How to Export Meat Products to China: The Ultimate Guide

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Increasingly more foreigners want to export meat products to China as everything from Aussie beef to German sausages increase in demand.

Imports of beef and veal increased more than 10 times from 2012 to 2017 and the meat market in China is the second-biggest sector in the country’s retail food market, after the fresh vegetable sector.

Even if Europeans and Aussies have exported beef for years, China has lifted sanctions on beef imports from the US, which were put in place since 2003.

Exporting meat to China can be difficult for exporters with little knowledge about local import regulations as well as demand.

Topics covered:

• What meat products are in demand in China?
• Process When Exporting Meat Products to China
• Regulations (GB standards) for Meat Products Imported into China
• China Trade Shows for Meat Products

What meat products are in demand in China?

Pork is by far the most popular meat product, followed by poultry and beef with the following composition:

• Pork: 60-65%
• Poultry: 20-25%
• Beef: Around 10%

Even if fish and seafood will increase in popularity in the coming years, pork is found in many Chinese dishes.

Interestingly, China is the largest producer of pork in the world and even has a pork reserve, similar to Fort Knox in the US.

So does this leave you with the only option to export pork? No.

China is a big market and as people get wealthier, consumption of beef and other more expensive meat products will increase as well.

Process when Exporting Meat Products to China

It’s crucial that you understand the local standards and export process in advance before you start exporting to China.

This is also the case if you hire an agent to help you through parts of the process, as they have obligations to handle a lot of registrations and paperwork.

Below I’ve made a step-by-step guide showing the complete process when exporting meat products into China.

1. Confirm that China allows imports of the meat product from your country of manufacture

Responsibility: Exporter

First of all, you need to confirm that you’re eligible to export food products from the country where your products are manufactured.

China banned imports of beef from the US for almost 15 years, due to a case of mad cow disease that occurred in 2003.

Your country of manufacture needs to establish a protocol with the Chinese government before exports can take place.

2. Business Registration with the AQSIQ

Responsibility: Exporter

As of 2015, you need to register your company at with AQSIQ. Keep in mind that if you export health food and infant formula, you also need to register your formula at CFDA (China Food & Drug Administration).

When your application is approved, AQSIQ will list your company as eligible to export food products into China.

First, you need to submit an application for Food Exporters, through the AQSIQ’s registration system. You’ll also be required to submit a number of documents, for example, test reports that prove you comply with the specific GB standards.

After you’ve submitted the application, you’ll receive a registration number from AQSIQ, so that you can declare your goods at Chinese customs. Without a registration number, you won’t be able to pass through the customs.

To register your products for exports at AQSIQ, you also need to know what HS codes your products have (HS stands for Harmonized System codes and is used to classify products traded in countries.

HS codes are not only used in China but internationally.

HS Codes for Meat Products

Common HS codes to classify meat products are:

• 1601: Sausages and similar, of meat, offal or blood: Food preparations
• 1602: Other prepared or preserved meat, offal or blood
• 0201: Bovine animals: Fresh or chilled
• 0202: Bovine animals: Frozen
• 0203: Swine: Fresh, chilled or frozen
• 0204: Meat of sheep or goats: Fresh, chilled or frozen
• 0205: Meat of horses, asses, mules and hinnies: Fresh, chilled or frozen
• 0207: Meat and edible offal of poultry: Fresh, chilled or frozen
• 0208: Other meat and edible offal: Fresh, chilled or frozen
• 0210: Meat and meat offal that are salted, in brine, dried or smoked
• 0206: Offal of bovine, swine, goats, sheep, horses, mules, hinnies or asses: Fresh, chilled or frozen

Keep in mind that beef needs to be trackable to the birth farm. Cattle need to be less than 30 months of age.

Documents Needed to Register with the AQSIQ?

To register at AQSIQ, you need to provide the following documents:

• Documents about your company
• The filled-in application form
• License of the export country
• Meat Test Reports, Health Certificates, and other documents if required for your specific products

Keep in mind that regulations change frequently, it’s important that you confirm the latest requirements with your importer.

AQSIQ Application Form and Costs

You can find the application form on AQSIQ’s website.

The application fee is USD 230 and can be paid with a credit card when making the registration.

How long time does it take to get registered?

You need to wait 3-4 days until your registration is completed.

How long will my registration be valid for?

You’ll be eligible to export your food products for a period of up to 3 years. After that, you need to do a renewal. Your importer should assist you in the process.

What happens if I want to export additional meat products?

If you want to export other food products, a new inspection will be required to confirm that you comply with local regulations.

3. Registering with the Filing Management System

Responsibility: Exporter

You also need to Request a document that proves you’re registered at AQSIQ. You can do this online by simply registering at the Filing Management System.

