How to export Pork cuts from the UK to China

Establish the route for your pork

Pork cuts and carcasses fall within the meat registration route requiring competent-authority recommendation. Confirm the product scope in GACC's registration system before offering a shipment. Distinguish fresh or chilled pork under HS 020311, 020312 and 020319 from frozen pork under HS 020321, 020322 and 020329. These codes are absent from the cross-border e-commerce retail import list, so that list offers no route for this pork.

HMRC recorded £65.1m of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 020311, 020312, 020319, 020321, 020322, 020329 in 2025 (2024: £60.9m, +6.9%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £820k. January to July 2026: £41.8m against £39.0m in the same months of 2025 (+7.2%).

The largest UK export line to China within these codes was 02032990, frozen meat of non-domestic swine, at £22.4m in 2025. This is the value of UK exports under that tariff line, rather than a sales forecast for your cuts.

The manufacturer must secure registration

Under GACC Decree 280, the manufacturer applies itself or through an agent and obtains its country's competent-authority recommendation, supported by a plant audit report and recommendation letter. Registration and approval take months, not weeks, and the Chinese authority decides. Meat manufacturers' registrations are not renewed automatically. The manufacturer must organise its application and establish that its plant registration covers the proposed pork.

The overseas exporter or agent must file with GACC, and the Chinese food importer must file with its local customs office. Where entry animal and plant quarantine approval is required, the importer must obtain the permit before signing the trade contract. Establish the applicable permit requirements with the importer before progressing the order.

Price against the chilled or frozen tariff

The following MFN rates apply to the listed Chinese tariff lines. Use the Chinese tariff line for the actual pork supplied, rather than copying a UK export code into the import costing.

Allow for VAT and prepare meat markings

The VAT Law sets a standard import rate of 13% and a 9% rate for agricultural products. Ask the importer's customs broker to confirm the applicable rate for your pork and whether consumption tax applies. Import VAT uses the customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax as its base. These border taxes add to landed cost and shape the price the importer can offer.

Fresh and frozen pork must carry firm, clear markings in Chinese and English, or Chinese and the exporting country’s language, giving country of origin, product name, plant registration number and batch number. The outer pack must also show specification, origin, destination, production date, shelf life and storage temperature in Chinese, stating that the destination is the PRC. Have the importer review artwork and assess the pork against GB 2707-2016, the standard for fresh and frozen livestock and poultry products.

Prepare the UK declaration and health certificate

For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, obtain a GB EORI and classify the pork correctly. The export declaration needs the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. Arrange who will make that declaration and supply the carrier with the invoice and applicable export certificates.

Active certificate 7006GB covers frozen raw pork exported from England, Scotland or Wales to China. Check its guidance notes for plant, product and ingredient limits before accepting an order. Its stated scope is frozen raw pork; establish the applicable export route and certificate requirements with the authority if you intend to supply chilled pork.

Find and check the Chinese importer

Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached your business, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.

For pork, our help is limited to preparation, finding and checking a Chinese importer, and coordinating licensed partners. We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record stays with licensed partners in China, and the manufacturer's own application and filings stay its own.

Use our export preparation service to organise that work. Establish who will handle the import filing, applicable quarantine permit, declaration registration number and meat packaging review before committing stock.