Overseas manufacturing facility registration comes first
To import food or food contact utensils and containers, the overseas factory that made the product must be registered with the MFDS before the import declaration. Import declarations for products from an unregistered factory are not accepted.
The registration is valid for 2 years, and to keep importing you apply for renewal at least 7 days before expiry. The application is filed through the e-civil service of Imported Food Information Maru, and if you commission an agency, Ubis files it.
Documents for overseas manufacturing facility registration
There are 2 documents to request from the factory. Document 1 is the rule, and if the factory cannot provide it, document 2 takes its place.
| Document | Details | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Business license, registration certificate, or notification certificate issued by the government of the exporting country | A document from which the factory location can be confirmed | If the document is not in English, submit a notarized translation |
| 2. Overseas manufacturing facility registration information confirmation | An MFDS form that the factory fills out in English and signs (Form No. 1-2 of the Enforcement Rule) | Send the "Confirmation form example" below to the factory together with the form |
In practice, we recommend obtaining both documents together. By comparing the business name and address across the documents, you can fix any errors before applying.
For a factory that makes animal-based food, the factory operator applies for registration with the MFDS through the government of the exporting country.
Checking whether the factory is already registered
Before applying, check on Imported Food Information Maru whether the factory is already registered. You can search without logging in.
- Open the Imported Food Information Maru business search and click the "Overseas manufacturing facilities, overseas workplaces (livestock products), and exporters" tab.
- Enter the first part of the factory's English business name in the business name field and search. If you enter the entire business name, the search may fail because of differences in spacing or periods.
- In the results, find the factory with the same address and check the expiry date. If the expiry date has passed or is approaching, apply for renewal.
Even for the same company, a factory at a different address is a different overseas manufacturing facility. Do not judge that a factory is registered from the business name alone.
Example of filling out the overseas manufacturing facility registration information confirmation
The factory fills out the confirmation in English capital letters, and the representative or a responsible executive signs it. Download the form below and send it to the factory together with the example.
- Registration type: Check Initial registration for a first registration, Update if the business name or contact details have changed, or Renewal for an extension of the validity period. For Update and Renewal, enter the existing registration number.
- Factory name: Enter the English business name exactly as it appears on the business license from the exporting country. Do not omit the legal form, such as PTY LTD or CO., LTD.
- Address: Enter the address on the license exactly as it appears, down to the street number, postal code, and the abbreviation of the state or province. It is the address of the factory that makes the product, not the head office address.
- Contact: Enter the email address of the factory contact person whom the MFDS can reach, and a phone number with the country code.
- Category: For food, check Processed foods, Agricultural products, etc. For food contact utensils and containers, check Apparatus, or containers and packages.
- Food safety management system: If the factory holds a certification such as HACCP or ISO 22000, enter the certification name, certification body, certification date, and expiry date. If not, check No.
- Consent checkboxes: Check all 3 items: consent to an MFDS on-site inspection, confirmation that the statements are true, and confirmation by the factory operator.
- Date: Enter it in the order month-day-year (MM-DD-YYYY). In the example, 11-02-2026 is November 2, 2026.
- Signature: The person whose name and title are entered signs in person. If the signature is missing, or the name and the person who signed differ, you will receive a supplement request.
Common mistakes in overseas manufacturing facility registration
Most supplement requests arise because the business name or address differs slightly between documents. The MFDS checks whether the exporting country's document, the application screen of Imported Food Information Maru, and the confirmation are identical, character for character.
| Mistake | Example of the mistake | How to handle it |
|---|---|---|
| State abbreviation in the address | The exporting country's document has "(QLD)" after the city name, but it is missing from the confirmation | On receiving a supplement request, correct the confirmation to match the application screen and submit it again |
| Factory street number | The document the factory sent says 12-4, but the license from the exporting country says 12-8 | Match the street number on the license, then apply |
| Head office and factory addresses | Entering the head office address makes it differ from the actual place of manufacture | Enter the address of the factory that makes the product |
| Category | A factory that makes utensils and containers sometimes checks Processed foods | Cups, plates, and containers that touch food are Apparatus, or containers and packages |
| Date order | If written in the order day-month-year, the date reads differently | Write it in the order month-day-year |
For utensils and containers, if another factory made a part such as the lid or gasket, also check whether that part's factory is registered, and obtain from the factory the manufacturing factory of each part.
Renewal and change applications
Apply for renewal at least 7 days before the validity period expires. Once the expiry date passes, the factory becomes unregistered, so import declarations for that factory's products are not accepted.
If registered details such as the business name, representative, contact details, or address change, apply for a change of registration before the next import declaration.
Even where the factory has not moved and only the address notation changed because of an administrative district reorganization or a name change, a change of registration is required. If you do not file a change of registration, acceptance of the import declaration may be refused.
| Change | Application | Documents to request from the factory |
|---|---|---|
| Business name, representative, contact details | Change of registration | The license from the exporting country or the confirmation showing the changed details |
| Address notation (factory unchanged) | Change of registration | An official letter in English from the factory, stating the reason for the change and sealed, and a license showing the changed address |
| Factory location (relocation) | Not subject to a change of registration for the location | Ask the MFDS how to proceed before applying |
Related articles
- Importing food: documents to request from the factory and steps for the first import
- Imported food thorough inspection: criteria for first imports and repeat imports
Source: Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Article 5 (Registration of Overseas Manufacturing Facilities), Enforcement Rule of the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Article 2 (Registration of Overseas Manufacturing Facilities), Form No. 1 (Application for Registration of Overseas Manufacturing Facility), Form No. 1-2 (Overseas Manufacturing Facility Registration Information Confirmation), Annex 10 (Classification Criteria for Imported Food, etc.). As in force on October 8, 2026 for the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control and September 30, 2026 for its Enforcement Rule.