Identify your food-business category: production and catering need permission, packaged-only sales need filing, fresh agricultural produce needs neither license
Making snacks, braised meats, baked goods or homemade pickles for sale generally requires permission. Selling only food packaged by others uses filing with the county-level-or-higher market regulator. Fresh meat and vegetables do not need a food-operation license. Unauthorized food production or operation can bring a minimum fine band of RMB 50,000–100,000, exceeding many small businesses' starting funds.
What it takes
The Chinese permit itself is free, but premises and facilities must comply and inspection plus processing takes weeks. Meat sellers must retain quarantine and meat-quality inspection certificates for every batch.
What you may gain
China's Food Safety Law requires permission for food production, food sales and catering, except edible agricultural products and exclusively prepackaged-food sales. Packaged-only sellers must file locally with the county-level-or-higher food-safety regulator. Fresh meat and vegetables are examples of unprocessed agricultural products; prepackaged food is sold in prepared packages. Provinces set specific rules for small workshops and food vendors. Operating without required permission brings confiscation of proceeds, food, tools, equipment and materials. If retail-value inventory is below RMB 10,000, the additional fine is RMB 50,000–100,000; at RMB 10,000 or above it is 10–20 times value. China's Pig Slaughtering Regulations require designated slaughter facilities and official quarantine, except rural individuals slaughtering pigs for their own consumption. Pig products sold, processed, served in catering or used by collective meal providers must come from designated plants and pass both quarantine and meat-quality inspection. Unauthorized slaughter brings closure and confiscation of pigs, tools, equipment and proceeds, with the same fine bands as above. The Animal Epidemic Prevention Law requires animal products sold or transported to carry quarantine certificates and marks; omission brings a correction order and a fine up to the value of equivalent qualified products. A judicial interpretation also supports buyers' claims for tenfold punitive compensation for noncompliant food from small workshops and vendors. These rules apply throughout China.
Context & considerations
Provinces set thresholds for small workshops, small catering businesses and food stalls, so no national figures are given. Search your provincial regulator's site for its small-food-business rules. Selling homemade food online does not remove licensing requirements. See registration, other licensed trades, and buyers' tenfold compensation rights.
Research & references
NPC Standing Committee (third amendment, 2025). Food Safety Law, Articles 35, 36 and 122. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916b87ef3; State Council of China (2021). Pig Slaughtering Regulations, Order No. 742, Articles 2, 23 and 31. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-07/22/content_5626534.htm; NPC Standing Committee (2021 revision). Animal Epidemic Prevention Law, Articles 51 and 100. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080817703add2017737395a973e31; Supreme People's Court (2024). Interpretation on Punitive Compensation Disputes Involving Food and Drugs, [2024] No. 9, Article 4. http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/bf531a70471f10d377788f28d3d8f8.html