Self-registration with China (Article 9 products)

If you manufacture, process or store food products other than those specified as an 'Article 7' product, you will need to self-register your business with China through the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system. These products are described under Article 9 of Decree 248.

Chinese requirements

The department has no role in CIFER registration and its management for Article 9 products.

The CIFER system is administered by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) and the department has no oversight of the system nor the information submitted. Any applications submitted through the CIFER system may be accepted by GACC at their discretion.

Manufacturers, processors and cold storage establishments have found the following steps useful when accessing the CIFER system for the first time:

1. Access the CIFER system
2. Create a CIFER account
3. Log in and review the operation manual
4. Review FAQ
5. Submit an ‘application for registration’
6. Contact GACC for technical support or work with their peak industry body and importer to troubleshoot.

See also: Using the CIFER system

Manufacturers, processors and cold storage establishments are responsible for ensuring their own details are correct and that approved products on CIFER are up-to-date and accurate through ‘application for modification’. They are encouraged to work with their importer to navigate any challenges with registration or to contact GACC directly.

List of Article 9 products

This list is not exhaustive and in general if the product to be exported is not an Article 7 product, then it is most likely an Article 9 type product.

1. Vegetables and vegetable products (excluding fresh or dehydrated vegetables)
2. Grain products and other products
3. Tea
4. Nuts and seed products
5. Alcoholic beverages
   • Fermented wines and prepared fermented wines
   • Distilled spirits and prepared distilled spirits
   • Other spirits and edible alcohols
6. Beverages and frozen beverages
   • Packaged drinking water
   • Fruit and vegetable juice, fruit and vegetable juice beverage
   • Protein beverages
   • Carbonated beverages
   • Tea beverages
   • Coffee beverages
   • Botanical beverages
   • Powdered beverages
   • Other beverages
   • Beverages for special uses
   • Frozen beverages and their preparations, edible ice
7. Biscuits, cakes and bread
8. Sugars (including raw sugar, sugar, lactose, syrup, etc.)
   • Raw sugar
   • Sugar
   • Lactose
   • Syrup
   • Other sugars
9. Confectionery, chocolate (including chocolate, cocoa butter, substitute chocolate and its products)
   • Candy
   • Chocolate
   • Other sweets, chocolates
10. Seasoning (excluding sugar)
    • Salt
    • Soy sauce
    • Vinegar
    • MSG
    • Other seasoning
11. Roasted coffee beans, cocoa beans and other products (excluding chocolate)
    • Roasted coffee beans and its products
    • Roasted cocoa and its products
12. Fruit products
    • Jams
    • Fruit powdered
    • Canned fruit
13. Other miscellaneous foods
    • Candied fruit
    • Puffed food
    • Brewing ingredients
    • Strains for food processing
    • Jellies
    • Protein and its derivatives
    • Palm cores
14. Frozen fruit

More information

Export registration with China

The China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system

Department verification (Article 7 products)

Watch the CIFER registration process webinar

CIFER Help