According to the Pet Feed Management Measures issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2018, pet feed includes complete pet feed, pet additive premix feed, and other pet feed, also known as pet food. Specific regulations are as follows:

Complete Pet Feed:Refers to feed that can serve as the primary food source for pets.
Pet Additive Premix Feed:Refers to mixed feed containing pet feed additives.
Other Pet Feed:Such as pet snacks, supplementary feed, etc.

Regulations on Imported Pet Food

Scope of Application:
Overseas pet feed manufacturers exporting complete pet feed or pet additive premix feed to China must authorize their China-based offices or domestic agencies to apply for registration with the State Councils agricultural administrative department and obtain an import registration certificate.
Classification of Pet Canned Food:
Pet canned food must be categorized according to pet feed definitions as either snacks or complete pet feed. If classified as complete feed, an MOA import registration certificate is required.

Obtain GACC Export Qualification:
For overseas pet food manufacturers entering the Chinese market, relevant producers must obtain GACC export qualifications and be included in approved lists such as List of Countries/Regions and Products Permitted for Import (Excluding Plant-Based Feed Ingredients) and List of Registered Overseas Pet Food Production and Processing Enterprises.
Obtain MOA Import Registration Certificate:
(1) Obtain the import registration certificate (product registration) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The import registration certificate number issued by the Ministry of Agriculture is a series of numbers starting with "Foreign Feed."
(2) The submitted materials include: product formula, production process, raw material sources, label samples, etc.
(3) Conduct necessary inspections and tests to ensure the product complies with Chinas relevant regulations and standards.

There are already many established brands and new products in the market, making competition extremely fierce. To successfully enter the Chinese market, foreign pet food manufacturers need to:

Ensure product quality:Products must comply with Chinas quality and safety standards to avoid rejection at customs or returns due to quality issues.
Find a reliable agency:Choose an experienced agency to handle the procedures, ensuring smooth processing of all formalities.
Focus on marketing:After the product enters the market, actively promote and sell it to enhance brand awareness and market share.

In practice, some companies have encountered the following problems and solutions:

Language and cultural barriers:
When communicating with Chinese government departments and agencies, language and cultural barriers may arise. It is recommended to hire professional translation and market consulting firms to ensure smooth communication.
Inadequate preparation of materials:
Unfamiliarity with Chinese regulations and requirements may lead to insufficient preparation of materials, affecting the application progress. It is recommended to understand the relevant regulations and requirements in advance and make adequate preparations.
Intense market competition:
The imported pet food market is highly competitive, with frequent price wars. It is recommended to improve market competitiveness through innovation and differentiated strategies while ensuring product quality.
Changing customer and market demands:
As the pet market continues to develop, customer and market demands are also changing. Companies need to innovate continuously and launch new products that meet market demands.

The need to apply for the Ministry of Agricultures import registration certificate for imported pet canned food depends on its specific classification. If it is pet formula feed, the relevant registration certificate must be applied for. When conducting import operations, companies need to fully understand the relevant regulations and market conditions, choose a reliable agency, and ensure the smooth processing of all formalities.

We hope this article helps you better understand the regulations and operational procedures for importing pet canned food. If you have further questions or need professional agency services, you can consultZhongShen International Trade.