Entering China’s Feed Market: MARA Imported Feed & Feed Additive Registration Requirements for Foreign Manufacturers

Exporting feed or pet food products to China often starts with one key step: MARA registration. Issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, this Imported Feed and Feed Additives Registration Certificate is mandatory for foreign businesses exporting covered products to China for the first time.

Think of China as a completely separate regulatory playing field. With it's own distinct ingredient catalogues, approved uses, inclusion limits, and testing protocols, prior approval in the US, EU, or elsewhere won't carry over. Success requires aligning your formulas with local standards from day one.

This guide walks you through every stage of the MARA registration journey, from verifying product eligibility and picking the right submission pathway to building a solid application and securing final approval. Or, for support with MARA registration, contact Cisema today.

Step 1: Determine Whether Your Product Requires MARA Registration

Before preparing a MARA registration application, start with the product itself. Not every feed raw material or pet food product is subject to imported feed registration.

China's regulatory framework covers specific categories, including single feeds, additive premixes, concentrate feeds, compound feeds, supplementary feeds, feed additives, pet compound feeds, and pet additive premixes. However, important exemptions exist:

• Single Feeds: Only feed ingredients listed in Part IV (Single Feed) of the Feed Ingredients Catalogue need to be registered. Other raw materials generally bypass this requirement.
• Pet Food: While Pet Compound Feed and Pet Additive Premixes require full MARA registration, treats and snacks are currently exempt.

Beyond basic classification, you must verify your exact formulation against two central reference lists: the “Feed Ingredient Catalog” and the “Catalog of Feed Additive Varieties.”

Important: MARA registration (product clearance) and General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) import registration (facility/customs clearance) are separate processes. Compliance with one does not grant market access without the other — both must be completed to legally enter the Chinese market.

Step 2: Choose the Right China Feed Registration Pathway

Once you know registration is required, the next question is which regulatory pathway applies.

Standard Imported Feed Registration

Products that meet existing Chinese feed and feed additive requirements generally follow the standard registration procedure. This involves the required administrative documents, technical specifications, samples and verification testing.

Article 13: New Feed and New Feed Additive Evaluation

Products involving novel regulatory elements may instead fall under the more complex Article 13 evaluation procedure.

This can apply where a product:

• Contains an ingredient or additive new to the Chinese market
• Expands an existing additive's approved scope of use
• Involves major changes to the manufacturing process
• Holds a novel certificate but has not been produced for over three years

Because Article 13 applications demand extensive supporting evidence — including target-animal safety, toxicology, stability, residue, and environmental impact data — the review committee generally takes 9 months to evaluate filings, with a potential 3-month extension for extra testing.

Mapping out your pathway is therefore essential to determining a realistic timeline and budget from day one.

Step 3: Appoint a China-Based Registration Representative or Agent

With your pathway established, you must secure qualified local representation. Foreign entities cannot submit filings directly to MARA from abroad.

Applications must be submitted either through your established China branch office or an authorized China-based agency. Your appointed agent serves as the operational bridge between your technical team and Chinese regulators, taking responsibility for:

• Dossier translation and local submission
• Sample handling and testing coordination
• Direct communication with MARA technical review committees
• Life-cycle maintenance and renewal filings

Important Note: Regulatory representation is separate from commercial distribution. Within six months of receiving your registration certificate, you must establish a local sales entity or formally appoint a qualified Chinese distributor and report the arrangement to MARA.

Step 4: Prepare the MARA Imported Feed Registration Dossier

With your local partner in place, focus shifts to assembling your application dossier. Your main goal here is to present a clean, consistent, and fully verified technical profile of your product.

While exact requirements vary by product type, with Article 13 filings needing extra data like efficacy reports and environmental evaluations, a complete dossier generally centers around three key pillars:

Administrative Documents

• Imported feed or feed additive registration application
• Authorization for the China-based representative or agent
• Required agent qualification documents
• Proof that the product is approved for production and use in its country or region of origin
• Registration or approval information from other markets, where applicable

Product and Manufacturing Information

• Product name and category
• Product composition and ingredient information
• Manufacturing source and process
• Physical and chemical properties
• Intended use and target species
• Recommended dosage or usage
• Quality standards
• Analytical methods and inspection reports

Labelling and Technical Data

• Country-of-origin label
• Proposed Chinese label
• Additional technical reports required under the applicable registration pathway
• Safety, stability, feeding-trial or efficacy data where required

Step 5: Finalize Samples and Complete the Pre-Submission Review

Now that the dossier isprepared, the final step before submission is making sure the samples and supporting materials are ready and consistent with the application.

For imported feed registration, each product requires three batches of samples, with two portions per batch. Each portion must contain at least five times the quantity required for testing. Reference or control standards may also be required where necessary.

Before handing these materials over to your domestic agent for MARA submission, run your team through this pre-submission audit:

• Terminology Check: Every ingredient, target species, and chemical compound aligns with China's official catalog terms.
• Cross-Document Verification: Corporate names, manufacturing addresses, and product titles are 100% identical across all certificates, lab reports, and packaging mockups.
• Sample Protocol Readiness: Three separate production batches have passed internal testing using the exact analytical protocols MARA laboratories will perform in China.

Step 6: Submit the Application and Complete Verification Testing

Once everything is ready, your China-based agent can officially file the application with MARA. Regulators will first review the paperwork for completeness before giving the green light for sample verification testing.

