Indonesian Vegetables GACC Decree 248: Complete 2025 Guide

A practical, from-the-field playbook for Indonesian vegetable packhouses and processors to get CIFER-registered under China’s GACC Decree 248 in 2025. What category to choose, who in Indonesia signs off, documents that pass first time, HS code mapping for fresh/frozen/dehydrated, timelines, and how to avoid the top rejection traps.

If you’re preparing to ship Indonesian vegetables to Mainland China in 2025, GACC Decree 248 and the CIFER system aren’t optional. We’ve brought packhouses from zero to approved CIFER listing in 45–90 days using a simple system and a clean dossier. Here’s exactly how we do it, and how you can do the same.

The 3 pillars of fast, clean approvals

Nail the product scope and category. Most delays come from choosing the wrong CIFER subcategory for your HS codes. Pick the right scope the first time, and approvals move.
Coordinate the right authority. For Indonesian vegetables, you’ll work with Badan Karantina Indonesia (Barantan) when a competent authority recommendation is requested. For many vegetable products, self-registration is sufficient. Knowing which path you’re on saves weeks.
Submit a dossier that answers risk. GACC reviewers look for evidence of sanitary control, traceability, and process control. Give them a complete picture. Don’t make them guess.

Weeks 1–2: Map your scope and pre-audit

Here’s the thing. Everything downstream depends on choosing the right product category in CIFER and matching it to your HS codes and process level.

Fresh or chilled vegetables. Typically HS Chapter 07. Examples: onions 0703, carrots and radishes 0706, cucumbers 0707, tomatoes 0702, lettuce 0705, eggplant and peppers often 0709. If you export fresh Tomatoes, Onion, Carrots (Fresh Export Grade), Japanese Cucumber (Kyuri), Baby Romaine (Baby Romaine Lettuce), Purple Eggplant, Red Cayenne Pepper (Fresh Red Cayenne Chili), Red Radish, Loloroso (Red Lettuce), or Beetroot (Fresh Export Grade), your CIFER scope should reflect fresh handling and packing operations.
Frozen vegetables. Usually HS 0710. Examples from our lines: Premium Frozen Sweet Corn, Frozen Mixed Vegetables, Premium Frozen Okra, Premium Frozen Potatoes, Frozen Paprika (Bell Peppers) - Red, Yellow, Green & Mixed, and Premium Frozen Edamame. Your CIFER scope must include IQF or freezing processes, not just packing.
Dehydrated or dried vegetables. Generally HS 0712. If you plan to ship sun-dried, air-dried, or mechanically dehydrated vegetables, add the dehydrated sub-scope.

Actionable tip: If you ship both fresh and frozen, add both subcategories in one registration, or file separate facility registrations that mirror your site layout. Don’t try to push HS 0710 under a “fresh vegetables” scope. That’s the fastest path to a “product scope/category mismatch” rejection.

Pre-audit quickly: Document your process flow from receiving to dispatch, mark CCPs, confirm water test validity (< 12 months), calibrate thermometers and, if relevant, metal detectors. Photograph your key zones. You’ll use all of this in CIFER.

Weeks 3–6: Build the dossier and submit in CIFER

Do Indonesian fresh vegetables fall under the 18 Decree 248 categories that need competent authority recommendation?

In our experience, no. Fresh, frozen, and dehydrated vegetables are not among the 18 high-risk categories that strictly require CA recommendation. Most vegetable facilities can self-register in CIFER and receive a 5-year GACC code after review.
Caveat. If your product is processed beyond simple washing, cutting, freezing, or drying (for example, pickled or canned vegetables, composite seasonings), other authorities and rules may apply. That’s where BPOM steps in for certain processed foods.

Which Indonesian authority actually handles recommendations for vegetables?

Barantan is the competent authority for plant-origin products. If GACC explicitly requests a CA recommendation or you’re part of a bilateral market access protocol that lists packhouses, Barantan is your point of contact. BPOM handles many pre-packaged, multi-ingredient foods. For straight vegetables, we’ve consistently coordinated with Barantan.

What documents pass GACC’s first screening for vegetable facilities?

Company legal documents. NIB/Business License, deed, address consistency with facility layout.
Facility dossier. Site plan with zoning, equipment list, process flow with CCPs, sanitation SSOPs, pest management records, water source and potability test, waste handling, staff hygiene program, training logs, traceability and recall procedure.
Certifications. HACCP, ISO 22000, or equivalent. Not mandatory on paper, but they materially reduce questions.
Product scope list. HS codes, Chinese and English product names, processing methods (washed, sorted, IQF, dehydrated), packaging types, annual capacity.
Photos. Exterior, receiving, washing/grading, processing/freezing or drying, cold storage, finished goods warehouse, handwashing stations, sanitation chemical storage, pest control devices.
For consumer-prepack. Provide label mockups if you will ship retail packs. Decree 249 governs labeling, but CIFER reviewers will sometimes ask to see the draft.

We’ve found that including clear Chinese translations for product names and processes helps a lot. It’s a small step that saves a week.

Weeks 7–12: Follow-ups, supplements, and approval

How long does GACC approval take and how do you track it?

