Import/Export Requirements for the People’s Republic of China

Labeling Requirements:

Though pre-approval is not mandatory, China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) can require pre- import analysis if warranted. All imported food is subject to inspection and must receive a clearance certificate by the Customs authority. The following information must be present on the label, in Chinese. Labels are required to be accurate, truthful, and non-misleading. Please note that the label must meet these requirements prior to importation. The Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and its components is the responsible agency. - Name/brand of product. - Ingredients list: (Sweeteners, preservatives and added color – legal in the case of fortified wine only – must be declared) Exempt for products made of one ingredient. - Net volume (ml): This should be marked as “net content xxx Ml (ml)” for bottles sized under a liter, or “net content x Liters (l)” for bottle sizes over a liter. For packages up to (and including 200ml) the minimum print height is 3mm. From 200ml up to and including 1 liter, the minimum print height is 4mm. For packages greater than 1 liter the minimum print height is 6mm. - Alcohol content (%): The alcohol statement should be in the “Alcoholic strength xx.x%” format. - Production date (yy/mm/dd): The date of the bottling is required on Chinese labels. - Producer/Distributor/Importer (Name and address): The name and the address of the Chinese agent, importer or distributor must be shown on the label. The name and address of the producer is not mandatory, however if included does not need to be translated into . - Country of origin: A country of origin statement is mandatory. Importers will usually request a Certificate of Origin to confirm this claim. - Minimum durability date: Wines with an alcohol content of 10% or less are required to include a minimum durability date. - Product type: (i.e., Grape Wine, “red,” “white,” “sparkling,” “semi-sparkling,” “fortified,” “sweetened fortified,” etc.) - Sugar content (g/L). - Mandatory Warning Statements: The following and other warnings must be on the bottle in Chinese: “Excessive drinking is harmful to health,” or “Pregnant women and children shall not .” For beer in glass bottles also add, “Do not hit; it might cause explosion of the bottle.” Restricted Items/Suggestions for Exporting:

Although there is no publishable list that explicitly lists all of the ingredients banned from entering China, through our previous experiences we have some knowledge on what is banned as well as what often encounters an issue: - No organic: No beers that are brewed organically, or anything with the word organic on it, should be exported to China. - No overtly strange ingredients: At Great Leap we are firmly aware that one of the biggest parts of craft beer is use of new and creative ingredients during the brewing process. Unfortunately, as we have learned in the past with ingredients such as saffron and elderflower, the Chinese port authority will often reject beers with strange, or rather new and unique, ingredients. We don’t wish to restrict any brewery from sending any beer that they think well represents who they are as craft brewers, but we strongly suggest not sending any beer with strange or unique ingredients in fear of them being recalled.

Required Documents:

These are documents that are required from all breweries that are planning to export their products to China: - Commercial Invoice - Customs Value Declaration - Freight Insurance/documents - Packing List - Insurance Certificate - Certificate of Origin (for distilled spirits and malt beverages only) - Certificate of Health/Sanitation (for distilled spirits and malt beverages only) - Certificate of Authenticity/Free Sale (for distilled spirits and malt beverages only)

Imported alcohol products must have a Certificate of Health/Sanitation, Certificate of Origin, and a Certificate of Authenticity/Free Sale signed, stamped, and dated by a competent authority from the product’s country of origin. Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB’s) International Affairs Division (IAD) is the authorized U.S. entity that issues such certifications for China, although Certificates of Origin may be signed by any government entity that can verify the origin of the product, such as a state chamber of commerce. The Government of the People’s Republic of China does not accept Health/Sanitary Certificates issued by the supplier or producer. Further information concerning the formalities of these documents, as well as a template, can be found here: http://www.ttb.gov/itd/exporting_documents.shtml.

Please note:

1. The certificate of origin and certificate of free sales have to be issued by the third official authority. It requires KG as the unit of weight and ML or L as the unit of net content on the certificate, and the number of gross weight and net content has to be the same as the one in the packing list. a. All weights and measures need to be spelled out and not abbreviated. 2. For certificate of free sales, please make sure will put each product name, quantity and specification in it. 3. We will need the pro-forma invoice to be the same price as the plane ticket and hotel accommodation for accounting and customs purposes.

For any further information, questions, or concerns related to the Import/Export process from the United States to China, please feel free to look at: https://www.ttb.gov/itd/china.shtml.

Thank you very much for your compliance. If the website does not have the information you are looking for, please feel free to contact Jimmy Selent at Great Leap Brewing directly anytime. He can be reached via email at [email protected].

Cheers, The Great Leap Brewing Team