A step-by-step playbook for Indonesian seafood plants to add new species/HS codes to an existing GACC Decree 248 registration in CIFER. What to prepare, the exact clicks, timelines in 2026, mapping tips, and what to update after approval.
If you’ve tried to add a new species to your China scope in CIFER, you know it can feel like a maze. In our experience, most delays aren’t because GACC is slow. They happen earlier, at the mapping and BKIPM stages. Here’s a 2026-focused guide that gets straight to what works for Indonesian seafood processors and exporters.
Modification vs. renewal (and when each applies)
Here’s the thing. Decree 248 treats “modification” and “renewal” very differently.
- Modification: Use this when you change your product scope or key details. For example, adding vannamei shrimp, switching from fillet to portion, or adding IQF to your processing types. Your GACC number doesn’t change. Your expiry date doesn’t reset.
- Renewal: This is the 5-year cycle to keep your GACC registration active. It’s not for changing scope. Plan to renew 3–6 months before expiry.
Practical takeaway: If you’re adding any new aquatic products, packaging types, or processing methods, you’re doing a GACC registration update via CIFER modification. Not a renewal.
Do I need BKIPM to recommend my modification, or can I apply directly?
For aquatic products, yes, you need Indonesia’s competent authority recommendation. BKIPM/KKP must review and recommend your modification in CIFER. A trader can’t modify a factory’s registration. Only the registered manufacturer, via BKIPM, can change the scope.
We’ve seen a few plants try to “self-apply” like low-risk categories. It gets rejected or stuck as “not in recommended list.” Save the time. Start with BKIPM.
The exact CIFER application steps (2026)
We’re assuming you already have an active Decree 248 registration for aquatic products.
- Prepare with BKIPM first
- Contact your local BKIPM port office and request a scope change (Perubahan Ruang Lingkup) for Decree 248.
- Submit your document pack (see checklist below). BKIPM will review and, if satisfactory, push the modification to CIFER for GACC review.
- Verify your enterprise profile
- Log in to CIFER. Check that your enterprise is “Active” and that all base info (address, legal person, cold storage capacity, etc.) is up to date. If you need to update base info, do that before scope changes.
- Start modification
- CIFER menu path typically looks like: My Applications > Application for Modification > Select your enterprise > Category: Aquatic Products.
- Choose “Change product scope” or similar wording.
- Add product entries For each new product, select:
- Species. Match to GACC’s list by Latin name first, then common name.
- Product category and processing type. For example, “frozen,” “fillet,” “portion,” “head,” “steak,” “IQF,” “IVP/IWP.”
- Packaging. Retail packs vs. bulk, inner/outer carton, vacuum or not.
- Intended use. “For cooking” vs. “ready-to-eat/raw intended consumption.” The latter will trigger deeper review.
- Upload documents
- Upload the product-specific HACCP plan, process flow, labels, and supporting files (see the next section).
- Submit and route via BKIPM
- Your modification routes to BKIPM/KKP in CIFER for recommendation. After they endorse, it moves to GACC’s desktop review.
- Track status and respond
- CIFER > Application Query > Modification. Statuses you’ll see: “Submitted,” “Recommended,” “Under Review,” “Returned for Supplement,” “Approved.”
- If returned, read the remarks carefully. GACC’s comments are often concise but specific. Fix the exact point and re-upload.
- Download confirmation
- After approval: CIFER > Application Query > Modification > Approved. Download the approval page or updated registration info. Also check Enterprise Info > Product Scope to confirm the new items are listed.
Documents required to add a new species under Decree 248
Our short list that consistently works:
- Updated HACCP plan covering the new species/process. Include hazard analysis for species-specific risks.
- Process flow diagram with CCPs. From receiving to freezing and shipment.
- Plant layout and zoning map. Show product and personnel flows.
- Product specification sheet. Species, forms, glazing, shelf life, storage conditions, packaging.
- Labels in Chinese and English/Indonesian. Inner and outer cartons. Include GACC registration number format as required by 248.
- Sanitation SOPs and environmental monitoring where applicable.
- Traceability and recall procedure. One mock recall record helps.
- Supplier approval and raw material control procedure.
- Cold chain and temperature monitoring program. If adding IQF, include tunnel/freezer data.
- Recent lab reports if BKIPM requests them for the species (microbiology/histamine for tuna, etc.).
Pro tip: Make the HACCP and flow chart product-specific. Generic files cause returns more than any other reason.
Mapping tips: species, HS code, product category
CIFER doesn’t run on HS codes, but you’ll still need to align your HS on customs documents. We map in three layers: species, processing, then HS.
- Start with Latin name search. Then confirm the Chinese common name used by GACC.
- Pick the right processing type. “Frozen fillet” and “frozen portion” are not the same. IQF vs. block also matters.
- Align labels and specs to your CIFER entry. Don’t list “skin-on” on labels if you applied as “skinless.”
Examples we use often:
- Vannamei shrimp: Litopenaeus vannamei. Chinese: 南美白对虾. Category: crustaceans > shrimp. Processing: frozen, raw, HOSO/HLSO/PUD/PDTO as applicable. If you sell multiple formats under one species, enter each processing type. See our Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught) for common cuts buyers expect.
- Yellowfin tuna: Thunnus albacares. Chinese: 黄鳍金枪鱼. If you declare “ready-to-eat/sashimi,” expect more scrutiny. For reference, we supply Yellowfin Saku (Sushi Grade) and Yellowfin Steak under different intended uses.
- Loligo squid: Loligo spp. Chinese: 鱿鱼. Whole round vs. whole cleaned are different entries. Check our Loligo Squid (Whole Round / Whole Cleaned) to align spec lines.
- Red snapper: Lutjanus spp. Chinese: 笛鲷. Fillet vs. WGGS vs. wings are separate. See Snapper Fillet (Red Snapper) and Snapper WGGS (Red Snapper - Whole Gilled & Gutted).
What should I select for product category and processing type for frozen vannamei shrimp?
Choose crustaceans > shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Processing: “frozen, raw” plus the exact cut. HOSO, HLSO, PUD, PDTO, or cooked if applicable. If you plan both raw and cooked lines, enter separate items. Labels must mirror these choices.
How to map Indonesian HS code to China aquatic classification
We maintain an internal crosswalk. The rule of thumb: set the CIFER item first, then pick the Chinese HS that matches species + processing for customs. For example, vannamei raw HLSO typically maps to a 0306 HS family in China. Check with your broker, since China’s HS detail changes yearly.
Typical approval timeline in 2026 (and audits)
What we’re seeing this year:
- BKIPM review and recommendation: 5–12 working days if documents are tight.
- GACC desktop review: 20–40 working days. Peak seasons can push it to 60.
- On-site audit? Rare for frozen raw aquatic products. More likely if you add “ready-to-eat” or have recent non-compliances.
If I add a new product, do I receive a new GACC number?
No. You keep the same GACC registration number. You’re expanding the scope tied to that number.
Labels and documents after approval
Do labels need updating after a CIFER modification? Often yes.
Update the following:
- Chinese common name of the species as per GACC usage.
- Processing declaration. If CIFER says “IQF skinless fillet,” your label should too.
- GACC registration number. On inner and outer packaging for prepacked. On outer only for bulk.
- Manufacturer name and address exactly as registered.
- Production date, shelf life, storage temp, and country of origin.
- Commercial docs. Update the product name/spec on contracts, invoices, and packing lists to match the CIFER wording.
Pro move: Print sample carton art and get BKIPM to sanity check before mass printing.
Troubleshooting: common rejections and errors
- “Not in recommended list.” Your plant isn’t in BKIPM’s recommendation for that product. Ask BKIPM to add your enterprise for the new species/processing and resubmit. Also make sure your base scope includes “aquatic products.”
- “Product not listed.” Search by Latin name. If the exact species isn’t present, select the accepted group category and declare Latin name in the remarks. BKIPM can advise the correct grouping.
- HS mismatch at customs. Your CIFER item is “fillet” but you shipped “portion.” Align your spec lines and HS before booking.
- Labels lack Chinese name. Use the standard Chinese common name. Don’t translate literally from Indonesian.
- Wrong intended use. If you ticked “ready-to-eat” for tuna but ship frozen for cooking, correct it. GACC notices.
Quick answers to questions we get every week
Which documents are mandatory to add a new species?
HACCP, flow chart, labels (CN/EN/ID), product spec, plant layout, sanitation and traceability procedures. Add lab reports if species risk demands it (e.g., histamine for tuna).
CIFER shows “not in recommended list” for my plant—how do I fix this?
Coordinate with BKIPM to place your plant in the recommended list for that exact product category and processing type. Then resubmit.
Can a trader apply for factory modification in CIFER?
No. Only the registered manufacturer can, via BKIPM/KKP recommendation.
Need an on-site audit for adding a new seafood product in 2026?
Usually no for frozen raw aquatic products. Expect tighter review for ready-to-eat or raw-eaten items.
How to check status and download the approval?
CIFER > Application Query > Modification. Status “Approved” lets you view and download the confirmation. Also verify the new scope under Enterprise Info > Product Scope.
Final takeaways
- Start with BKIPM. A clean recommendation speeds up GACC.
- Map species and processing precisely. CIFER isn’t HS-based, but your labels and HS must still align.
- Expect 25–40 working days for GACC review in 2026. Build that into your launch plan.
- Keep labels synchronized with your CIFER entries. That alone prevents a lot of holds at destination.
Need help mapping species or reviewing your HACCP pack before submission? We’re happy to sanity check based on what GACC is currently clearing. Just Contact us on whatsapp.
If you’re aligning specs for China programs, our popular lines include Yellowfin Saku (Sushi Grade), Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught), and Snapper Fillet (Red Snapper). We build to the processing types and pack styles you’ll actually register in CIFER, so the paperwork matches the product. That’s how you avoid the last-mile surprises.