In short ⚡
GACC Registration: Exporting Food to China requires registering the overseas food manufacturing or covered storage facility with China’s General Administration of Customs before export and customs clearance. The process uses CIFER or the competent-authority route, depending on the product category and applicable Decree 280 requirements. Key steps include:- Confirm whether the food requires competent-authority recommendation, self-registration through CIFER, or separate treatment under Announcement 2025 No. 219.
- Prepare consistent company, facility, product, food-safety and manufacturing information for the registration dossier.
- Submit the application through CIFER or follow the exporting country’s competent-authority inspection and recommendation process.
- Record the issued GACC registration number and print it on the food’s inner and outer packaging or labels.
- Before shipment, include the registration number under customs license category code 519 and set the purpose field to 食用.
- Track the five-year registration validity and plan manual renewal 3 to 12 months before expiry for meat, meat products and edible bird’s nests.
The guide covers Decree 280 changes, product-route classification, CIFER registration steps, packaging requirements, customs declaration fields, and renewal rules.
GACC registration explained: why food cannot enter China without it
GACC registration is the mandatory registration of an overseas food manufacturing facility with China’s General Administration of Customs, completed through the CIFER platform. Without a valid GACC registration number, food cannot be legally exported to or cleared into China.
DocShipper Alert
A missing registration number can stop food from entering China
What GACC and CIFER are
GACC is the General Administration of Customs of China, the authority responsible for supervising imported food and registering overseas food manufacturers. The registration applies to the facility that manufactures, processes or, in certain cases, stores the food, rather than simply to the foreign brand or Chinese importer.
CIFER is the online registration platform used by GACC. It operates through China’s single-window customs system and allows eligible companies to submit facility information, supporting documents and registration applications. The correct route depends first on the product category and, in some cases, on the competent authority in the exporting country.
The registration number is the facility’s identifier in the Chinese import-control system. It must be linked to the registered establishment and must appear on the food’s inner and outer packaging or labels before the goods are shipped.
The registration number as the gate
Think of registration as a border requirement, not as a document that can be regularised after arrival. A food shipment may have a commercial invoice, packing list and transport documents, yet still be stopped if the manufacturing facility has no valid GACC registration number.
The framework began with Decrees 248 and 249, which took effect on 1 January 2022. CIFER had already launched in November 2021, and the system has since become the main channel for overseas food facility registration.
The first decision is therefore practical: identify the product route before opening a CIFER file. The second is regulatory: make sure the application, label and customs declaration follow Decree 280, which replaced Decree 248 on 1 June 2026.
| Question | Practical answer |
| What is GACC registration? | Registration of an overseas food facility with China’s customs authority. |
| Who is registered? | The overseas manufacturer or other facility covered by the applicable rules, not merely the importer or brand owner. |
| Where is the application filed? | Through CIFER, unless the product follows the competent-authority recommendation route. |
| When is it needed? | Before the food is exported and presented for customs clearance in China. |
| How long is it valid? | Registrations are valid for 5 years, subject to the applicable renewal rules. |
What changed in 2026: Decree 280 replaces Decree 248
Since 1 June 2026, Decree 280 has replaced Decree 248. The new framework permits direct company applications after competent-authority inspection, brings overseas cold-storage facilities into scope, introduces broader auto-renewal rules and makes two customs-declaration fields mandatory.
DocShipper Info
Our specialists can verify renewal status, facility scope and mandatory customs fields
The main changes
Decree 280 was published on 18 March 2026 and entered into force on 1 June 2026, creating a transition window of roughly 75 days. That timing matters because many online guides still describe the previous Decree 248 process as if it were current.
Under the new framework, a company can apply directly to GACC after the relevant competent-authority inspection where that route applies. Exporters should not assume that their national authority must submit every application on their behalf, although authority involvement remains essential for products in the higher-risk categories requiring a recommendation.
Decree 280 also changes the scope and lifecycle of registration. Overseas cold-storage facilities handling land-animal and aquatic products are now included, while some products previously associated with the category lists, including fresh or dehydrated vegetables, dried beans, oil seeds and unroasted coffee or cocoa beans, are governed separately under Announcement 2025 No. 219.
