Registration Process for Farms Supplying Raw Materials for Export Egg Products

Eggs, primarily chicken eggs and similar products, are a commonly consumed food that is nutritious, suitable for people of all ages, and affordable. However, their relatively stringent food quality and safety requirements impose certain restrictions on exports. In addition to product quality, one key prerequisite must also be met: farms supplying raw materials for export egg products must be registered with Customs! Today, Customs will explain the key points of registration in detail to help you gain an edge in export markets!

I. Why Is Registration Required?

Regulatory Requirements

According to the Measures of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety and relevant regulations of the General Administration of Customs, the raw materials for exported poultry eggs (i.e., fresh poultry eggs) must come from farms registered with Customs. Raw materials supplied by unregistered farms cannot be used to process poultry egg products for export.

A Foundation for Quality and Safety

Registration is the process by which Customs reviews and approves a farm's systems for sanitation, disease prevention and control, input management, and quality traceability. Registration means that the farm is capable of consistently supplying safe, hygienic eggs as raw materials that meet the requirements of the importing country.

Smooth customs clearance for exports

Customs registration information is a required element of export declarations. Using raw materials from registered farms is essential to ensuring that your export products meet the official requirements of the destination country/region and clear customs smoothly.

Enhance international credibility

Obtaining customs registration status demonstrates the capabilities of farms and export businesses. It can significantly strengthen overseas customers’ confidence in product quality and safety and enhance competitiveness in international markets.

II. Who can apply for registration?

Owners of poultry egg-producing farms (such as chicken farms and duck farms) or their agents may submit an application for registration.

Important notice: When selecting raw material suppliers, enterprises processing poultry eggs for export must ensure that the farms have been registered with Customs and include information about registered farms in their supplier management system.

III. How is registration handled?

Step one: Self-assessment and preparation

Reference standards: Carefully study the “Filing Requirements for Farms Raising Raw Materials for Export Poultry Eggs” issued by the General Administration of Customs (check the General Administration of Customs website or consult the local customs office for the latest version), and ensure that the farm meets the specified requirements in areas such as site selection and layout, facilities and equipment, disease prevention and control, input management (feed, veterinary drugs, vaccines, etc.), hygiene management, personnel health, waste disposal, and traceability systems.

Improve internal management: Establish and improve various management systems and records (such as breeding logs, immunization records, medication records, disinfection records, disease monitoring records, feed purchase and use records, personnel training records, sales records, etc.).

Step two: Formally submit the application

Application method:

1. Online processing: Log in to the “Internet + Customs” integrated platform (http://onlline.customs.gov.cn), or log in to the “China International Trade Single Window” (https://www.singlewindow.cn). Go to the “Enterprise Management” section, find the relevant “Qualification Filing” module, submit an application to the customs office responsible for the location of the farm, and upload the required materials.

2. Required materials (generally include; subject to the latest customs requirements):

Application form for registration of an export poultry egg farm;

Animal Epidemic Prevention Conditions Qualification Certificate;

Animal health and epidemic prevention systems, including: daily hygiene management system, disease prevention and control system, and medication management system;

The husbandry management system includes: a management system for the use of feed and additives, and a management system for the entry and exit of live poultry.

Administrative division location map of the farm and farm site plan (indicating the main gate, poultry houses, living area, water area, feed storage, medicine storage, etc.);

Contracts signed by farms and export processing enterprises (applicable to contract farms);

If handled on behalf of the proposed supplying export food production enterprise, an authorization letter from the farm authorizing the production enterprise to handle the matter must be provided.

Step three: Customs review and results

Materials review: After receiving the application, Customs will review the submitted materials for completeness and compliance with requirements.

On-site assessment (key stage): After the materials review is approved, Customs will appoint an assessment team to conduct an on-site assessment of the farm. Based on the filing requirements, the team will check the farm’s hardware and software conditions and management and operations item by item.

Filing decision:

If the review is passed, Customs will file the record and generate a filing number in the system. Congratulations, your farm has officially obtained “export qualification”!

If the review identifies any nonconformities, Customs will inform the applicant of the required corrective actions and the deadline.

If the review after corrective actions is still unsatisfactory or there are serious nonconformities, the Customs will not grant filing.

Four. What should you pay attention to after filing?

Maintaining eligibility: Filing is not a one-time process. The farm must continue to meet the conditions and requirements in effect at the time of filing.

Subject to supervision: Customs will supervise and manage registered farms, including through routine oversight, verification, and sampling and monitoring. Please cooperate with customs inspections.

Change report: If any major changes occur, such as changes to the farm name, legal representative, address, breeding scale, key facilities and equipment, or quality management system, they must be reported promptly to the competent Customs authority. If necessary, the farm must reapply for registration or submit a change application.

Record retention: Keep complete and accurate records of all production and management activities for at least 2 years for customs inspection.

V. Special Reminder for Export Processing Enterprises

Source control

Be sure to purchase raw poultry egg materials for export from farms registered with customs. This must be clearly stipulated in the contract, and a “supply certificate” must be requested from the supplying farm for each purchase.

Information verification

When making a purchase and before filing an export declaration, be sure to verify through the customs system that the farm’s registration status is valid (you can search by registration number).

Included in the system

Integrate the management of registered farms into the enterprise’s supplier management and food safety management systems, and ensure proper raw material acceptance and traceability management.

Apply for overseas registration

Where a foreign country (region) requires registration management for production enterprises exporting poultry eggs and their products from China to that country (region), and requires a recommendation by the General Administration of Customs of China, the production enterprise exporting poultry eggs and their products shall apply to the customs office in its locality for an overseas registration recommendation. For information on which countries (regions) have registration requirements, consult the General Administration of Customs website or contact the local customs office..

Registration of farms raising poultry for egg production for export is a fundamental and mandatory measure to ensure the quality and safety of exported eggs, comply with international rules, and facilitate trade. Eligible farm operators, please act promptly and apply for registration! Export processing companies, please be sure to choose suppliers of raw materials from duly registered farms!