How to export dog and cat food from the UK to China

Secure the plant and product registrations first

Dog and cat food under HS 230910 needs a UK plant specifically listed by GACC for pet food before export to China. For compound pet food or pet additive premix, the overseas producer must obtain import registration from the Chinese agricultural authority through its China office or domestic agent. The Chinese customer usually applies for the import permit. Approval takes months, not weeks, and the Chinese authority decides. Confirm the plant in GACC's registration system and current establishment list.

HMRC recorded £181k of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 230910 in 2025 (2024: £174k, +4.4%). The largest UK export line was 23091090, retail-packed food containing no starch or glucose: £122k. These are exports under the tariff codes, so use them as market context when discussing demand with an importer.

Check the recipe and prepare the Chinese label

Check the recipe before preparing the registration application. Ingredients derived from ruminant animals are prohibited, except milk and milk-derived ingredients; ingredients from aquatic mammals are also prohibited. The food exported to China must be packaged with a Chinese label meeting the pet food labelling rules. Give the licensed partners the ingredient details and label artwork together so preparation addresses both the recipe restrictions and the pack.

Allow for duty and unresolved VAT treatment

Both Chinese tariff lines have a provisional rate of 10% for 2026. Import VAT normally uses 13%; feed appears in the 9% list, but confirm whether this food qualifies before relying on that rate. VAT uses the customs value plus duty and any consumption tax. The importer's customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies. Border taxes add to landed cost and shape the price the importer can offer.

Arrange the UK declaration and health certificate

Classify the food under the correct UK commodity code; the Chinese tariff lines are 23091010 and 23091090. For exports from Great Britain, arrange a GB EORI and the export declaration using the value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. Health certificate 8924 is active for food containing ingredients of animal origin. Check its plant, product and ingredient limits, and ensure the import permit and other documents are in place before shipping.

Assess the bonded cross-border retail route

The cross-border retail import list includes 23091010 for canned food and 23091090 for other retail-packed food. Both entries carry the remark limiting them to online bonded purchases. Listed retail imports receive personal-use supervision without first-import licence, registration or filing requirements, except suspended epidemic-area goods or emergency risk handling. Have licensed partners confirm the proposed bonded route before relying on this treatment.

The overseas business retains the main responsibility for quality and safety and must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declarations and joint civil liability. Consumers must accept a risk notice covering origin-country standards, possible differences from Chinese standards and possible absence of a Chinese label, with a Chinese electronic label available online. Purchases are for personal use and cannot be resold.

Find and check the Chinese importer

For this category, our export service is limited to preparation, finding and checking a Chinese importer, and coordinating licensed partners. Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached your brand, our staff check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.

We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and any required cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed-partner roles in China; the brand's own filings remain the brand's. For the importer discussion, have the plant's GACC listing, product registration position, recipe, Chinese label artwork and certificate arrangements ready.