The new import-management rule of China's General Administration of Customs (GACC), Decree 280, formally took effect on June 1, 2026. Centered on fruit, fresh vegetables and spices, 20 categories and 2,589 product groups are covered, and only cargo from companies that have completed advance registration with the Vietnamese authorities or with CIFER (China Import Food Enterprise Registration system), and whose registration code matches the customs declaration, can enter the Chinese mainland. Vietnam's key items—pepper, cashew nuts and coffee—are all covered, and exports to China, which used to be just about moving volume, have switched to an era of "selective export" in which everything from raw-material sourcing to storage and compliance history is questioned. selective export.
Starting point: the substance of Decree 280, in force since June 1
Decree 280 makes it a precondition for customs clearance that, for agricultural products and food imported into China, the exporting company's registration information, the customs declaration and the product label all exactly match. Unless the confirmation letter and the foreign-enterprise registration code "exactly match" the customs declaration, cargo is stopped. Some items require obtaining GACC approval via the Vietnamese authorities, while others register directly on CIFER. In either case, a HACCP-based food-safety management system and the assignment of accurate HS codes and CIQ codes are requirements.
Background: why the shift from "quantity" to "risk"
The core of Decree 280 lies in a shift from uniform inspection at the border to risk-based quarantine that evaluates everything from the production area, processing steps, transport and storage, past compliance records and international regulatory practice. Recurring detections of cadmium and yellow dye in Vietnamese durian heightened the Chinese side's wariness. Furthermore, Vietnam's administrative-district reorganization changed companies' registration information, and cases of mismatch between China's registration system and the latest local information occurred one after another. Inconsistent information becomes, as-is, a reason for customs rejection.
Covered items and new requirements
| Item | Requirements under Decree 280 |
|---|---|
| Scope | 20 categories, 2,589 product groups (fruit, fresh vegetables, spices, etc.) |
| Main applicable items | Pepper, cashew nuts, coffee, fruit |
| Registration | Some via Vietnamese authorities for GACC approval, others registered directly on CIFER |
| Clearance conditions | Confirmation letter and registration code exactly match the customs declaration |
| Food safety | HACCP-based management system |
| Quarantine method | From quantity inspection to risk-based evaluation (raw materials, processing, storage, history) |
| Entry into force | June 1, 2026 |
Data: exports are growing even under the regulation
Despite the tighter regulation, Vietnam's fresh-produce exports expanded in January–May 2026 to US$2.98 billion, up 29.4% year on year and China was its 49.5% largest market, accounting for that share. The ratio of processed goods also rose from 29.33% a year earlier to 35.82%, with value addition advancing. The lead item, durian, reached US$293.13 million in January–April (+59.7%), and China's durian import value reached US$1.7 billion (volume +253.8%). China's fruit imports are expected to approach about 15 million tonnes in 2026, and Vietnam has annual exports of US$10 billion in view.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Fresh-produce exports (January–May) | US$2.98 billion (+29.4%) |
| China's share | 49.5% of export value |
| Processed-goods ratio | Rose from 29.33% to 35.82% |
| Durian (January–April) | US$293.13 million (+59.7%) |
| 2026 target | Fresh-produce exports of US$10 billion |
Reactions from authorities and the industry
Nguyen Quy Duong, deputy director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, warned that "if companies cannot update their information by the deadline, exports to China risk stalling." The grace period until enforcement was about 2.5 months. The authorities urged industry associations for pepper, cashew nuts, coffee, fruit and others to consolidate the difficulties from exporting companies and report them so that issues could be raised with the Chinese side in a timely manner. In the field, last-minute registration updates came one after another, and four typical cases of customs rejection were cited: "inadequate food-safety systems," "code errors," "missing documents" and "mismatched company information after administrative-district reorganization."
Impact on readers: what Japanese procurement managers should watch
The tighter regulation toward China appears at first glance unrelated to Japan. But if customs clearance to China becomes stricter, Vietnamese fruit, coffee and nuts that cannot meet the requirements may lose their outlet and flow to third-country markets, including Japan. Conversely, production areas that clear CIFER registration and HACCP preparation gain persuasive power as quality assurance as "a production area that passed the China gate." When choosing a supplier, the presence or absence of a traceability system will connect ever more directly to supplier-selection criteria going forward.
Ripple effect on the industry and a practical checklist
Decree 280 is a "screening," but "expansion" is advancing at the same time. GACC lifted the ban on fresh jackfruit effective June 1 and is accelerating the review of fresh coconut and frozen durian. It is a structure in which new markets open for items and production areas that meet the requirements. The key points companies involved in exports should confirm are as follows.
| Points to confirm | Details |
|---|---|
| CIFER registration | Whether the registration of exporting company, production area and packing facility is up to date |
| HACCP | Whether the food-safety management system can be proven with documents |
| Code consistency | Whether HS and CIQ codes match the declaration and the label |
| Company information | Whether the registration information after administrative-district reorganization is reflected |
| Association coordination | Whether there is a system to report difficulties to the authorities via the industry association |
Summary
Decree 280 has changed the export of Vietnamese agricultural products to China from a competition of "putting out volume" to a competition of "meeting the requirements." Now that we have entered an era in which the precision of clerical procedures divides the life and death of a production area, investment in traceability and food-safety systems is becoming no longer a cost but a passport to the market.
Recommended related reading:
-Fresh jackfruit: exports to China formally opened on June 1
-Durian exports up 230% in Q1—South Korea surges 262%, frozen explodes 20-fold
-Agriculture, forestry and fishery exports top US$30.7 billion in five months
Source: Việt Nam News / VietnamNet
