Indonesian Coffee Export to China: GACC CIFER 2025 Guide

A practical, mistake-proof walkthrough for Indonesian green and roasted coffee producers to pass GACC CIFER registration on the first try in 2025. Clear mapping for HS 0901, required documents, timelines, and fixes when applications are returned.

Hook: how we went from $0 to our first $10,247 cleared in China using this exact system

We’ve lost count of how many Indonesian coffee factories have told us, “We tried CIFER, got ‘returned for modification,’ and gave up.” We get it. The portal is clunky, guidance is vague, and every port seems to interpret rules a little differently. The good news? Once you map HS 0901 coffee to the right CIFER product category and upload the right photos, approvals come fast. Our first China orders years ago were small, but we cleared $10,247 in 90 days by following this playbook. The same approach still works in 2025.

The 3 pillars of fast, frictionless CIFER approval

Here’s the thing. Most delays come from three avoidable gaps.

Correct category mapping for HS 0901. CIFER’s “product category” list isn’t HS codes. Choose wrong here and you’ll get bounced. Map green vs roasted precisely.
Factory evidence that tells a story. GACC wants to see real production. Not pretty marketing shots. Clear floor plans, flows, and photos that match your HACCP.
Consistency across documents. Names, addresses, and scope must match down to punctuation. In our experience, 3 out of 5 rejections are just mismatched spellings or incomplete addresses.

Practical takeaway: Decide your category and scope before you ever touch the portal. Then build a tight document pack that all says the same thing.

Week 1–2: validate HS 0901 mapping and scope (what to register)

Start with your actual product list and processes. HS 0901 splits into:

0901.11: Coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated
0901.12: Coffee, not roasted, decaffeinated
0901.21: Coffee, roasted, not decaffeinated
0901.22: Coffee, roasted, decaffeinated
0901.90: Coffee husks/skins, substitutes

In CIFER, you won’t select an HS code first. You select a product category description. For coffee, we’ve found the cleanest mapping is:

Unroasted coffee beans. Use this for green beans like Sumatra Mandheling Green Coffee Beans, Blue Batak Green Coffee Beans and other HS 0901.11/.12.
Roasted coffee beans or ground roasted coffee. Use this for roasted SKUs like Roasted Arabica Java Coffee or Roasted Espresso Coffee Blend. If you grind, tick ground coffee in the product sub-type and show your metal detection/foreign body control.

Does fermented, aged, or specialty processing change the category? No. Aged lots like Musty Cup Green Coffee Beans (Aged Arabica) or wine-fermented blends like Bali, Java, Gayo & Mandheling - Wine Green Arabica Coffee Beans are still unroasted coffee if they’re shipped green.

When to register a warehouse separately? For HS 0901, registration is typically required for the manufacturer/processor. A third‑party warehouse generally isn’t required unless it performs processing like grading, re-bagging, final labeling, or fumigation before export. If your external warehouse only stores sealed bags prior to container stuffing, it usually doesn’t need its own CIFER. But if it reworks product, submit a separate registration for that site.

Practical takeaway: List every product as green vs roasted, note if you grind, and identify where processing actually occurs. That’s your scope.

Do Indonesian green coffee beans actually need CIFER to enter China?

Yes. Under GACC Decree 248, overseas food production facilities shipping HS 0901 typically need CIFER registration. We’ve seen occasional shipments slide through, but relying on that is risky. Importers increasingly ask for your CIFER number upfront. Register once, and you’ll avoid holds and “manual inspection” surprises.

Week 3–6: build a bulletproof CIFER application

Create your account at the CIFER portal. Choose “overseas production enterprise.” Use the English interface but add Chinese where you can. We routinely include a Chinese alias for the company name and address in the notes field to help reviewers.

What to prepare and upload:

Business license and legal entity proof. Indonesian NIB + company deed works. Translate key pages to English. Consistent names.
Production license or equivalent. If you have HACCP, ISO 22000, or FSSC 22000, upload them. They’re not mandatory for coffee, but they increase pass rates.
Plant layout. Include zoning for raw, roasting, packing, finished goods, pest control points, and personnel flow.
Process flow diagram. For green coffee: receiving, sorting/cleaning, defect removal, moisture control/QA, bagging, storage. For roasted/ground: add roasting, cooling, destoning, grinding, metal detection, packaging.
Water safety and sanitation plan. Even if you don’t use process water in contact with coffee, show hygiene facilities and cleaning protocols.
Pest control plan and records. A simple map with numbered traps and a monthly log is enough.
Photos. Exterior with signage and full address, receiving area, roasting line or sorting line, grinding and metal detection (if applicable), packaging room, finished goods warehouse, hygiene stations, QC/cupping room. Take wide, well-lit shots. Avoid tight glamour angles.
Product list and HS codes. Match exactly to the CIFER categories selected.