What it means for exporters
Existing valid Decree 248 registrations carry over without a new application. A carried-over registration is not the same as an expired or incomplete registration, so exporters should check the facility record, product scope, registration status and label details before booking a new shipment.
Most registrations now auto-renew under Decree 280. Meat and meat products and edible bird’s nests are exceptions: these categories require manual renewal between 3 and 12 months before the registration expires. A company exporting one of these products should add renewal control to its compliance calendar rather than rely on automatic continuation.
The most immediate operational change is at customs. From 1 June 2026, the declaration must include the GACC registration number under license category code 519 and a purpose field set to 食用, meaning for human consumption. If either field is missing or incorrect, the shipment can be rejected even when the facility itself is registered.
| Topic | Decree 248 framework | Decree 280 framework |
| Effective date | In force from 2021, with the registration framework applying from 1 January 2022. | Effective from 1 June 2026. |
| Existing registrations | Subject to the previous registration and renewal rules. | Valid Decree 248 registrations carry over without reapplication. |
| Application model | Often described as authority-submitted for regulated categories. | Direct company application is permitted after the required competent-authority inspection. |
| Renewal | Renewal had to be managed under the previous process. | Most categories auto-renew, except meat and meat products and edible bird’s nests. |
| Facility scope | Cold storage was not treated under the same expanded scope. | Overseas cold-storage facilities for land-animal and aquatic products are in scope. |
| Customs declaration | The new fields were not yet mandatory. | Registration number with code 519 and purpose field 食用 are mandatory from 1 June 2026. |
Source: China Briefing’s Decree 280 overview, published in 2026.
Which foods need competent-authority recommendation versus self-registration
Seventeen higher-risk food categories require inspection and recommendation from the competent authority of the exporting country before registration. Foods outside that catalogue generally follow the self-registration route through CIFER, subject to product classification and any separate Chinese rules.
DocShipper Advice
DocShipper can help confirm the correct authority or self-registration route
The 17 authority-recommended categories
The route is decided by the product category, not by the exporter’s preferred filing method. The source material identifies meat and meat products, dairy products, aquatic products, edible bird’s nests, bee products, edible oils and casings among the higher-risk categories requiring competent-authority involvement.
For these products, start with the authority responsible for food safety or veterinary controls in the exporting country. The authority’s role is to inspect or verify the facility and provide the recommendation or registration information required for the GACC process.
Do not classify a product only by its marketing name. Review its ingredients, processing method, animal or plant origin, intended use and Chinese customs classification. A product sold as a snack, for example, may require a different assessment if it contains dairy, meat, aquatic ingredients or another controlled component.
The complete current catalogue should be checked against the official or competent-authority source before filing. This is particularly important because certain products, including fresh or dehydrated vegetables, dried beans, oil seeds and unroasted coffee or cocoa beans, were moved out of the relevant category framework and are governed separately under Announcement 2025 No. 219.
Self-registration via CIFER
Foods outside the 17-category list generally use self-registration through CIFER. In that route, the overseas manufacturer creates or uses its company and facility record, prepares the required information and submits the application directly through the platform.
Self-registration does not mean that the file can be informal. The facility must still provide accurate company details, manufacturing information, food scope and supporting evidence. The registration record should match the name and address shown on labels, commercial documents and shipping instructions.
If the exporting country has a bilateral arrangement or list-registration system with China, verify whether that agreement changes the filing route. The presence of an agreement can affect how the competent authority submits or confirms facilities, so a generic CIFER application should not be used without checking the country-specific process.
