Overview of GACC Registration

GACC Registration is an important compliance requirement for foreign food manufacturers and establishments that export eligible food products to China. The registration is handled through the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and involves submitting information about the manufacturing facility, food products, production processes, and food safety controls, under the current framework established by GACC Decree No. 280, which restructured the older Decree 248 system into two registration pathways and three risk-based registration types.

A valid GACC registration helps eligible exporters meet China's import requirements and avoid unnecessary issues during customs clearance. Depending on the product category, registration may be completed directly through the CIFER system, or for high-risk categories like dairy, meat, seafood, eggs, and edible oils, through the competent authority route (FSSAI or APEDA, depending on the product) in the exporting country. Once approved, the exporter receives a GACC registration number, which must be used according to the applicable Chinese labeling and import requirements.

Why GACC Registration Is Important

If your food product requires GACC Registration, completing the registration before export is important for smooth customs clearance in China. Missing or incorrect registration details can result in shipment delays, customs clearance problems, rejection, or other compliance issues.

PSR Compliance helps Indian food manufacturers and exporters understand the applicable GACC requirements, prepare the required documents, complete the CIFER application, and coordinate the registration process for exporting food products to China.

GACC ELIGIBILITY

Who Needs GACC Registration in India?

Any Indian business that manufactures, processes, or exports certain food categories to China needs to be registered with GACC before its products can legally enter the Chinese market.

INDIA CHINA

Indian
Business

→

China
Market

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Registration before export Eligible food businesses must complete the applicable GACC registration requirements before their products enter China.

01

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Food Manufacturers & Processors

Companies producing packaged foods, snacks, beverages, spices, or other processed food items intended for the Chinese market.

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02

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Seafood & Aquatic Product Exporters

Businesses dealing in fish, shrimp, crab, or other aquatic products. These facilities are frequently subject to on-site inspection in addition to document review, given the higher contamination risk profile of seafood.

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03

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Meat & Poultry Exporters

Companies handling meat, poultry, and related processed products, which fall under some of the strictest GACC categories.

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04

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Dairy Product Manufacturers

Producers of milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy items, where facility-level hygiene documentation is closely scrutinized.

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05

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Agricultural & Plant-Based Food Exporters

Exporters of tea, grains, nuts, spices, fruits, and similar plant-based products, where requirements vary depending on the specific product category.

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Not every food product requires full GACC registration — some low-risk packaged goods may fall outside the regulated categories.

Confirm Your Product's GACC Status →

GACC FOOD CATEGORY CLASSIFICATION

High-Risk & Low-Risk GACC Categories

GACC applies different registration requirements depending on the nature of the food product. Understanding whether your product falls under a high-risk or other food category can help determine the applicable registration route.

