Frequently Asked Questions

The best place to look for the tariffs is on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s FTA Portal. You can search for the tariff using the harmonised system (HS) tariff code for your product. Portal also helps you search HS code using keywords and then shows you how you may meet the rules of origin to claim the preferential tariff. if you’re not sure what you tariff code is, you may want to contact your customs broker or freight forwarder.

Value Added Tax (VAT) may be applicable on goods sold in China. The website of the State Administration of Taxation of the People’s Republic of China provides additional information and the Australian Taxation Office can advise on Australian tax implications. Advice on the tax should be obtained from professional tax advisers, accountants or lawyers.

For food exporters, there are two main pathways to China – either via general trade or Cross Border e-Commerce (CBEC) trade. Part D (page 15) of the AFGC China Market Industry Guide provides more information.

Austrade can connect you with distributors and other contacts in China. They can also provide information on export issues, statistics, trends and regulations relevant to your product.

Exports into China are handled through a number of intermediaries including import agents and distributors, wholesalers and sub-distributors. More information is on the Austrade website.

It is advisable to check your distribution partner’s knowledge and understanding of the sector – their distribution and channel capabilities, contacts and relationships. You may want to contact Austrade for any referrals.

It is important to understand risks involved in exporting food products to China. Pre-market approvals can be complex and time consuming. A comprehensive understanding is required for compliance and regulatory requirements (product, ingredients, formulation, labelling, testing methodologies, production/processing and supply chain). It’s also important to engage a reliable China import and distribution partner(s).

The AFGC China Market Industry Guide provides an overview of the key regulatory bodies involved with food imports. Refer to page 8 of the Guide.

China introduced new e-commerce laws in early 2019. Find out what you need to do to comply at Austrade.

As an exporter you must:

• meet exporter requirements outlined in the Export Control Act 1982 and other subordinate legislation
• meet the importing country’s requirements
• provide export compliant goods for inspection

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, has prepared these step-by-step instructions to help you ensure your plants and plant products meet export requirements. This Exporter’s Guide from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources also tells you how to reduce the costs of exporting.

China maintains national standards for food ingredients, additives, product labelling and contact materials. These are known as Guo-biao or GB standards. While most are available online in Chinese, not all the latest standards are available in English. A professional importer, distributor or regulatory compliance service provider can provide further advice. You can get more information at the Standardisation Administration of the People’s Republic of China website.

.Australia’s authorised bodies for issuing Certificates of Origin are:
1. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AusChamber);
2. The Australian Industry Group (AiG); and,
3. The Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA) (for wine and wine-related products)

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website has a template for Certificates of Origin (COO). The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ai Group are authorised bodies for issuing COOs in Australia.

It is best to check the HS code on the Department of Foreign Affairs’s FTA portal or with the importing country’s customs. You can seek an advance ruling from China customs authority. Advance rulings are binding and will provide you with certainty when you export or import. Your customs broker or importer may be able to help you with getting an advance ruling.

You should immediately discuss with your import partner the reasons for the non compliance. You should also ensure corrective actions are taken to address the root cause of the shipment failure.

You should discuss and confirm your product recall procedure with your China importer and distributors to ensure alignment. The product recall procedure needs to be submitted to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) by your China importer.

Some producers and exporters of Australian agriculture commodities may need to be registered with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. For further information on which commodities are subject to production registration, please refer to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Manual of Importing Country Requirements. All foreign food distributors and producers who import food products into China are required to register with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC).

All food and beverage products imported into China are subject to approval before export and/or inspection at the border by China. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources maintains a helpful database of the China import market requirements. You may also want to check if the ingredients in your product need to be registered. Check these standards via the Standardisation Administration of the People’s Republic of China website.

Yes, ingredients may need to be registered. The product ingredients compliance requirements are detailed in the Guo-biao (GB) Standards and supporting appendices. GB Standards are national standards for food ingredients, additives, product labelling and contact materials. There are many GB Standards, some for general food items and others for specific foods. Best to contact your importer, distributor or a regulatory compliance service provider. You can also contact Austrade for assistance with GB Standard translations.

It’s important to protect your brand by registering a trade mark in China. China’s first-to-file trade marks system means that registering as early as possible is the most reliable way to protect your intellectual property (IP) and prevent other people from registering your trade mark, a common problem in China. Find out more on the IP Australia website.

Australian exporters can contact Export Finance Insurance Corporation (EFIC) for solutions through loans, guarantees and bonds. Contact Austrade for information on their Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) For other grants, funding or assistance options please use the Australian Government’s Free Grants and Assistance tool.

For importers to Australia, China’s authorised bodies are:
– The General Administration of Customs of China
– The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade