China’s MARA Imported Feed and Feed Additive (Pet Food) Registration

China’s Regulatory Requirements for Imported Feed and Feed Additives

National and Factory Admission Requirements

• National Admission: The exporting country must be on the “List of Countries/Regions Permitted to Import Feed” published by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
• Product Category Restrictions: Feed types must fall within the scope of the “Permitted Import Feed Types” approved by the customs authorities.
• Production Enterprise Registration: Overseas production enterprises must apply for registration with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) in advance. Factories that have not obtained registration are not permitted to export feed products to China.

Import Registration Certificate Application

Overseas enterprises exporting feed or feed additives (including pet food) to China for the first time must ensure that the products comply with the safety regulations of both the country of origin and China. They must also apply for the “Import Registration Certificate” from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). Imports are only allowed after approval.

Compliance Importation

Product information must be accurately declared during import to ensure that labels, ingredients, testing reports, and other relevant documents comply with Chinese regulations. The products can only enter the market after passing customs inspection.

In summary, importing feed products/pet food into China requires meeting the following conditions: “The country/region of origin and the feed type are on the customs’ white list, the overseas production enterprise has obtained factory registration, and the product has obtained the Import Registration Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA).”

Competent Authorities

• Import Stage: General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and its affiliated local customs offices.
• Distribution Stage: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA).

Import Process

National Admission Requirements

Countries permitted to export raw materials for pet food production (2 in total): Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand.

Registration of Overseas Production Enterprises of Feed/Pet Food

How to Apply for Import Registration Certificates for Feed and Feed Additives

• Applicant: The overseas enterprise’s representative office in China or a designated Chinese domestic agent.
• Scope of Application:
  1. Pet food (complete pet food, pet additive premixed feed, other pet food)
  2. Single feed: such as barley protein powder, soy protein isolate, fish oil, yeast hydrolysate, monosodium glutamate residue, glucosamine hydrochloride, etc.
  3. Additive premixed feed: compound premixed feed, vitamin premixed feed, trace element premixed feed, etc.
  4. Concentrated feed: shrimp concentrated feed, fish concentrated feed, etc.
  5. Compound feed: pig compound feed, chicken compound feed, etc.
  6. Supplement feed: dairy cow supplement feed, dairy goat supplement feed, etc.
  7. Feed additives: such as vitamins, mineral elements, microorganisms, etc.
  8. Mixed feed additives: such as mixed feed additive acidity regulators, mixed feed additive antioxidants, etc.
• Import Registration Certificate (Registration, Renewal, Modification, Reapplication)
  1. Initial Registration: For the first time exporting feed or feed additives to China, overseas enterprises shall apply to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) for import registration through their representative offices in China or designated Chinese domestic agents. The certificate is valid for 5 years.
  2. Renewal Registration: Application for renewal shall be submitted 6 months before the expiry date.
  3. Modification Registration: During the validity period of the import registration certificate, if the certified enterprise changes the product’s Chinese or foreign language trade name, applicant enterprise name, manufacturer name, or production address name, it shall apply for modification registration.
  4. Reapplication Registration: During the validity period of the import registration certificate, if the production site of the imported feed or feed additives is relocated, or if there are changes in the product quality standards, production process, scope of application, etc., the enterprise shall reapply for registration.
• Key Points for Declaration:

1. 1. Product ingredients comply with the requirements of the “Feed Ingredient Catalogue” and the “Feed Additive Variety Catalogue.”
   2. Product labels comply with labeling regulations.
   3. Product quality indicators meet the specified requirements.

Our Services

A. Feed, Feed Additives, and Pet Food Regulatory Consultation

• Main Contents:
  • Import feasibility analysis and planning.
  • Consultation on import regulations for feed, feed additives, and pet food.
  • Consultation on Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) import registration certificate.
  • Consultation on General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) admission.
  • Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) import registration.
  • Handling of Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) import registration certificate.
  • Handling of Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) import registration certificate renewal.
  • Handling of Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) import registration certificate modification.

B. Feed, Feed Additives, and Pet Food Compliance Audit

• Determine product classification and import eligibility.
• Audit whether product raw materials and additives meet requirements.
• Audit whether the product meets product standard requirements.
• Provide modification recommendations for non-compliance.

C. Feed, Feed Additives, and Pet Food Chinese Label Compliance Audit

• Audit product specifications and provide modification recommendations.
• Audit whether the Chinese label complies with regulations.
• Provide translation and production services for products without Chinese labels.

D. Feed, Feed Additives, and Pet Food Quality Compliance Services

• Pet food quality inspection and testing supervision.

Relevant Regulations

• “Regulations on the Administration of Feed and Feed Additives”
• “Administrative Measures for the Registration of Imported Feed and Feed Additives”
• “Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Import and Export Feed and Feed Additives”
• “Administrative Measures for Pet Food,” “Regulations on Pet Food Labels,” “Hygiene Standards for Pet Food”
• “Feed Ingredient Catalogue,” “Feed Additive Catalogue”
• “Procedures for the First-Time Import Quarantine Access of Foreign Agricultural Products”