Pet Food Exports to China: GACC, Certificates and Labels

Start with the product, manufacturing country and sales channel

Begin with the actual manufacturing country, complete formulation and intended Chinese sales channel. China's feed-import rules distinguish country-and-product access from overseas manufacturer registration.

This guide covers dog and cat food, treats and chews entering mainland China, using UK commercial exports as an example. Before paying a deposit, assemble the ingredients and their origins, manufacturing-site details, processing method, intended animal, packaging and proposed claims.

Establish the import route before agreeing delivery. Assess personal purchases, commercial stock and cross-border e-commerce retail imports separately.

GACC registration: check the facility and its approved products

For ordinary feed imports, overseas manufacturers require competent-authority recommendation and GACC registration. APHA says UK establishments must appear on GACC's current register, with cat food and/or dog food identified in the product-name column. Submission by Defra alone is insufficient.

CIFER identifies itself as the China Import Food Enterprises Registration system. An account or food-registration screen does not establish pet-feed approval. Use the register identified in APHA's guidance and check the facility name, address, registration details and product scope.

Keep dated evidence of the entry and recheck it before dispatch. The linked GACC Order 283 amendments take effect on 1 November 2026; use the rules applicable when importing.

UK worked example: ingredients and processing can decide eligibility

EHC 8924 excludes ruminant ingredients except milk and dairy products, and prohibits aquatic-mammal ingredients. It also imposes ingredient-origin and animal-health conditions.

Obtain the complete formulation, including coatings and flavourings, and ask the certifying official veterinarian to assess it before accepting the recipe.

UK health certificate: establish certifiability before booking transport

GOV.UK lists EHC 8924 for cat and dog food containing animal-origin ingredients exported to China. Exporters in England, Scotland and Wales apply online; Northern Ireland exporters apply through DAERA.

Read the current certificate and guidance with the official veterinarian. Before first use, arrange submission and Chinese acknowledgement of the veterinarian's specimen signature and stamp, and confirm that the intended Chinese entry port has them on file.

GACC's UK pet-food announcement requires pre-export batch testing and a health certificate accompanying each consignment. Agree who obtains laboratory evidence, checks the certificate and supplies shipment documents before dispatch.

Chinese labels: distinguish pet-feed rules from GB product standards

For ordinary commercial imports, review Chinese labels against MARA's Pet Feed Labelling Provisions. Check names, ingredients, analytical guarantees, net content, storage, feeding instructions, precautions, production date, shelf life, manufacturer details, applicable licence numbers and product standards. Complete pet food and pet additive premixes require MARA import registration.

SAMR lists GB/T 31216-2014 for complete dog food, GB/T 31217-2014 for complete cat food and GB/T 23185-2008 for dog chews as recommended national standards. These product standards do not replace the pet-feed labelling provisions.

Have the importer review the complete artwork against the product category and applicable requirements before printing.

The Chinese importer and cross-border e-commerce route

For ordinary commercial imports, check the consignee's customs filing and the importer's feed-import filing. Assign responsibility for declarations, any required quarantine permit and clearance records. These are separate from overseas manufacturer registration.

Cross-border e-commerce retail imports must meet the applicable product-list, tax-policy and channel conditions. Purchases are for personal use and cannot be resold. The framework exempts qualifying goods from first-import licensing, registration or filing requirements, subject to its exceptions, while retaining necessary quarantine and safety controls.

Ask the operator to confirm eligibility for the exact product and route, including the applicable labelling arrangements. An ordinary online purchase or courier shipment does not by itself establish eligibility.

Checks before shipping

Reconcile the product file, facility entry, final labels, batch tests, certificate and commercial documents. Resolve differences in manufacturer identity, product description or batch details before loading.

Confirm the importer has reviewed the documents and any permit conditions. Agree storage, transport, inspection and responsibility for clearance problems in writing.

For help defining the work, see Cambridge China Bridge's export-to-China service. Prepare the formulation, manufacturing-site details, intended channel and existing approvals for the scope assessment.