The safest route decision is to document the classification before preparing the application. Record the product name, ingredients, processing activity, facility type, country of origin and proposed Chinese customs description, then confirm whether the product is in the 17-category route, the self-registration route or the separate regime referenced by Announcement 2025 No. 219.
| Route | Examples identified in the current framework | Who is involved | First action |
| Competent-authority recommendation | Meat and meat products, dairy, aquatic products, edible bird’s nests, bee products, edible oils and casings, among the 17 higher-risk categories. | Overseas facility, exporting-country competent authority and GACC. | Confirm the category and request the competent-authority inspection or recommendation. |
| Self-registration through CIFER | Foods outside the 17-category catalogue, subject to the correct product classification. | Overseas facility and GACC through CIFER. | Confirm the product is outside the authority-recommended list and prepare the CIFER file. |
| Separate regulatory treatment | Fresh or dehydrated vegetables, dried beans, oil seeds and unroasted coffee or cocoa beans are identified as governed separately. | Facility, relevant authority and applicable Chinese regulator. | Check Announcement 2025 No. 219 and the current product-specific requirements. |
How to register with GACC step by step via CIFER
The process is: confirm the route, prepare the facility dossier, submit through CIFER or the competent authority, obtain the GACC registration number, place it on the inner and outer packaging, and align the customs declaration before shipment.
Determine the route and gather documents
1. Identify the registered facility. Registration is generally tied to the overseas manufacturer or covered storage facility. Confirm the legal name, address, production site, contact person, product scope and facility type before creating the application.
2. Classify the food. Decide whether the product belongs to one of the 17 higher-risk categories, falls under self-registration or is affected by the separate rules in Announcement 2025 No. 219. Include the product composition and processing method in the assessment rather than relying on the brand description.
3. Prepare the facility dossier. Gather the company and facility information required for the selected route, together with the applicable food-safety, inspection and manufacturing evidence. The dossier should be consistent across the CIFER record, product documents, labels and shipping paperwork.
Apply via CIFER or the competent authority
4. Create or update the CIFER record. For self-registration products, the manufacturer submits through CIFER. Check every address, product category and facility detail before submission because discrepancies can create problems later during label review or customs clearance.
5. Follow the authority route where required. For a product in the 17-category catalogue, contact the competent authority in the exporting country first. Under Decree 280, direct company application is possible after the required inspection, but the authority’s inspection or recommendation remains part of the route.
6. Monitor the application and respond to requests. Keep the submitted version, supporting documents and correspondence together. If the authority or GACC requests clarification, answer using the same facility and product information used in the original file.
Get the registration number and put it on labels
7. Record the issued registration number. Once the registration is approved, compare the number and registered facility details with the production site and label artwork. The number should not be treated as a reference that can be added only to the customs file.
8. Print the number on the inner and outer packaging. The GACC registration number must appear on the inner and outer packaging or labels of the food. Coordinate this update with the manufacturer, packaging supplier, brand owner and importer before production.
9. Plan the five-year lifecycle. Registrations are valid for 5 years. Most categories auto-renew under Decree 280, but meat and meat products and edible bird’s nests require manual renewal 3 to 12 months before expiry. Set a reminder even where auto-renewal is expected, because changes to the facility or product scope may still require action.
| Step | Self-registration route | Authority-recommended route |
| 1. Route check | Confirm the food is outside the 17-category catalogue. | Confirm the product is in one of the 17 higher-risk categories. |
| 2. Facility file | Prepare company, facility and product information for CIFER. | Prepare the dossier for the competent-authority inspection and recommendation. |
| 3. Submission | Submit directly through CIFER. | Follow the competent-authority process and the applicable direct-application procedure. |
| 4. Registration number | Record the number issued by GACC. | Record the number issued after the authority-supported process. |
| 5. Packaging | Place the number on inner and outer packaging or labels. | Place the number on inner and outer packaging or labels. |
| 6. Shipment preparation | Check the number, label and customs declaration together. | Check the number, label and customs declaration together. |
| 7. Renewal | Plan around the five-year validity and confirm whether auto-renewal applies. | Plan manual renewal where the product is meat, meat products or edible bird’s nests. |
For background on the earlier CIFER framework, see ChemLinked’s Decree 248 and CIFER reference. Use it as historical context, then verify the current process under Decree 280.
At Chinese customs: the registration number and the new declaration fields
From 1 June 2026, the food import declaration must include the GACC registration number under license category code 519 and a purpose field set to 食用. A missing or incorrect entry can cause rejection even when the overseas facility has a valid registration.
