General Overview: Registration Scale and Distribution of License Types in China MARA Announcement No. 966
On November 11th, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China (MARA) issued Announcement No. 966, approving the registration or renewal of 277 imported feed and feed additive products from 114 companies.
Meanwhile, 13 products from 7 companies, including Biorigin S.A., Brazil completed registration modification and obtained relevant certificates. Notably, the announcement specifically emphasizes that "Lentilactobacillus hilgardii CNCM I-4785" has been added to the "Catalogue of Feed Additive Varieties" as a microbial feed additive for silage.
Classification and breakdown of license types:
New registrations: 209, accounting for approximately 75.45%
Renewals: 68, accounting for approximately 24.55%
Comment: New registrations account for over 70% (about 75.45%) of the total, clearly indicating that new products and technologies continue to enter the Chinese market. They meet the increasingly diversified and personalized needs of the livestock, pet, and special animal sectors, injecting strong innovative vitality into China's feed industry. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (about 24.55%) of renewals ensure the stable supply of mature products that have proven their safety and effectiveness in the market, maintaining the resilience of the industrial chain.
Product Category Distribution: Pet Products Consolidate Dominance, Functional Trend Becomes Increasingly Prominent
After classifying the 277 products listed in the announcement's appendix, we found they mainly fall into five categories:
Pet Products: 170 products, accounting for approximately 61.4%
Including compound pet feed (such as complete dog food, complete cat food, etc., 154 products) and pet nutritional supplements/premixed feed (16 products). Major source countries are pet industry developed nations such as the United States, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Canada. Branded, formula-based, and complete-nutrition products remain the mainstay of imported registrations, highlighting the vigorous development of China's "pet economy".
Mixed Feed Additives: 54 products, accounting for approximately 19.5%
Products cover multivitamins, mineral elements, microbial enzymes (such as Lactobacillus hilgardii, Bacillus subtilis), flavoring substances, acid regulators, plant extracts (such as cinnamaldehyde, thymol, yucca extract), and amino acid complexes. Many products have composite functions. In particular, "Lentilactobacillus hilgardii CNCM I-4785", the microbial feed additive for silage specially mentioned in the announcement, reflects the urgent demand for high-tech functional additives under the background of "reducing antibiotics and replacing antibiotics".
Single Feed (Bulk Raw Materials): 28 products, accounting for approximately 10.1%
Mainly including bulk protein and energy raw materials such as fish meal, fish oil, soybean meal, rapeseed meal, Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture, yeast hydrolysate, and pork bone meal. Major sources are Argentina, Peru, India, Russia, etc., reflecting China's strategy of procuring high-quality protein and energy raw materials globally to meet basic feed needs.
Compound Feed for Livestock/Poultry, Aquatic Products, and Special Animals: 13 products, accounting for approximately 4.7%
Including special compound feed for piglets, calves, lambs, horses, fish, shrimp, hamsters, etc. Examples include piglet compound feed from the Netherlands' Nukamel and fish compound feed from France's Skretting Company. Such products indicate the market demand for special breeding and refined feeding of young animals, driving the introduction of customized and professional feed.
Premixed Feed for Livestock/Poultry and Special Animals (Non-pet): 12 products, accounting for approximately 4.3%
Including calf compound premixed feed, vitamin premixed feed for poultry/pigs/ruminants, compound premixed feed for breeding rabbits, etc. An example is calf compound premixed feed from Ireland's Inform Nutrition Ireland Ltd. Such products reflect the breeding industry's demand for precise nutrition and stage-specific feed.
Comment: With a share of over 60%, pet products are the absolute mainstay in this batch of registered products, confirming the huge potential of China's pet market. The steady growth of mixed feed additives highlights the continuous efforts of the domestic breeding industry in efficiency improvement, animal health management, and green production. Overall, the product structure clearly depicts the characteristics of "dual-driver" development in China's feed market: consumption upgrading and industrial upgrading.
Country/Region Distribution: A Reflection of Global Feed Technology and Resource Division of Labor
The 277 registered products originate from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, presenting an overall pattern of "Europe leading in technology, the Americas supporting raw materials, and Asia focusing on regional adaptability":
Europe: Approximately 100 products, accounting for approximately 36.1%
Major sources include France (16), Italy (18), the Netherlands (16), Germany (28), and the United Kingdom (7). Europe has prominent technological advantages in mixed feed additives and has made breakthroughs in pet products and functional nutritional supplements.