Product Category

Examples

Key Requirement

01 Meat and Meat Products

Frozen meat, processed meat, sausages, canned meat

Requires approval through the exporting country's authority

02 Aquatic Products

Fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, seafood products

Processing plants must meet Chinese hygiene standards

03 Dairy Products

Milk powder, cheese, butter, yogurt

Strict quality and safety compliance required

04 Bird's Nest Products

Raw or processed edible bird's nest

Must meet China inspection requirements

05 Bee Products

Honey, royal jelly, beeswax

Subject to residue and contamination checks

06 Eggs and Egg Products

Liquid eggs, dried egg powder, processed egg items

Must follow food safety and traceability rules

07 Edible Oils and Fats

Vegetable oil, palm oil, olive oil, animal fats

Production facilities must be registered

08 Stuffed Wheat Products

Dumplings, buns, stuffed pastries

Must meet Chinese food processing standards

09 Edible Grains

Rice, wheat, barley, corn

Must comply with plant quarantine rules

10 Grain Milling Products

Flour, starch, semolina

Production facility registration required

11 Malt

Malt used in brewing or food production

Must comply with processing standards

12 Fresh and Dehydrated Vegetables

Fresh vegetables, dried vegetables

Phytosanitary certification may be required

13 Dried Beans

Lentils, chickpeas, peas, pulses

Must meet quarantine inspection rules

14 Seasonings

Spices, sauces, condiments

Ingredient disclosure required

15 Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds

Subject to quality and contamination checks

16 Dried Fruits

Raisins, dates, dried mango

Must meet hygiene and processing standards

17 Coffee and Cocoa Beans

Raw coffee beans, cocoa beans

Inspection may be required for contaminants

18 Special Dietary Foods

Infant food, medical nutrition foods

Strict safety and labeling compliance

02

OTHER FOOD CATEGORIES

Low-Risk Categories

Food products that are not included in the applicable high-risk categories may follow the relevant direct registration route through CIFER, subject to current GACC requirements.

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General Packaged & Processed Foods

Snacks, baked goods, confectionery and non-dairy beverages, where applicable.

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Other Agri-Food Products

Products that do not fall within the applicable recommendation-based categories.

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Important:

The low-risk side is not a fixed list of named categories. Classification depends on the exact product and the applicable GACC requirements. Product categories and registration requirements may be updated by the Chinese authorities.

PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION

Not sure which category your product falls under?

Share your product details with our compliance team to understand the applicable GACC registration route and requirements.

Check Product Category →

Documents Required for GACC Registration

The exact list can vary by product category, but most applications require:

Business registration certificate — incorporation or registration document issued by the relevant Indian authority
Manufacturing license — authorization to manufacture or process food products in India
Import Export Code (IEC) — issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade; mandatory for any export from India
Food safety certification — FSSAI license or equivalent quality certification
Product details — product name, ingredients, manufacturing process, and packaging specifications
Label information — packaging and label design showing compliance with Chinese labeling rules
Facility information — address, layout, production capacity, and hygiene practices
Quality control and food safety system documents — testing procedures and quality assurance records
Authorization letter — required if a consultant or third party is filing on the company's behalf

Note

The exact documents may vary depending on the product category and registration method required by the General Administration of Customs of China.

GACC REGISTRATION PROCESS

GACC Registration Process: Step-by-Step Guide

Businesses that want to export certain food products to China must register their manufacturing facilities with the General Administration of Customs of China. The registration process generally involves the following steps:

01

START HERE

Determine Eligibility

The first step is to identify whether your product category requires GACC registration. Food manufacturers and exporters must check if their products fall under the regulated categories before applying.

02

Prepare Required Documents

Applicants must gather all necessary documents, including business registration certificates, food safety licenses, product details, and facility information. Accurate documentation helps avoid delays during the review process.

03

ONLINE PORTAL

Create Account on the CIFER System

The applicant must register on the official China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) online portal and create a company account to start the application process.

04

Submit the Online Application

The company must complete the online application form and upload all required documents through the CIFER system. The application includes details about the manufacturing facility, products, and food safety management system.

05

AUTHORITY REVIEW

Application Review by Chinese Authorities

The General Administration of Customs of China reviews the submitted application and may request additional information or clarification if required.

06

APPROVAL

Approval and GACC Registration Number

Once the application is approved, the manufacturer receives a GACC registration number, which must be displayed on product packaging and used for exporting goods to China.

07

AFTER REGISTRATION

Ongoing Compliance

After registration, businesses must maintain compliance with Chinese food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and product traceability rules when exporting to China.

Common Mistakes That Delay or Reject GACC Applications

Most rejected or delayed applications come down to a handful of avoidable errors:

Incomplete facility documentation — missing layout diagrams, hygiene protocols, or production capacity details
Mismatched product labeling — labels that don't match the product details submitted in the application, or that don't meet Chinese labeling format requirements
Missing or expired IEC — applying without an active Import Export Code, or with company details that don't match other submitted documents
Inconsistent company information — discrepancies between the business registration certificate, FSSAI license, and CIFER application
Underestimating inspection requirements — assuming all categories only need paperwork, when high-risk categories like meat, seafood, and dairy often require facility-level review
Late renewal filing — waiting until close to the 5-year expiry instead of starting the renewal 3–6 months ahead, which can interrupt active export contracts

Catching these before submission is usually the difference between a 2-month approval and a 6-month back-and-forth with Chinese authorities.

