Notice Of the General Administration of Customs No. 49, 2022 (Notice on Plant Quarantine Requirements for Imports of Bananas from Myanmar)

        In accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China and the Protocol between the General Administration of Customs, PRC and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Plant Quarantine Requirements of Bananas exported from Myanmar, myanmar bananas that meet the following requirements are allowed to be imported from today:

        I. Basis of quarantine

        (1) Biosafety Law of the People’s Republic of China;

        (2) The Law of the People’s Republic of China on The Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine;

        (3) Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and Regulations on the Implementation of Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China;

        (4) Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Entry Fruits;

        (5) Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Quarantine Requirements of Bananas exported from Myanmar to China.

        II. Name of goods allowed to enter the country

        Musa sapientum is the scientific name of Banana.

        Bananas referred to in this quarantine requirement refer to green, unripe bananas harvested within 10-11 weeks after flowering. No yellow bananas shall be exported to China.

        III. Permitted origin

        Banana-producing areas in Myanmar.

        IV. Approved orchards and packing plants

        Banana orchards and packaging plants for export to China shall be registered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (hereinafter referred to as “MOALI”) and approved by the General Administration of Customs, PRC (hereinafter referred to as “GACC”). The registration information shall include name, address and registration code to facilitate accurate traceability of export goods in case they do not conform to the relevant provisions of this quarantine requirement. The registration list shall be provided by MOALI to GACC prior to each export season and GACC will publish the registration list on the official website.

        V. List of quarantine pests of concern to China

        1. Aleurodicus dispersus Russell

        2. Ocean mealybug Planococcus minor (Maskell)

        3. Planococcus lilacinus (Cockerell)

        4. New Pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus neobrevipes (Beardsley)

        5. Chilli fruit fly Bactrocera Latifrons (Hendel)

        6. The great African snail Achatina Fulica Bowdich

        7. Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. F. sp. cubense (E.F.SM.) Snyd. Et Hans Race 4

        VI. Requirements before export

        (1) Orchard management.

        1. In MOALI supervision and guidance, banana orchards, packaging plant imports comprehensive measures should be taken to control plant diseases and insect pests of system management, including control fruit maturity, fruit bagging, epidemic monitoring and prevention and control, postpartum processing, etc., in order to avoid and reduce to the greatest extent China follows on banana imports quarantine pest, maintain good plant health status.

        2. MOALI shall gradually promote good Agricultural Practice (GAP), supervise and manage the use of agricultural chemicals on bananas, conduct pesticide residue testing on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the Safety and health requirements of the Chinese side, and provide GACC with relevant information on the implementation of the above measures upon request.

        (2) Packaging plant management.

        Packing place and packing process of banana exported to China should be kept clean without harmful organism infection. In the process of post-harvest processing and packaging, bananas should be soaked, cleaned and picked to remove insect eggs and foreign bodies on the fruit, so as to ensure that there are no quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese side.

        (3) Packaging requirements.

        1. Bananas exported to China should be packed in new containers and not be infected by harmful organisms or contaminated by toxic or harmful substances.

        2. The fruit name, country, production area, orchard code and packing plant code shall be marked on each packing case in Chinese or English.

        3. Each tray should be marked “Exported to the People’s Republic of China” or “Exported to the People’s Republic of China” in Chinese or English. If no pallet is used, the same information must be marked on each packing case.

        4. If wood packing is used, it must comply with international Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

        (4) Inspection and quarantine before export.

        At the time of banana export, MOALI is required to carry out quarantine to ensure that bananas exported to China are in an immature state and free from quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese side.

        (5) Requirements for plant quarantine certificate.

        1. