The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) signed the Cooperation Agreement on the Supervision of Safety and Facilitation of Customs Clearance of Food Products Manufactured in Hong Kong Exported to the Mainland (Cooperation Agreement) on 27 November 2023, establishing Advance Release Arrangement for eligible Hong Kong Manufactured food products to shorten the time for customs clearance and further enhancing the safety of local food products exported to the Mainland, facilitating trade, and promoting the development of local food manufacturing industry.
Cooperation Framework
According to the Cooperation Agreement, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the GACC will start cooperation on safety supervision and the facilitation of customs clearance of food products manufactured in Hong Kong exported to Mainland. The CFS will conduct supervision on Hong Kong-manufactured food products exported to the Mainland to ensure compliance with the Mainland requirements while food products required to be tested by Mainland Customs can be released upon completion of sampling without waiting for the results.
The Advance Release Arrangement will initially cover three major categories of food, namely (1) beverages and frozen drinks (excluding alcoholic and milk beverages); (2) biscuits, pastries and bread; and (3) candies and chocolates (including chocolate, cocoa butter substitute chocolate and their products). The arrangement will be available at the ports under Shenzhen Customs, Gongbei Customs and Huangpu Customs.
Food Classification is based on Chinese HS code and Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) code. Please refer to Table 1 [Chinese version only] or the codes of the above three food categories.
Operational Procedures for Advance Release Arrangement
Food manufacturers who intend to participate the Advance Release Arrangement have to apply for “Advance Release Permission” for each category of the food products with the CFS to assess whether the manufacturer and its food products comply with the following basic requirements:
- A food manufacturer must be a holder of a valid food factory licence issued by this Department;
- Food products must be manufactured in the food factory stated in the aforesaid food factory licence;
- A food safety management system with relevant certification (that is, ISO 22000 or HACCP certification) must be in place in the food factory concerned; and
- The food products concerned must comply with the national standards and laws of the Mainland China.
Food manufacturers have to submit test certificate with relevant test report issued within the last six months by a recognized third party institute in order to certify that the food product complies with the national standards of the Mainland China. Food testing parameters generally include quality, food additives, pesticides, contaminants, microorganisms and biotoxins, etc. (Table 2 [Chinese version only]) The food safety national standards of the Mainland China for relevant food products are listed in Table 3 [Chinese version only]. Food manufacturers may check the website of the National Health Commission of the People‘s Republic of China for details of the national standards.
Food Manufacturers may refer to the Application Guide for “Advance Release Permission” for details. The CFS will grant “Advance Release Permission” to the eligible food manufacturers and their food products, and notify the GACC of such information for record.
After being granted an “Advance Release Permission”, the food manufacturer should ensure that each consignment of food products exported to the Mainland under the Advance Release Arrangement:
- is accompanied by a “Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin” or “Food Inspection Certificate” issued by this Department;
- is accompanied by a “Certificate of Hong Kong Origin- CEPA” issued by the Trade and Industry Department (TID) or the Government Approved Certification Organisations; and
- complies with relevant legislation and regulations of Mainland China including provision of a simplified Chinese label on the smallest sales pack.
In addition, food manufacturers should note GACC Decree No. 248 《Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food》which requires all overseas manufacturers of production (including food factories in Hong Kong) that export foods to Mainland China to register with the GACC. Manufacturers of the three categories of food products covered in the first phase of the Advance Release Arrangement should apply for registration with the GACC themselves through the China International Trade Single Window.
Briefing on the Advance Release Arrangement [Chinese version only]
Frequently Asked Questions [Chinese version only]
Enquiries
For enquiries, please contact the Food Import & Export Section (Tel: 3108 2754) of this Department during office hours. Enquiries may also be sent to this Department by fax on 3108 2719 or email to fsc@fehd.gov.hk.
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department