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Exporting Dried Fruits to China: GACC Registration Guide for Overseas Manufacturers

China’s demand for healthier snack products continues to grow, creating new opportunities for overseas dried fruit manufacturers. However, before exporting dried fruits to China, manufacturers need to understand an important point:

Not every dried fruit is approved for import into China, and an approved product does not automatically mean that every factory can export it.

Overseas manufacturers should first confirm product classification and market access, and then complete the required GACC registration.

1.Confirm Your Product Classification

Dried fruits are generally made from fresh fruits through natural drying, hot-air drying, dehydration or similar processes.

However, the commercial product name alone does not determine its regulatory classification.

Chinese authorities may consider factors such as:

* Raw materials

* Processing methods

* Product form

* Ingredients

* Intended use

* Degree of processing

For example, products that are candied, flavored, mixed with other ingredients or further processed may fall under a different category and therefore be subject to different HS codes and import requirements.

Before starting GACC registration, manufacturers should first confirm the correct product classification and HS code.

2. Check Whether Your Product and Country Have China Market Access

Having a local production license does not mean that a manufacturer can immediately apply for GACC registration.

The first question should be:

Is China currently allowing this type of dried fruit to be imported from my country?

For dried fruits subject to market access requirements, both the product category and country/region of origin must meet China’s applicable import access requirements.

In simple terms:

Approved product + Approved country/region + Registered manufacturer = Basic conditions for export to China

China’s market access lists may be updated over time. Therefore, overseas manufacturers are advised to verify the latest access status before preparing registration documents or planning shipments.

3. Complete GACC Registration

After confirming market access, the overseas production establishment must complete the required registration with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

One common misunderstanding is:

“Our product has already been approved for export to China, so our factory can export directly.”

This is not necessarily the case.

Product market access and manufacturer registration are two separate requirements.

For dried fruit products that fall within the category requiring competent-authority recommendation, the overseas manufacturer cannot simply submit the application directly to GACC.The usual procedure is:

Manufacturer prepares documents → Competent authority reviews the factory → Competent authority recommends the manufacturer to GACC → GACC reviews the application → Registration is approved

The competent authority may be the Ministry of Agriculture, food safety authority or another government authority responsible for food export supervision in the exporting country.

Documents Commonly Required

The exact requirements may vary depending on the product and country, but typical registration documents may include:

* GACC registration application form

* Production/business license issued by the competent authority

* Product photos and product descriptions

* Drying process description, including temperature and processing time

* Product testing reports, particularly for relevant risks such as mycotoxins and sulfur dioxide residues

* Food safety and hygiene management documents, such as HACCP or ISO-related documentation

* Manufacturer declaration

* Other documents requested by the competent authority or GACC

During the registration review, the key issue is not simply the size of the factory.

More importantly, the manufacturer should be able to demonstrate that it has established an effective food safety and hygiene management system and can continuously ensure that products exported to China comply with applicable Chinese requirements.

Before Exporting Dried Fruits to China

For an overseas dried fruit manufacturer planning to enter the Chinese market, it is recommended to confirm these three points before starting the registration process:

1. What is the correct classification and HS code of the product?

2. Is this dried fruit currently approved for import from your country?

3. Does your production establishment need GACC registration and competent-authority recommendation?

Clarifying these questions at the beginning can help avoid preparing the wrong registration documents or investing time in a product that does not yet have market access to China.

For manufacturers planning to export dried fruits to China, product classification, market access verification and GACC registration should be evaluated together before shipment arrangements are made.