This should be done by both you and the importer in China, mainly for tracking purposes.

4. Business Registration with the SAIC

Responsibility: Chinese importer

Your Chinese importer is required to make a business registration, proving that they are allowed to start importing food products from overseas.

The registration is done at SAIC (State Administration for Industry and Commerce).

4. Getting an Import and Export License

Responsibility: Chinese importer

Your importer should obtain a document from MOFCOM, showing that the company is listed as an import/export company.

5. Register with the Chinese Customs

Responsibility: Chinese importer

The same as it goes in Western countries, it’s the importer’s responsibility to register with the customs, in China referred to as GAC (the General Administration of Customs).

6. Automatic Import License

Responsibility: Chinese importer

You need to provide a document that shows information about each good that will be imported to China. The document is provided to MOFCOM (the Ministry of Commerce).

Confirm with your importer/agent whether your products need an Automatic Import License before you start exporting.

7. Product Testing in a Chinese Laboratory

Before you can start selling your products in China, you first need to get your product tested in a Chinese laboratory and get the relevant documentation needed.

These documents will be verified when your products arrive in China.

You can contact AQSIQ directly and let them handle the testing. But there are also a number of other specialized companies that can manage the testing on your behalf.

Examples include:

• Asiainspection.com
• Asiaqualitycontrol.com
• CIRS

Sending Test Samples to China

The general process when exporting meat products to China is like follows:

• Confirm with the test company how many samples you need to provide

• Samples shall be sent in sealed packaging

• The packaging should not leak or break easily. If the packaging is broken, you’ll need to send new test samples

• You need to provide a Chain of Custody (CoC) for tracking purposes. This means that you need to provide evidence on how the product has been handled and transferred between different persons and entities

• The products should be refrigerated with, for example, ice packs (dry ice can be used if instructed by the analyzing company)

• Contact the beneficiary in China once you’ve shipped the package and inform them that the package needs to be treated as food products

• As informed in my separate article about what products are covered under CIQ, dry ice is hazardous and needs permission for imports

• Mark the package clearly with the name of your product. Contact the beneficiary in China once you’ve shipped the package and inform them that the package needs to be treated as food products

8. Labeling Requirements for Meat Products

Food products are generally subject to stricter import and labeling requirements, as these products are consumed by humans (including babies and elders).

Epidemics and diseases often derive from food products, just look at SARS that broke out in Guangdong in 2004, killing hundreds of people. Or the mad cow disease, that left the US unable to export beef to China for years.

Label Information Required on the Exterior Packaging (Complete Goods)

The following information is usually required on the outer label when exporting meat products to China.

• Product name
• Country of origin
• Registration number at AQSIQ
• Manufacturing date
• Shelf life
• Instructions about storage (including temperatures)
• To which country the products will be sent
• Net weight
• Meat Inspection legend
• Your company name and address
• Batch number
• Packaging specification

Labeling Information Required on the Interior Packaging (Smaller Boxes)

The following information is required for the label on the inner packaging:

• Product name
• Package specification
• Country of origin
• Country of destination
• Registration number at AQSIQ
• Batch number

9. Packing Meat Products

You must use correct packaging, in accordance with local GB regulations, to pass the CIQ inspections. Besides, the products must be refrigerated and should be packed in a way to save space.

As meat is generally frozen when exported to China, you need to use the right packaging method, isolation, and coolers.

Some key points to consider are:

• Use an insulated container, preferably a urethane container (the walls should be at least 5 cm)

• Use dry ice. Confirm which shipping companies allow you to use dry ice. They can also give you advice on how to pack the products

• Use plastic wrap around the food products and pack tightly with the dry ice

• Fill up with Styrofoam where needed

6. Shipping Meat Products to China

The preferable shipping option is to use a reefer container to keep temperatures at lower temperatures.

Reefer containers are available for both sea freight and air freight, if you want to know more about reefer containers, you can watch this introduction video.

These containers can keep products at everything from -65 degC to +40 degC.

10. CIQ Inspection of Meat Products

Before you’re able to clear your goods at the customs, CIQ must inspect your goods first. Your meat products should be imported through appointed CIQ offices, which are located in connection to harbors and airports.

The products should be packed in a way so that it’s easy for them to check, inspect, and put your products into quarantine if needed.

If your products pass the test, the local CIQ office will submit a certificate, allowing you to produce and sell your products on the Chinese market.

If not, CIQ will send back or demolish the products. For minor issues (not dangerous to environmental protection, safety, or health), on-site treatment is allowed followed by a new inspection.

Keep in mind that you need to keep track of your export history, dating back 2 years.

