China's Food Safety Law (revised 2021) and its implementing regulations establish comprehensive requirements for food safety, labelling, and traceability. Foreign food exporters to China must comply with GACC (General Administration of Customs China) registration requirements and Chinese labelling standards.
GACC Registration
Foreign food manufacturers and exporters must register with GACC before exporting food to China. Registration requirements vary by food category. High-risk categories (meat, dairy, aquatic products, edible oil, infant formula) require facility registration. All food exporters must register their overseas production facilities with GACC.
Chinese Labelling Requirements
All pre-packaged food sold in China must carry Chinese-language labels with: product name; ingredient list; net content; manufacturer name and address; production date; shelf life; storage conditions; and food safety standard number. Labels must be in simplified Chinese characters and must be affixed before the product enters China.
Traceability Requirements
China's Food Safety Law requires food producers and distributors to establish food safety traceability systems. The GACC requires importers to maintain records of the origin, quantity, and destination of imported food for at least 2 years. China is progressively implementing electronic traceability systems for high-risk food categories.