The Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism has warned food exporters targeting the Chinese market to adapt to new regulations or risk having shipments rejected at the border.
A press statement issued on Monday, signed by the Secretary for Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, Wiskes Nkombezi, says the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) revised its regulations for overseas food manufacturers effective 1 June 2026.
The statement says the new China framework introduces a risk-based registration system with tiered requirements, revised renewal procedures for existing registrations, and new mandatory customs declaration fields.
It also expands the scope of regulated facilities to include cold storage.
“Food exporters are reminded that shipments not meeting the new requirements risk rejection at the Chinese border,” reads the statement.
The ministry further says while existing registrations remain valid, exporters must now comply with the new renewal and declaration procedures.
For new applicants, the ministry says, China has simplified the process through reduced documentation requirements and the introduction of a fast-track approach to registration.
The ministry has urged all existing and potential food exporters to China to familiarise themselves with the changes and consult the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) as the competent authority for Malawian exports to China.
“This is to ensure uninterrupted access to the Chinese market,” adds the statement.
The new rules apply to all entries engaged in production, processing and storage of food for export to China.
