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How to Export Pet Food to China

A Compliance Guide for Overseas Manufacturers

China is an important and growing market for the global pet food industry. However, before exporting pet food to China, overseas manufacturers must meet a series of regulatory and market access requirements.

For most pet food products, the key compliance steps include market access assessment, GACC registration, MARA registration, product compliance review, and labeling compliance.

1.Confirm Market Access Eligibility

Before starting registration, manufacturers should first confirm whether their country and product category are eligible for export to China.

For certain animal-origin pet food products, China applies specific market access and quarantine requirements. The assessment normally considers:

* Product category

* Animal-origin ingredients

* Raw material sources

* Manufacturing process

* Country of production

A preliminary assessment is recommended before starting the registration process.

2. Obtain GACC Registration

Overseas pet food manufacturing facilities generally need to obtain the required registration with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) before exporting eligible products to China.

Depending on the product category, the process may involve:

Document preparation → Review by the local competent authority → Official recommendation → GACC assessment → Registration

Manufacturers should prepare information covering their production facilities, manufacturing processes, quality management systems, raw materials, products, and food/feed safety controls.

3. Check MARA Registration Requirements

GACC registration and MARA registration serve different regulatory purposes.

While GACC mainly concerns the eligibility of the overseas manufacturing establishment and import quarantine requirements, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) regulates the registration of certain imported feed and pet food products.

Products such as pet compound feed and pet additive premix feed generally require MARA import registration before they can be legally imported and marketed in China.

Therefore, obtaining GACC registration does not necessarily mean that every product from the factory can immediately enter the Chinese market.

4. Review Formula and Ingredient Compliance

Pet food formulas developed for other markets may not automatically comply with Chinese regulations.

Before registration, manufacturers should review:

* Ingredients and raw materials

* Feed additives

* Permitted uses and dosage levels

* Product classification

* Nutritional and safety indicators

An early compliance review can help identify potential issues before formal submission and avoid unnecessary delays.

5. Prepare Compliant Chinese Labeling

Pet food sold in China must also comply with applicable Chinese labeling requirements.

The Chinese label should be consistent with the registered product information, including the product name, ingredients, nutritional information, manufacturer details, shelf life, storage conditions, country of origin, and other required information.

It is recommended to complete the label compliance review before mass printing the packaging.

Plan Before Your First Shipment

For overseas manufacturers, China market access should ideally begin well before the first commercial order.

A typical compliance pathway is:

Product Assessment → Market Access Confirmation → GACC Registration → MARA Registration → Formula & Label Review → Export to China

Different requirements may apply depending on the country of origin, product category, ingredients, and manufacturing process.