully submit all export related documents and applications, you need to register your company with the customs authority in your country. For Singaporean companies, this means you will need to activate your TradeNet account for your company. In Malaysia, you will need to register via DagangNet, and for Thailand registered companies, you will need to register via E-Customs system. 

GACC Registration: You also need to have GACC (General administration of customs) registration for your company before you can ship food related products to China. Here is a detailed guide put together by Trustana on the GACC registration process. 

The objective of the new regulations and new platform is to strengthen our management of imported food products manufactured overseas before these enter through our borders, as well as to ensure that food safety is [maintained] in accordance with China's required standards. 

As quality Standards for Food regulations are stricter for food imports  into China, it is important to take note of these local regulations.  

Step 2 – Product Readiness 

Now that you have completed the company checklist, the next stage is to evaluate whether your current set of products are export-ready for China.  

HS Code: The first step is to find the right HS code for your product in China. If you don’t know what an HS code is or how it is relevant, here is a summary. 

Ingredient Check: You also need to check whether all the ingredients in your product are in compliance with the requirements listed out by GACC for every HS code category. Ingredient compliance is always important for F&B export activities, as non-compliance with such requirements can cause delays or refusal of entry of your products into China. 

Need assistance with the above? Trustana has launched EasyExport, a platform that provides a free tool that can help you check your readiness to export to China. We leverage our expertise in cross-border trade and knowledge of F&B products to help you take your company and products to China.  

Once you are ready, Trustana can also help you reach potential buyers in China. We provide end-to-end services from listing your products to arranging shipping & logistics as well as receiving payment.  Sign up today!