Actionable insights you won’t find in generic guides:

Call out ochratoxin A controls for green coffee. GACC reviewers know OA risk in coffee. Note screening, supplier approval, and storage humidity limits.
Show foreign body controls for roasted/ground coffee. List your sieve/destoner steps and metal detector specs. Include one photo of the detector in operation.
Add your CIFER number to outer cartons after approval. It’s not always mandatory for HS 0901, but several ports have asked to see it on the case. It avoids phone calls on arrival.

Which CIFER product category should I choose for green vs roasted coffee beans to avoid rejection?

Green beans: select “Unroasted coffee beans.” Don’t pick “roasted” or “cocoa” by mistake. If you also export husks/skins, add that product separately.
Roasted whole beans: select “Roasted coffee beans.”
Ground coffee: select “Roasted coffee (ground).” If you sell both whole and ground, add both under the same facility.

What documents and photos does GACC expect for a coffee facility?

At minimum: business license, layout, process flow, sanitation/pest control, photos of key areas, and a product list. If you grind, include metal detection. If you treat for pests, show records. Certificates like HACCP help but aren’t strictly required for coffee.

Submit your application and save the tracking number. Take screenshots of your filled forms. If your application is returned, you’ll refer to these to make fast edits.

Week 7–12: approval, scale, and future-proofing

Approval timeline. For coffee, self-registration reviews typically take 10–20 working days. We’ve seen approvals inside a week when documentation is clean. Holidays and high-traffic windows can push it to 30+ days.

Tracking status. Log in and check “Application List.” Statuses move from Submitted to Under Review to Approved. Returned for Modification means you must correct and resubmit.

Expanding scope. Once approved, you can add products later without a new account. Use a “Change” application to add, for example, ground roasted coffee to a facility that was originally approved for whole bean roasted coffee.

Brand and packaging flexibility. One CIFER facility number can cover multiple brands and packaging sizes as long as production occurs at the registered site and the product category matches. If you private-label roasted coffee for clients, you don’t need a separate CIFER for each brand.

Keeping data clean. If your address or company name changes, file a “Change” rather than creating a new registration. We recommend pausing new China shipments until the change is approved.

How long does approval take and how do I track it?

Plan for 2–4 weeks. Track inside CIFER under your application list. If it’s stuck more than 30 working days, resubmit a concise clarification as an attachment and re‑save. We’ve seen that nudge help.

If GACC returns my application for modification, what should I correct?

Common coffee-specific fixes:

Wrong category mapping. Green beans submitted under “roasted.” Correct the product category and HS code.
Missing functional photos. Add photos of roaster, grinder, metal detector, or sorting line.
Incomplete layout. Add pest control map, personnel flow, and clear zoning.
Address mismatch. Exactly match your business license, including punctuation and postal code.
Vague hazard controls. Add one line on ochratoxin A prevention and foreign body control.

Can one CIFER number cover multiple brands and packaging sizes?

Yes. Your registration is for the facility and product category. You can export different brands and pack sizes if the production site is the same and within the approved scope.

Do I need a separate CIFER for my third‑party warehouse handling coffee before export?

Usually no, if it’s storage only. Yes, if the warehouse performs processing like re-bagging, final labeling, or fumigation. When in doubt, describe the warehouse function in your application notes and include a simple photo of the storage area.

Is BPOM endorsement required for coffee CIFER?

No. Coffee is a self-registration category. You don’t need BPOM recommendation. Provide your company legality documents and food safety system evidence.

The 5 mistakes that kill coffee CIFER submissions

Picking the wrong category. Map HS 0901 to “unroasted coffee beans” or “roasted coffee/ground coffee.” Don’t choose tea, cocoa-only, or spices.
Pretty photos, poor evidence. Show the real line. GACC likes roaster, grinder, metal detector, packaging, and warehouse shots that match your layout.
Inconsistent naming. Use the same English business name and address everywhere. If you add a Chinese alias, keep it consistent, too.
No hazard narrative. Two sentences on OA control, metal detection, and sanitation beat a 20-page generic manual.
Forgetting change applications. Address or scope changed? File a change. Don’t create a duplicate enterprise.

Practical takeaway: Before submission, ask a colleague to sanity-check category mapping, address consistency, and photo coverage. It catches 80% of issues.

Resources and next steps

If you want a product lineup that’s ready for HS 0901 export, browse our green and roasted ranges. We keep moisture, screen size, and documentation dialed for China buyers. Start with View our products and shortlist a green origin like Arabica Java Ijen Grade 1 Green Coffee Beans or a roasted staple like Roasted Arabica Lintong Coffee.

Need help mapping your exact process to the right category or assembling a photo set that passes on the first try? We’re happy to sanity-check your draft. Just Contact us on whatsapp and share your product list and facility layout.

Final thought. CIFER for coffee isn’t hard once you understand what reviewers expect to see. Pick the right category, tell a coherent story with your documents, and keep your data consistent. You’ll reduce approval time, protect your importer relationships, and focus on what matters: delivering great Indonesian coffee into China, reliably, every time.