China's New Fertilizer Registration Guidelines (Effective October 2025)
Introduction
In October 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China updated the Fertilizer Registration Guide, the Fertilizer Renewal Registration Guide, and the Fertilizer Amendment Registration Guide. Enterprises should pay close attention to the key changes highlighted below.
Fertilizer Registration Guide
Increased Field Trial Requirements
The revised guidelines significantly increase the rigor and documentation standards for mandatory field trials:
Trial Host: The host must be an in-service staff member with a senior title in a field related to soil and fertilizer.
Trial Requirements: Detailed trial requirements and standards are explicitly defined.
Before Trial Start | There must be imagery of the full view of the trial site, clearly reflecting the entire site and the distribution of each plot. Data records must include the trial start time, trial location (including coordinate information, soil physical and chemical properties, previous fertilization, etc.), and the trial protocol (including trial design, number of repetitions, plot arrangement, plot area, etc.). |
During Trial | There must be imagery of the fertilization (topdressing) process, clearly reflecting the fertilization method and trial dosage. Data records must include fertilization time, fertilizer dosage, and crop growth status. |
After Trial/Harvest | There must be imagery of the harvest and yield measurement, clearly reflecting the measurement method. Data records must include harvest time and the yield of each plot. The Field Trial Report must be signed and approved by the Trial Host, stamped with the official seal of the Trial Host’s unit, and include the Trial Host's professional title certificate and the name and contact information of the farmer who undertook the trial.
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Trial Standards
Product Type | Trial Standard | Report Requirement |
Chemical Fertilizers (excluding soil conditioners, agro-forestry absorbent polymer) | NY/T 2544-2014, NY/T 2274-2012, NY/T 2543-2014 | Submit trial reports for 1 year in 2 or more different regions (or 2 or more consecutive years in the same region)for each crop.
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Microbial Fertilizers (excluding soil remediation bacterial agents, organic matter decomposing inoculants) | NY/T 1536-2025 | Submit trial reports for 1 year in 2 or more different regions (or 2 or more consecutive years in the same region)for each crop.
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Soil Conditioners, Soil Remediation Bacterial Agents | NY/T 2271-2016 | Conduct trials at 2 representative locations targeting soil barriers and submit results for 3 or more continuous years.
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Agro-forestry Absorbent Polymer | NY/T4544-2025 | Select 2 locations in arid/semi-arid regions or seasonally dry regions, and conduct at least 2 continuous full growing season trials at each location.
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Organic Matter Decomposing inoculant (specifically for composting/fermentation) | / | Submit results from 2 composting or fermentation trials (points).
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Other Revised Requirements
Applicants from foreign countries and the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions must submit a Product Quality Assurance Certificate, which includes product quality control indicators and corresponding detection methods.
Registration Process:
The application for sample re-inspection is cancelled.
The Fertilizer Registration Certificate will be changed to an electronic license.
A re-application pathway has been clearly added: upon receiving a Notification of Non-Acceptance or a Decision of Non-Permission, the applicant may re-apply according to the law after improving the relevant documents or conditions as required by the notification.
Fertilizer Renewal Registration Guide
A copy of the Fertilizer Registration Certificate is not required.
Annual Product Quality Inspection Report: It is now explicitly stated that a quality inspection report for one batch per year is sufficient.
New Requirements for Foreign and HK/Macao/Taiwan Applicants: Must submit a Proof of Production and Sales Document, which needs to be confirmed by the Embassy (or Consulate) of the People's Republic of China in the country (or region) where the enterprise is located, OR affixed with an Apostille.
A sample of the fertilizer label must be submitted.
All documents can be submitted as electronic originals
Fertilizer Amendment Registration Guide
Type of Amendment | Document Requirements |
Change in Usage Scope | Submit a Field Trial Report.
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Change in Trade Name | The new name should not cause misunderstanding or confusion.
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Change in Enterprise Name | 1) Domestic Applicants: Submit proof of enterprise name change issued by the administrative authority, and a copy of the enterprise registration document with the changed name and the unified social credit code (stamped with the enterprise's official seal). 2) Foreign and HK/Macao/Taiwan Applicants: Submit a copy of the enterprise registration document, Proof of Production and Sales Document, and a Power of Attorney/Agency Agreement. If the name of the agency or the permanent representative office has changed, a copy of its enterprise registration document should also be submitted. |
A sample of the product label must also be submitted.
All documents can be submitted as electronic originals.
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