Last week, we had the opportunity to participate in a webinar on CIFER and GACC registration requirements for the Chinese market, with more than 200 European SMEs in attendance.
The strong participation reflected a clear reality. For many exporters, China’s registration framework is complex, category-specific and difficult to navigate.
Requirements can vary significantly depending on the product, the role of the competent authority, the applicable protocol, the registration route and the information required on the CIFER platform. At the same time, the regulatory framework continues to evolve.
During the session, we reviewed the background to Decrees 248 and 249, as well as the new Decree 280 and its main changes, including:
▪️ the move from a fixed list to a dynamic catalogue
▪️ revised registration routes for different product categories
▪️ direct company submission and official recommendation requirements, depending on the category
▪️ simplified product information requirements in CIFER
▪️ automatic renewal for eligible registrations, with exceptions for certain categories
▪️ more specific rules for storage facilities and primary agricultural products
For European SMEs, understanding these changes is a key part of developing a strategy for China’s F&B market.
The number of questions raised during the webinar showed how much uncertainty still exists among exporters. Getting these details right is not only a compliance issue. It can determine whether a product reaches the Chinese market smoothly or faces delays later.
Thank you to the EU SME Centre for organising the webinar, and to everyone who joined the session and contributed with their questions.
@Pablo Recio Gracia
Click below to watch the full video: CIFER Guidance for Agrifood Exporters to China – YouTube