European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
European Chamber AFB Working Group and AmCham China F&B Forum Joint Meeting
Theme: Updates and Discussion of AQSIQ’s Administrative Measures on General Certificate of Imported Food
Date & Time: Wednesday 30 August, 2017, 14:00-16:00pm
Venue: European Chamber Shanghai Office, Shui On Plaza, Unit 2204, 333 Huai Hai Zhong Road, Shanghai, 中国欧盟商会,上海市淮海中路333号,瑞安广场2204室
AmCham China Office, The Office Park Tower AB, 6th Floor, No. 10 Jintongxi Road, Beijing, 中国美国商会,北京市金桐西路10号,远洋光华国际AB座6层
Registration deadline: Tuesday 29 August, 2017, COB
Dear AFB Working Group members,
The European Chamber is delighted to invite you to join the next AFB Working Group Meeting on Wednesday 30 August at 14:00-16:00pm. This meeting is co-organized with AmCham China and will be conducted via teleconference facility.
As many of you know the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), in April 2016, sent several foreign embassies in Beijing an official note requesting the use of a harmonized certificate for the export to China of any type of foods not covered by specific certification requirements, including health food, candies, spirits, soft drink, and shelf stable, heat treated products such as biscuits, pasta, or canned fruit, etc. The new measures became effective immediately with a transitional period of 18 months. Food products without official certificate can no longer be imported into China since 1 October 2017. In mid-June 2017, the AQSIQ issued a call-for-comments on Administrative Measures on General Certificate of Imported Food (Draft for Comments) to the Chinese public. In the meantime, the AQSIQ sent the document to WTO/TBT for comments of the WTO member states.
During the past 16 months, EU, US and other exporting countries organized many dialogues with the AQSIQ, together or separately, to address this issue. As the official implementation date is approaching, we would like to update you the most recent developments of the Administrative Measures. More importantly, we want to hear your suggestions and possible solutions.
Please kindly refer to the tentative agenda as follows:
Agenda
1330-1400 Registration
1400-1410 Updates of EU-China Dialogue on AQSIQ’s Administrative Measures on General Certificate of Imported Food by Jérôme Lepeintre, Minister-counsellor for Health and Food Safety issues, Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia
1410-1420 Updates of US-China Dialogue on AQSIQ’s Administrative Measures on General Certificate of Imported Food by Bruce Zanin, Minister-Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, US Embassy in Beijing
1420-1500 Updates of other exporting countries on AQSIQ’s Administrative Measures on General Certificate of Imported Food
1500-1510 Comments of the European Chamber by Zhang Qi, Vice Chair of Agriculture, Food and Beverage Working Group, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
1510-1520 Comments of the AmCham China F&B Forum
1520-1600 Discussion and Q&A
Registration:
If you would like to join this meeting, please register online or contact Ms. Helei Fu at hlfu@europeanchamber.com.cn, indicating which office you will be attending, by Tuesday 29 August COB. Please note that seats are limited and will be served on a first-come-first-served basis.
As always, we welcome your suggestions for agenda topics and possible speakers for future meetings. Should you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
For more information on the Working Group or the European Chamber in general, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Helei Fu in Shanghai at hlfu@europeanchamber.com.cn.