11. China Customs Clearance

To clear your goods, you need to prepare the following documents in advance:

• An invoice
• A packing list
• Certificate of Origin
• Bill of lading
• Trade contract with the importer
• A health certificate

Keep in mind that you also need to inform AQSIQ in advance when you make a shipment, as they need to keep track of all imports of meat products.

For more information about customs clearance in China, I recommend you read my separate article.

Regulations (GB standards) for Meat Products Imported into China

Below, I’ve included the most common GB standards (import regulations) that you normally need to comply with:

• GB 7718-2011 – General Rules for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods

• GB 2707-2005 – Hygienic Standard for Fresh (Frozen) Meat of Livestock

• GB/T 17238-2008 – Hygienic practice for meat processing establishments

• GB 16869-2005 – Fresh and Frozen Pork Muscle Cuts Standard

• GB 9959-2-2001 – Fresh and Frozen Poultry Product Standard

• GB 16869-2000 – Fresh and Frozen Beef Cuts Standard

• GB 16869-2005 – Poultry National Standard

• GB/T 20094-2006 – National Food Safety Standards for Uses of Food Additives

Confirm whether your specific products need to meet any other additional standards. This should be done with the help of your distribution and/or importer in China.

GB standards for Labeling of Meat Products Imported into China

Pre-packaged food should have labels that comply with GB7718-2004 (General Standard for the Labeling of Pre-packaged food).

Pre-packaged food for special dietary uses needs to comply with GB13432-2013 (General Standard for the Labeling of Pre-packaged Food for Special Dietary Uses).

Import Duty for Meat Products

Over the years, the Chinese government has reduced the import duties for meat products. For example, in 2017 they reduced the import tariffs from 15% to 8% for animal meat.

This clearly shows that China wants to import more quality meat due to increased demand among locals.

Can I sell meat online in China?

Larger companies that sell offline in China sometimes also increase sales by adding their products on online marketplaces.

Smithfields is the biggest pork producer in the world and now aims at Chinese customers on the Chinese e-Commerce platform JD (Jingdong).

The imports of meat increased 15 fold from 2010 to 2015, and it won’t decline.

If you’re interested in selling meat products online in China, I recommend you to read our separate guide to learn more about Tmall Global, one of the biggest e-Commerce platforms in China.

Kaola is also a big marketplace for food and beverages, that you should have a look at.

With that said, selling meat cross-border is rarely heard of as it’s very difficult and costly to manage such a supply chain, as the products are perishable and need to be kept frozen/cool.

In addition, third parties (aka Tmall Partners) rarely work with meat products but rather with cosmetics, supplements, and fashion products, for instance.

China Trade Shows for Meat Products

If you plan to export food products into China, it can be a wise choice one or more meat fairs, to learn more about the local market, regulations, and building up a network.

Let’s have a look at some of the biggest meat fairs that are held in China on an annual basis.

1. Meat Expo China

Meat Expo China is one of the biggest meat fairs in China and attracts thousands of visitors each year. The fair is held in Changsha, Hunan province.

Products on display are:

• Meat (beef, pork, veal, game and lamb)
• Sausages, ham, bacon, canned meat
• Poultry products (chicken and turkey for example)
• Seafood
• Frozen food

2. China International Meat Industry Exhibition

Another big meat fair is CIMIE, held in the capital, Beijing.

The fair has been held for 15 years and attracted more than 300.000 visitors in total.

3. Food Hospitality World

Food hospitality world is one of the biggest food fairs in China with a wide range of products on display, including meat.

The fair is held in Guangzhou (Guangdong province) and attracts traders in thousands.

Conclusion

Meat is in great demand in China and exporters can boost sales significantly by targeting this market.

The most popular meat product is pork, followed by poultry and beef. As the Chinese middle class grows and people move to bigger cities, we’ll see a bigger demand for seafood, fish and non-meat products in the coming 10 years.

Due to the fact that food is consumed by humans, you’re subject to more strict requirements when it comes to import regulations, labelling of your products and packaging.

So: before you export food to China, it’s important that you are aware of the regulations that apply to your specific products. Otherwise, your products can get sent back, seized, or demolished.

Keep in mind that it’s also crucial for you to understand the complete process when exporting meat, as there are obligations both on your side and the Chinese importer’s side (for business registrations for example).

If you plan to export to China, you should read this complete article, to learn all the important information you need to know.

I also recommend you to read my separate guide if you want to know how foreigners can export food products into China.

How can you help me take the next step?

Do you need help with CIQ, CCC or setting up your first Tmall store? We work with leading consultants and service providers – that can help you through every part of the process:

a. CIQ, CCC, labeling and laboratory testing

b. Shipping and customs

c. Selling on Tmall, JD Worldwide & other platforms

d. Finding retailers and distributors for your products

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