Introduction
Currently, all food products manufactured in Macao that are exported to Mainland China are subject to strict import regulation. Random retention sampling may be carried out in the customs clearance process and that may take quite some time. With the signing and implementation of the “Agreement on Cooperation in Safety Control of Food Products Manufactured in Macao for Exportation to Mainland China” (hereinafter referred to as the “Cooperation Agreement”) between the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice of Macao SAR (GSAJ) and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on 21st September 2020, it further ensures the safety of food products manufactured in Macao for exportation to Mainland China and encourages trade facilitation.
Application requirements
Enterprises engaged in the manufacturing/production of food products for exportation to Mainland China are required to meet the requirements for the food products to enter the market of Mainland China and implement a food safety management system.
Target groups
The application is open to enterprises interested in exporting food products manufactured in Macao to Mainland China.
Application Process
Food manufacturing/production enterprises can submit the required documents at any of the Public Services Centres of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), which shall assess the submitted documents and contact the concerned enterprises within 15 working days from the receipt date of documents, to make an appointment for interview and on-site visit. The time taken for the assessment is determined on the enterprises by the completeness of their submitted documents and the compliancy of their food safety management system. The processing fee for the application will be waived.
Only upon confirmation after assessment that the enterprise meets the requirements for exporting food products to Mainland China and has successfully registered the food products it intends to export to Mainland China with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, the enterprise shall be eligible to benefit from the “Cooperation Agreement”. When the said enterprise intends to export any of the registered food products to Mainland China, it is required to apply to IAM for the sanitary inspection documents of the selected registered food products required for customs clearance five working days before the export. The pricing for the issuance of the certificates shall be charged as prescribed in the current “Fees, Charges and Prices List”.
Documents required for application
1. “Application Form for Enterprises of Food Products Manufactured in Macao for Exportation to Mainland China”; (Template for reference)
2. “Annex – Data Sheet of Food Products Manufactured in Macao for Exportation to Mainland China” and “Supplementary Sheet” (if applicable); (Template for reference)
3. A legible copy of the identification document of the person-in-charge (front and back sides of the document printed on the same page of an A4 paper);
4. A copy of the New Registration/Amendment Form (Form M/1) registered to the Financial Services Bureau (DSF);
5. A copy of the Business Registration Certificate (if applicable);
6. A copy of the Industrial License issued by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT);
7. Layout plan of facilities and equipment with the indication of production routes (e.g., personnel movement and food flow);
8. Production process flow chart with colour images and description;
9. Import sanitary documents for the raw materials of animal origin (e.g., import license/declaration and health certificate issued by the competent authority of their place of origin) (if applicable);
10. A copy of acquired certificates of certification systems (if applicable);
11. Random sampling plan for finished products and packaging materials.
Enquiries
For enquiries, please call 8795 2643 or 2852 6943 during office hours.
Frequently asked questions
(1) Quando as empresas que fabricam produtos alimentares locais tentam comercializá-los no Interior da China, que dificuldades encontram no desalfandegamento?
Actualmente, todos os produtos alimentares fabricados em Macau que são exportados para o Interior da China são sujeitos a um rigoroso controlo ao entrarem no posto fronteiriço. Os agentes fronteiriços podem decidir reter uma amostra durante o desalfandegamento, o que pode levar algum tempo. À medida que as relações económicas e comerciais entre o Interior da China e Macau se tornam crescentemente integradas, a indústria alimentar da RAEM espera que sejam tomadas medidas para facilitar o desalfandegamento de produtos alimentares aqui fabricados possam rapidamente ser exportados, nomeadamente acelerando a testagem, de modo a que as empresas tenham mais espaço para se desenvolver.
(2) When did the “Agreement on Cooperation in Safety Control of Food Products Manufactured in Macao for Exportation to Mainland China” come into force?
To fully implement the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” and the “Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement”, and to further ensure the safety of food products for exportation to Mainland China and promote trade facilitation, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and IAM had held several technical meetings to discuss about the matter, which led to the signing and implementation of the “Cooperation Agreement” between the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice of Macao SAR (GSAJ) and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on 21st September 2020.
(3) How do food manufacturing/production enterprises from Macao benefit from the “Cooperation Agreement”?
With the “Cooperation Agreement” coming into force, the two parties have worked jointly in overseeing the safety of food products manufactured in Macao for exportation to Mainland China, allowing the products to enjoy prioritised inspection at the border checkpoints, accelerating the inspection process and reducing the proportion of products subject to inspection to further improve customs clearance efficiency. In addition, the “Cooperation Agreement” allows food manufacturing/production enterprises from Macao to keep abreast of food safety standards and regulations in a timely manner, and helps them minimise product loss caused by non-compliance with requirements. Their demands are also responded to with risk analysis of food products of animal and plant origin manufactured in Macao carried out on a priority basis to achieve the goals of ensuring food safety through control at the source and facilitating customs clearance.
(4) Under the “Cooperation Agreement”, which types of food products can be applied to be exported to the market in Mainland China? 
(5) Under the “Cooperation Agreement”, what kind of food safety management system is required for enterprises exporting food products manufactured in Macao to Mainland China?
IAM assesses the documents submitted by the enterprise required to be eligible to participate in the “Cooperation Agreement”, conducts inspection of its manufacturing plant and examines its operation records to determine whether the enterprise has a good food safety management system (including control of raw materials, manufacturing process, food quality and of product traceability) and whether the manufacturing process complies with the requirements of Mainland China for export. Specific requirements include but are not limited to the following: 
(6) What are the types of hygiene certificates issued by IAM for locally manufactured food products for export to Mainland China?
With reference to the list of food products covered by the “Cooperation Agreement” and based on the analysis of the properties of the food products for export to Mainland China, IAM issues the official hygiene certificate, which can be one that is issued for customs clearance of every batch of declared food products, or one that carries a validity period. The pricing for the issuance of the certificates shall be charged as prescribed in the current “Fees, Charges and Prices List”.
(7) Under the “Cooperation Agreement”, how does IAM ensure the food products manufactured in Macao for export to Mainland China meet the requirements of laws, regulations and standards of Mainland China in regard to food safety?
IAM regulates and monitors food manufacturing/production enterprises of Macao that manufacture food products for export to Mainland China and the quality of relevant products. Measures include:
(1) Carrying out routine supervision of the food manufacturing/production enterprises to ensure their food safety management system complies with the requirements of food safety laws and regulations of Mainland China;
(2) Instructing the enterprises to use raw materials and food labels that meet the requirements of Mainland China and print the approved food label, in Chinese language, onto the sales package of the food products;
(3) Carrying out random sampling tests as scheduled in the annual monitoring plan;
(4) Providing the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China with information and updates about the approved food manufacturing/production enterprises of Macao and their food products for documentation purpose.
More information related to the “Cooperation Agreement”
Last updated on: 01/12/2023