How Long Does GACC Registration Take?

Timelines vary by product risk category. Lower-risk plant-based goods with clean documentation typically move faster through review; high-risk categories like meat, seafood, and dairy — which often require facility-level scrutiny — take longer. [Ask us for a category-specific timeline estimate →]

GACC REGISTRATION

GACC Certificate Registration Fee

Choose the applicable GACC registration category and understand the service fee structure before starting your registration.

Applicant Type

Amount

Addon Amount

01

GACC-I Registration Food Manufacturer Registration

$850 per category

$450 each additional category

02

GACC-II Registration Applicable Registration Categories

As applicable

Based on scope

03

GACC-E Registration Exporter Registration

$490 for all categories

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Important Fee Information

The above amounts are indicative service/consultancy charges. Applicable government, documentation, authentication, translation or other third-party charges may vary depending on the registration requirements and product category.

[Get a Free Cost Estimate for Your Product Category →]

Validity and Renewal

GACC registration is valid for 5 years from the date of approval. During this period, the registered manufacturer can export approved products to China, and the assigned registration number must remain on product packaging.

To renew:

Apply 3–6 months before expiry
Update documentation and compliance information as required
Submit the renewal through the CIFER portal
Allow time for Chinese authorities to review before the current registration lapses

Filing late can interrupt your ability to export, so renewal timing matters as much as the original application.

GACC Registration vs. Other Export Certifications

Businesses new to exporting often confuse GACC registration with other compliance requirements. Here's how they differ:

Certification	Issuing Authority	Purpose	Required For
GACC Registration	General Administration of Customs of China	Allows food products to legally enter and clear Chinese customs	Any business exporting regulated food categories to China
FSSAI License	Food Safety and Standards Authority of India	Confirms food safety compliance within India	All Indian food manufacturers and processors, domestic or export
IEC (Import Export Code)	Directorate General of Foreign Trade, India	Authorizes a business to import or export any goods from India	Any business exporting from India, regardless of destination country
APEDA Registration	Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority	Supports and regulates export of agricultural and processed food products	Exporters of agri and processed food products, often alongside GACC

In short: FSSAI and IEC are prerequisites you'll likely already need before you can even apply for GACC. APEDA registration may run in parallel depending on your product category. GACC is specifically what China requires before your goods are allowed across its border.

Why Work With Us

End-to-end handling of documentation, CIFER submission, and follow-up with Chinese authorities
Experience across high-risk categories including meat, seafood, and dairy, where facility-level scrutiny is highest
Renewal tracking so registrations don't lapse and interrupt active export contracts
Support across related compliance requirements — FSSAI, IEC, and APEDA — so you're not coordinating multiple consultants separately

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EXPORT COMPLIANCE CASE STUDY

Salecha Polyweave

GACC REGISTRATION

FOOD EXPORT • CHINA MARKET

GACC Registration
for Food Export

Regulatory support for businesses preparing to export eligible food products from India to the Chinese market under applicable GACC requirements.

IN

ORIGIN India

CN

DESTINATION China

FOOD EXPORT

✓

✓ EXPORT READY

CASE PROFILE

Food Export Compliance

EXPORTER Salecha Polyweave

MARKET China

SECTOR Food Export

SERVICE GACC Registration

COMPLIANCE JOURNEY

India → China

01

Requirement Review

Understanding the applicable requirements based on the export category and destination market.

02

Documentation

Organising business, facility, product, and supporting information required for registration.

03

Registration Support

Assistance with the applicable registration process and submission requirements.

✓

Completed

GACC registration support completed for Salecha Polyweave.

EXPORT DESTINATION

Connecting Indian Food
with the China Market

GACC registration is an important compliance step for eligible overseas food establishments seeking access to the Chinese market.

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CASE STUDY OUTCOME

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Structured compliance support for food export registration related to the China market.

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GACC Registration in India: Complete Guide for China Food Exports (2026)

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