DocShipper Alert
DocShipper can cross-check code 519, 食用, labels and the registered facility number
The two mandatory fields
1. Registration number under license category code 519. The customs declaration must identify the registered overseas facility using its GACC registration number. The number should match the approved facility record and the number printed on the packaging.
2. Purpose field set to 食用. This field identifies the goods as intended for human consumption. It is not a replacement for the registration number; both fields must be completed in the declaration.
These checks create two separate compliance gates. The facility must be registered, and the shipment declaration must correctly transmit the registration information and intended-use field to Chinese customs.
What triggers a rejection
Common failure points include leaving code 519 blank, entering the wrong GACC number, omitting 食用, using a number that belongs to another facility, or shipping packaging that does not display the registered number on both the inner and outer layers.
For example, a registered dairy facility can still have its shipment blocked if the declaration is submitted without the code 519 registration number. The registration remains valid, but the entry is not correctly declared for customs purposes.
Before departure, compare four items line by line: the GACC record, the registration number on the label, the commercial and shipping documents, and the Chinese customs declaration. A China-side customs clearance review should take place before the cargo reaches the port, not after a declaration has been rejected.
| Declaration or packaging item | Required value or check | Risk if missing or wrong |
| License category | Code 519. | The registration information may not be accepted by customs. |
| Registration number | Valid GACC number matching the overseas facility. | The shipment can be rejected even if the company has another valid registration. |
| Purpose field | 食用, for human consumption. | The declaration does not meet the mandatory Decree 280 field requirement. |
| Inner packaging | GACC registration number displayed. | Packaging may not match the registered facility information. |
| Outer packaging | GACC registration number displayed. | Goods may be held for labelling or compliance clarification. |
DocShipper can coordinate the registration route with the shipment file and support the China-side clearance checks described above. This is particularly useful when the manufacturer, brand owner, importer and customs broker are working from different versions of the registration information.
Key takeaways and how to get GACC-registered for China
Choose the correct route, register the facility through CIFER or the competent authority, print the number on the packaging and complete the new Decree 280 customs fields before the food reaches China.
- GACC registration of the overseas food facility is mandatory before food can be exported to China.
- CIFER is the main platform for registration and facility information management.
- Seventeen higher-risk categories require competent-authority inspection and recommendation; other foods generally self-register through CIFER.
- Fresh or dehydrated vegetables, dried beans, oil seeds and unroasted coffee or cocoa beans require review under the separate framework identified in Announcement 2025 No. 219.
- Decree 280 has applied since 1 June 2026 and replaces the previous Decree 248 framework.
- Valid Decree 248 registrations carry over without reapplication, while most Decree 280 registrations auto-renew.
- Meat and meat products and edible bird’s nests require manual renewal 3 to 12 months before expiry.
- Registrations are valid for 5 years.
- The GACC registration number must appear on the inner and outer packaging or labels.
- From 1 June 2026, the customs declaration must include the registration number under code 519 and the purpose field 食用.
Exporting food to China? Tell DocShipper your product and facility, and our China team can help you identify the right GACC or CIFER registration route and coordinate customs clearance with the required Decree 280 declaration fields in place.
DocShipper Info
Tell DocShipper your product and facility, and we can coordinate registration and clearance
FAQ | GACC Registration for Exporting Food to China: 2026 Decree 280 Guide
No. The registration belongs to the overseas facility that manufactures, processes or stores the food. A brand owner or Chinese importer may coordinate the application and shipment, but it cannot replace the registered facility. The manufacturer’s legal name, address, product scope and GACC number should remain consistent across the registration, packaging and customs documents.
Need Help with
Logistics or Sourcing ?
First, we secure the right products from the right suppliers at the right price by managing the sourcing process from start to finish. Then, we simplify your shipping experience - from pickup to final delivery - ensuring any product, anywhere, is delivered at highly competitive prices.
Fill the Form
Prefer email? Send us your inquiry, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact us
