U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

  1. Home
  2. Food
  3. News & Events from HFP
  4. HFP Constituent Updates
  5. FDA Signs MOU with China to Outline Certification Process for Certain Exports
  1. HFP Constituent Updates

FDA Signs MOU with China to Outline Certification Process for Certain Exports

What's New

November 27, 2018

The FDA is reminding U.S. establishments that are currently listed on the dairy, seafood, and infant formula exports lists for China that the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA) requires them to obtain third-party certification of compliance with the relevant standards, laws, and regulations of China by June 15, 2019 if they wish to maintain continued access to the Chinese market. In order to remain on the lists, establishments need to submit evidence of third-party certification via the Export Listing Module (ELM) before the June 15 deadline.

In addition, the FDA has updated Guidance for Industry: Establishing and Maintaining a List of U.S. Milk and Milk Product, Seafood, Infant Formula and Formula for Young Children Manufacturers/Processors with Interest in Exporting to China to further explain how establishments should apply to be included on FDA’s lists of exporters to China using the new ELM, how FDA intends to determine whether the establishment should be recommended for inclusion for specific products, and how FDA intends to update this information. 

June 28, 2017

This MOU formalizes a new registration procedure, and the FDA has published Guidance for Industry: Establishing and Maintaining a List of U.S. Milk and Milk Product, Seafood, Infant Formula and Formula for Young Children Manufacturers/Processors with Interest in Exporting to China to further explain what information exporting establishments should provide to the FDA to register under this new arrangement. The FDA will use the information received to establish and update a list of eligible exporters in a manner consistent with the MOU, and the agency will update the list of establishments and products four times per year.

Original Constituent Update

June 15, 2017

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA), formally establishing a registration process for U.S. food manufacturers who export certain foods to China. The FDA is taking this action in response to China’s State General Administration of the People’s Republic of China for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) issuance of Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas Manufacturers, known as AQSIQ Decree 145.

AQSIQ Decree 145 requires that CNCA receive certification of compliance with the relevant standards, laws, and regulations of China for the following products as of June 15, 2017: milk and milk products, seafood, infant formula, and/or formula for young children. The MOU provides for a third-party certification process to ensure that manufacturers and products satisfy relevant food safety requirements of China, as specified in Decree 145. In accordance with the MOU, CNCA expects all eligible exporters to provide the FDA with information concerning the third-party certification by a firm approved by China. Pursuant to the MOU, the FDA will also evaluate and provide CNCA with information about whether relevant U.S. establishments are in good standing with the FDA.

This MOU formalizes a new registration procedure. The details about how the agency intends to implement this process and what information exporting establishments should provide to the FDA to register under this new procedure will be provided in a forthcoming FDA Guidance for Industry. The FDA will use the information it receives to establish and update a list of eligible exporters in a manner consistent with the MOU. The FDA intends to update the list of establishments and products four times per year.

The FDA understands that U.S. exporters want continued and uninterrupted access to the Chinese market, and the agency is working expeditiously to provide CNCA with the assurances it requires for the FDA to establish and maintain a list of U.S. milk and milk product, seafood, infant formula, and formula for young children manufacturers/processors eligible for exporting to China.

Additional Resources

Back to Top