Self-registration submissions typically see a response within 15–30 working days. If a supplement is requested, add 1–2 weeks.
Status tracking. Log into CIFER, check your application under “My Applications.” Watch for messages flagged in Chinese. Use the “Supplementary Information” button to upload clarifications. Keep all answers tight and in one upload batch.

Do farms need GACC 248 registration, or only packing/processing facilities?

Farms don’t. Packhouses and processing facilities do, because they’re the “producers” in the sense of washing, grading, freezing, or drying. If you only trade product without touching it, you won’t register as a producer, but your Chinese importer may still insist the manufacturer has a CIFER number.

Renewals and changes.

CIFER registrations are valid for 5 years. Renewal windows open 3–6 months before expiry. If you add frozen or dehydrated lines later, submit a “Change” application to add scope. Don’t ship under an unsupported scope.

Choosing the right CIFER category for HS 0709/0710/0712

You’ll be asked to select a product category tree in CIFER. Here’s a practical mapping that’s worked for us:

HS 0702, 0703, 0705, 0706, 0707, 0709. Choose a fresh/chilled vegetables subcategory that matches the commodity. Example: Japanese Cucumber (Kyuri) under cucumbers 0707, Baby Romaine (Baby Romaine Lettuce) under lettuce 0705, Purple Eggplant and Red Cayenne Pepper often under 0709.
HS 0710. Select frozen vegetables. Example: Frozen Mixed Vegetables and Premium Frozen Sweet Corn under IQF/frozen.
HS 0712. Select dehydrated/dried vegetables. If you slice, blanch, then dry, ensure your process steps reflect that.

Three side-by-side images: fresh vegetables being washed, vegetables moving into an IQF freezer, and sliced vegetables drying on mesh trays.

Two non-obvious tips:

Add all HS codes you intend to ship this year. If your scope only lists 0710 sweet corn and you later ship 0710 okra, some ports will flag it. List each product family.
Align capacities. If you claim 30,000 tons annual IQF capacity but your equipment list shows one small tunnel, expect questions.

Need a sanity check on your mapping or dossier before you submit? We’re happy to review and point out landmines. For quick help, Contact us on whatsapp.

Why do CIFER applications get rejected for “product scope/category mismatch”?

We see three patterns:

Wrong subcategory. Filing frozen 0710 products under “fresh vegetables.” Fix by adding the frozen scope and resubmitting.
HS code misalignment. Listing 0709 “other vegetables” while your invoices show 0707 cucumbers or 0703 onions. Fix by enumerating the correct HS codes in CIFER.
Process description too vague. If you write “processing vegetables,” reviewers can’t assess risk. Fix by spelling out “receive, wash with chlorinated water, brush, sort by size, pack, pre-cool to 2–4°C, store at 0–4°C.” For IQF: “wash, cut, blanch, IQF at -38°C, pack, metal detect, store -18°C.”

When an application is bounced, respond with a short, structured memo in Chinese and English. Quote the reviewer’s wording and show exactly what was changed in CIFER.

Do you ever need Barantan recommendation for vegetables?

Most vegetable categories go through self-registration. However, we’ve seen two exceptions recently:

Facility history issues. If your facility had a prior non-compliance, a recommendation or additional verification may be requested.
Special access protocols. Certain horticultural items listed under bilateral protocols may involve packhouse listings validated by Barantan. This runs parallel to CIFER and can be requested by the importer’s port CIQ.

In both cases, Barantan is the Indonesian competent authority for plant-origin products. BPOM would only step in when the product becomes a processed food regulated under their scope.

Common mistakes that slow you down

Submitting water tests older than 12 months. Update them.
Only uploading English documents. Add Chinese titles at minimum. It helps.
No traceability drill. Provide a mock recall report that traces one lot back to farm origin and forward to customer.
Cold chain gaps. For fresh leafy items like Baby Romaine (Baby Romaine Lettuce), show pre-cooling logs and storage temperature records. For IQF items like Premium Frozen Okra, include freezer temperature charts.
Forgetting to add all finished-product packaging types. Bulk cartons today, but retail packs next quarter? List both now.

Quick answers to the questions we get daily

Fresh vegetables and the 18 categories. Fresh/frozen/dehydrated vegetables are not in the 18 high-risk categories. Self-registration is the standard route.
Who handles vegetables. Barantan for plant-origin products. BPOM for many multi-ingredient or processed foods.
Documents. Legal, facility, HACCP/ISO (if any), product list with HS codes, photos, water test, sanitation programs, traceability and recall.
Category selection for 0709/0710/0712. Map to fresh/chilled, frozen, and dehydrated scopes respectively. Don’t mix them.
Timeline. 15–30 working days for self-registration, plus time for supplements if requested. Track inside CIFER messages.
Farms vs facilities. Packhouses and processors register. Farms don’t.

Resources and next steps

If you’re still scoping your China program, start by listing your target HS codes and processing levels, then align your CIFER categories. Cross-check your current SOPs against the dossier list above. If you want examples or to see how we structure product scopes for lines like Premium Frozen Sweet Corn versus fresh Tomatoes, browse our range here: View our products.

Questions about your facility or the right scope to add before you ship? If you want a second pair of eyes, Contact us on whatsapp. We’ll tell you exactly what to fix before you hit submit.