Verification Testing

Once the application passes initial review, your agent will submit sample batches to a MARA-designated laboratory. The testing facility generally has three months to complete its quality and safety analysis.

(Keep in mind: Products subject to Article 13 feature novel ingredients or additives, meaning they follow a longer, more rigorous evaluation path under the "New Feed and New Feed Additive" framework.)

Certificate Issuance

Assuming testing goes smoothly and results meet all Chinese national standards (GB standards), MARA typically issues the Imported Feed and Feed Additive Registration Certificate within 10 working days of receiving the test report.

Your new certificate is valid for five years and the renewal process must start at least six months before it expires.

MARA vs. GACC: Two Separate Clearances

Securing your MARA certificate clears the product itself, but market entry is a dual-agency effort. The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) oversees facility-level and country-level access. Your manufacturing facility must be listed on GACC's official whitelist before shipments can clear customs, so plan MARA product approval and GACC facility clearance alongside one another.

Post-Registration Changes

Landing your certificate is a significant milestone, but future product tweaks still require regulatory oversight.

When a New Registration Is Required

Substantial changes, including:

• Production site
• Product quality standard
• Production process
• Scope of application

When an Administrative Update Suffices

Minor administrative adjustments can usually be handled through a streamlined change-registration procedure. This includes changes to:

• Chinese or foreign trade name
• Applicant name
• Manufacturer name
• Production-address name

Final Thoughts: Planning a Successful MARA Imported Feed Registration in China

A successful MARA imported feed registration in China starts with the right regulatory assessment. Before preparing a dossier, manufacturers need to confirm whether the product requires registration, verify its ingredients against China's feed catalogues and determine which registration pathway applies.

From there, the right China-based representative, a complete and consistent dossier and an effective testing strategy can help move the application from submission to certificate issuance with fewer avoidable obstacles. Cisema helps international feed and feed additive manufacturers navigate MARA feed registration in China, from regulatory pathway assessment and China-based agent support through dossier preparation, testing coordination and ongoing compliance.

Contact Cisema today to discuss your product and determine the right regulatory pathway for entering China's feed and feed additive market.

Further Information

• Explore Cisema’s services for Imported Feed registration in China.

Frequently Asked Questions About MARA Feed Registration in China

What is MARA feed registration in China?

MARA feed registration is the mandatory product approval required for covered feed and feed additive products exported to China. Issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the Imported Feed and Feed Additives Registration Certificate must be obtained by foreign manufacturers prior to shipping covered products to the Chinese market. 

Does all feed need MARA registration in China?

Not all feed products require registration. Requirements depend on the product category and whether ingredients and additives are listed in China’s official regulatory catalogues. Covered categories typically include:

• Single feeds
• Feed additives
• Additive premixes
• Compound feeds
• Supplementary feeds
• Pet compound feeds
• Pet additive premixes

Does foreign approval (e.g., FDA or EU) automatically qualify a product for China?

No. FDA, EU, or other overseas approvals do not automatically authorize a product in China. Products must comply directly with China’s domestic requirements for ingredients, additives, permitted uses, quality standards, testing, labeling, and registration. 

What is the difference between MARA registration and GACC registration?

MARA regulates product-level compliance, ensuring formulations, ingredients, safety parameters, and usage instructions meet Chinese feed standards. GACC regulates facility and customs-level clearance: Maintaining country access lists, whitelisting overseas manufacturing plants, and handling border inspection and quarantine.

Both approvals are separate requirements and must be completed for market entry. 

How do I check whether my feed product needs MARA registration?

First, identify your product category and check China's “Catalog of Feed Ingredients” and “Catalog of Feed Additive Varieties.” Confirm permitted uses, target species, inclusion limits, and applicable GB standards before initiating an application. 

Does pet food need MARA registration in China?

It depends on product classification. Pet compound feeds (e.g., complete dry or wet food) and pet additive premixes are regulated as feed products in China and require full MARA registration.

Standard pet treats and snacks are generally exempt unless they carry functional claims or include regulated feed additives. 

How long is a MARA feed registration certificate valid?

A MARA Registration Certificate is valid for five years. Renewal applications must be submitted at least six months before the certificate expires to maintain uninterrupted market access. 

Do foreign feed manufacturers need a China-based agent?

Yes. Foreign manufacturers cannot submit filings directly from abroad and must execute applications through a local branch office in China or an authorized domestic registration agency. The agent manages dossier submission, testing coordination, regulatory communications, and certificate renewals.

References

• Administrative Measures for the Registration of Imported Feeds and Feed Additives《进口饲料和饲料添加剂登记管理办法》
• Administrative Measures for New Feed and New Feed Additives《新饲料和新饲料添加剂管理办法》
• Feed Ingredient Catalogue《饲料原料目录》
• Feed Additive Variety Catalogue (2024)《饲料添加剂品种目录（2024年版）》
• GACC Decree No. 243 – Administrative Measures for the Inspection, Quarantine, and Supervision of Imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives《进出口饲料和饲料添加剂检验检疫监督管理办法》（海关总署令第243号）
• GACC Decree No. 249 – Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety《中华人民共和国进出口食品安全管理办法》（海关总署令第249号）
• MARA Announcement No. 20 (2018) – Administrative Measures for Pet Food《中华人民共和国农业农村部公告 第20号》（宠物饲料管理办法）