China tightens controls on vegetable supplies to Hong Kong and Macao

China’s General Administration of Customs has issued updated inspection and quarantine requirements for fresh and preserved vegetables supplied to Hong Kong and Macao.

The rules will take effect on 1 September 2026 and replace the previous supervision framework introduced in 2009. They are intended to strengthen food safety while supporting a stable flow of vegetables to the two markets.

Processors must register with customs

Companies that purchase or carry out primary processing of vegetables for Hong Kong and Macao must register with their local customs authority.

Registration will remain valid indefinitely, provided that the company continues to meet the required conditions. Applications must include information about the processing site, facilities, production flow and food safety controls.

Customs should complete registration within ten working days after accepting a complete application. Companies must report most changes to their registration details within 30 days. A change of company name, legal representative or production workshop requires a new application.

Full traceability to the farm

Registered companies must establish a quality and safety system covering the entire chain, from the reception of raw vegetables to processing, packaging and shipment.

They must keep a list of supplying farms and record details including the product, quantity, purchase date and supplier. The information must make it possible to trace each shipment back to the growing site.

Companies must also inspect incoming vegetables and carry out their own product testing or use an external laboratory. Products that fail safety checks must be controlled and cannot enter the normal supply chain.

New packaging and transport requirements

Transport packaging must display the processor’s name, address and registration number, as well as the product name and production date or batch number.

Companies must provide shipment lists in line with Hong Kong or Macao requirements. Trucks carrying vegetables by road must be sealed, and the seal number must appear on the shipment documents.

Food safety and traceability records must be kept for at least three years.

Closer checks on residues and contaminants

Customs authorities will conduct inspections, sampling and risk monitoring for pesticide residues, contaminants and other harmful substances.

Businesses may be ordered to make corrections if records are incomplete, vegetable origins are unclear, packaging is non-compliant or products exceed safety limits. Customs may temporarily stop accepting inspection applications while problems are being addressed.

A company can lose its registration if it fails to correct problems, conceals a serious safety issue, refuses customs supervision or receives three food safety notifications from Hong Kong or Macao authorities within one year.

source and photo: customs.gov.cn