GACC CIFER (China Import Food Enterprises Registration, 进口食品境外生产企业注册管理系统, China's General Administration of Customs — Import Food Enterprises Registration System) is the sole registration entry point for all overseas food enterprises to enter the China market. This slice organizes CIFER system operations + Decree No. 248 (即将废止 / to be repealed) + Decree No. 280 (effective 2026-06-01) transition arrangements + 3 extension country pathways.
- CIFER primary entry: https://cifer.singlewindow.cn/
- CIFER alt entry: https://www.singlewindow.cn/ → 进口食品境外生产企业注册管理系统 (Import Food Overseas Production Enterprise Registration Management System)
- Decree No. 248 announcement (248 号令公告): http://gdfs.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/302266/302267/4122185/index.html
- Decree No. 280 full text (280 号令全文): http://gdfs.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/2480148/6775328/index.html
- Pull date (拉取日期): 2026-07-20 (Tavily extract)
CIFER System — Three Core Functions (CIFER 系统三大功能)
| Function | Path | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Product Category Query (产品类别查询) | Home menu → 产品类别查询 | HS code + Inspection & Quarantine code cross-reference |
| 2. Enterprise Info Query (企业信息查询) | Home menu → 已注册企业查询 | China Registration Number + Validity Period |
| 3. Registration Application (注册申请) | Competent Authority Account / Enterprise Self-Account | Submit registration materials |
Decree No. 248 vs Decree No. 280 — Transition Table (248 号令 vs 280 号令 过渡表)
| Dimension | Decree No. 248 (旧 / Old, to be repealed) | Decree No. 280 (新 / New, effective 2026-06-01) |
|---|---|---|
| Date Promulgated (发布日期) | 2021-04-12 | 2025-10-14 |
| Date Effective (施行日期) | 2022-01-01 | 2026-06-01 |
| Date Repealed (废止日期) | 2026-06-01 | Currently in force (现行) |
| Recommended Registration Catalog (推荐注册目录) | 18 categories fixed | 17 categories dynamic list |
| Renewal Mechanism (续期机制) | Active application 6–3 months before expiry | Automatic continuation (自动延续, except high-risk) |
| Registration Method (注册方式) | Single (official recommendation or self) | Three (official recommendation / enterprise self / list registration 清单注册) |
Transition Arrangement for Already-Registered Enterprises (已注册企业过渡安排)
> "已获注册的进口食品境外生产企业，其注册资格继续有效。" / "The registration qualification of overseas food production enterprises that have already been registered shall remain valid."
→ Enterprises registered under Decree No. 248 automatically transition to the Decree No. 280 system; re-registration is not required.
Declaration Requirements (Applicable to pet food) — 申报要求（适用于 pet food）
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Under "Product Qualification" (产品资质) of Customs Declaration Form | "进口食品境外生产企业注册" (Import Food Overseas Production Enterprise Registration) certificate field |
| License Category Code (许可证类别代码) | 519 |
| Package Marking (包装标识) | On inner & outer packaging, mark the China Registration Number OR the Registration Number approved by the Competent Authority of the country (region) of origin |
| Declaration Time Window (申报时间窗) | Food shipped to China on or after 2022-01-01 |
Fees (费用)
> "实施进口食品境外生产企业注册，海关总署不收取任何费用。" / "GACC (海关总署, General Administration of Customs) charges no fees whatsoever for implementing the registration of overseas food production enterprises."
→ Beware of fraudulent agency platforms (reach24h.com / zmuni.com / various "expedited" intermediaries).
Extension Country Pathways (CN-5 Core / 扩展国家路径)
Pathway A: Enterprise Self-Registration (企业自行注册)
- Applicable to (适用): Foods not included in the Decree No. 280 "Recommended Registration Catalog" (including the general case of pet food / 未列入 280 号令"推荐注册目录"的食品，含 pet food 一般情况)
- Procedure (流程): Enterprise applies for CIFER system account on its own → Submits application per the registration system workflow
- Advantage (优势): No Competent Authority recommendation letter required
Pathway B: List Registration (New under Decree No. 280 / 280 号令新设)
- Applicable conditions (any one of) (适用条件，任一):
- Has signed an import/export food safety cooperation agreement with GACC (已与海关总署签署进出口食品安全合作协议)
- Has signed an agreement, memorandum, joint statement etc. with China that contains food safety cooperation content (已与中国签署含食品安全合作内容的协议、备忘录、联合声明等)
- Other circumstances in which GACC considers list registration applicable after risk assessment (海关总署经过风险评估认为可以采取清单注册方式的其他情形)
- Procedure (流程): Batch recommendation by the Competent Authority of the country (region) → GACC review → batch registration
- Advantage (优势): Simplified documentation, batch processing
Pathway C: Bilateral Agreement Stipulation (Key clause — Article 29 / 第二十九条 关键条款)
> "相关国家（地区）与中国就进口食品境外生产企业注册管理另有约定的，按照双方约定执行。" / "Where a country (region) and China have otherwise agreed on the registration management of overseas food production enterprises, the agreement between the parties shall apply."
→ Effective RCEP / China-EU / China-UK / China-ASEAN and other bilateral agreements may trigger Pathway C.
pet food Cross-Border Expansion Practical Guide (pet food 跨境扩展实用指引)
3 Prerequisites for a New Country to Enter China pet food Market (新国家进入中国 pet food 市场的 3 个先决条件)
- Status of bilateral agreements between that country and China (RCEP member / Belt & Road / standalone agreement) — 该国与中国的双边协议状况（RCEP 成员 / 一带一路 / 单独协议）
- Whether the country is within Decree No. 280's "Recommended Registration Catalog 17 categories" (绝大多数 pet food 不在内 → 走企业自行注册)
- Whether pet food registration has been opened in the CIFER system (the vast majority has)
Recommended Pathway in Practice (实操推荐路径)
- RCEP countries (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, 9 Southeast Asian countries) — RCEP 国家（澳大利亚、新西兰、日本、韩国、东南亚 9 国）→ Pathway B/C (list registration or bilateral agreement)
- Developed countries in Europe & America — 欧美发达国家 → Pathway A (enterprise self-registration) + Pathway C (bilateral agreement stipulation)
- Others — 其他 → Pathway A (enterprise self-registration)
Slice Navigation (切片导航)
- GACC Decree No. 280 + SCP Chongqing First Case (CN-4) — GACC 280 号令 + SCP 重庆首例：see
cn-gacc-decree-280-and-scp/01_decree_280_scp_feed_landscape.md - GACC Customs Announcement No. 257 3-Tier Risk (CN-2) — GACC 海关 257 号 3 层风险：see
cn-customs-feed-risk-2025-257/01_announcement_257_overview.md - GACC 22-Country pet food Enterprise List (CN-3) — GACC 22 国宠粮企业清单：see
cn-gacc-22-countries-pet-food-processor-list/01_overview.md - GACC Taiwan Feed Additives (CN-3-1) — GACC 台湾饲料添加剂：see
cn-gacc-taiwan-feed-additives/01_overview.md
Source: pdf-raw/cn-approvals/decree-280-official-fulltext-20260721.txt + decree-248-official-fulltext-20260721.txt · GACC CIFER 系统入口 + 248/280 号令过渡 + 扩展路径 (official gov mirror, Tavily raw response 2026-07-21)