Americas: Approximately 77 products, accounting for approximately 27.8%
Mainly the United States (60) and Canada (17). The United States dominates the pet product sector; Canada contributes to pet compound feed and horse concentrate supplements. The Americas are an important support for the high-end pet market.
Asia and Others: Approximately 95 products, accounting for approximately 34.3%
Covering New Zealand (13), Singapore (10), South Korea (8), Thailand (8), India (9), Peru (9), Russia (10), etc. New Zealand performs well in pet products; Singapore and South Korea contribute to mixed feed additives; Peru, India, and Russia mainly provide bulk raw materials. Asia and other regions focus on cost advantages and regional adaptability.
Comment: This distribution reflects the refined division of labor in the global supply chain: Europe specializes in high-tech products, the Americas dominate the high-end pet market and some raw materials, and Asia and other regions focus on cost-effectiveness and regional adaptability. Through its registration system, China integrates these global resources into its market, providing diversified options for the livestock industry.
Analysis of Key Trends: From Functional Innovation to Sustainable Transformation
Based on the data of registered products and the key emphases in the announcement text, the imported feed products approved in November 2025 highlight several key trends:
Rise of Microorganisms and Enzymes
Approximately 19.5% of products (a high proportion of microorganisms and enzymes in mixed feed additives) involve yeast, bacillus, or enzymes. The announcement specifically points out that "Lentilactobacillus hilgardii CNCM I-4785" has been added to the "Catalogue of Feed Additive Varieties" and explicitly approved for use as a microbial feed additive for silage. This reflects the national recognition and introduction of advanced silage microbial technology, which has far-reaching significance for improving the quality of silage feed. Meanwhile, such products also promote intestinal health, reflecting the popularization of antibiotic alternatives.
Growth in Specialty Products for Pets and Horses
Pet products (compound pet feed and pet nutritional supplements/premixed feed) total 170, accounting for 61.4%, becoming the largest category of registered products. There are more than 10 types of horse concentrate supplements, indicating the rise of the pet economy and equestrian industry.
Increased Share of Natural and Organic Ingredients
Approximately 20% of products (such as plant extracts in mixed feed additives) use natural extracts or plant-based ingredients, such as yucca extract, thymol, and cinnamaldehyde. This aligns with the global trend of "antibiotic-free breeding" and promotes environmentally friendly farming practices.
Innovation in Mineral Element Complexes
Approximately 10% of products in mixed feed additives are mineral element complexes, such as Switzerland Erbo's Jinpuno series and India Kesava's Xiyikang. They highlight the application of amino acid complexes and organic minerals, which improve bioavailability and reduce environmental pressure.
Comment: From a trend perspective, products registered in 2025 have gradually shifted from a sole focus on nutritional supplementation to functionalization and differentiation. On one hand, the application of microorganisms, enzymes, and natural plant extracts reflects the general trend of "antibiotic-free breeding" and green development. On the other hand, the increase in pet and horse products reflects the upgrading of consumer demand and the rise of niche markets. Notably, although mineral element complexes account for less than 10% of the total, they represent high added value and high technological barriers, indicating that the industry is gradually shifting from "volume competition" to "quality competition". Overall, these trends reveal that China's feed market is rapidly adapting to the transformation direction of the global livestock industry and accelerating upgrades in safety, environmental protection, and functionality.
Conclusion
Announcement No. 966 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs approves the registration of 277 imported feed and feed additive products, with new registrations accounting for 75.45% and renewals 24.55%. Pet products rank first with a 61.4% share. Notably, the announcement specifically emphasizes that "Lentilactobacillus hilgardii CNCM I-4785" has been added to the "Catalogue of Feed Additive Varieties" for use as a microbial feed additive for silage, highlighting its strategic position in green breeding. The source countries/regions show a pattern of "Europe leading in technology, the Americas supporting raw materials, and Asia focusing on regional adaptability", corresponding to advantages in technology, high-end market, raw materials, and regional adaptability respectively. Products exhibit trends such as the rise of microorganisms and enzymes, and an increase in natural ingredients, reflecting the industry's transformation toward green development and functionalization. This announcement points out the direction for the industry: enterprises need to focus on innovation and niche markets, while policymakers can optimize supervision to support the high-quality development of the industry.
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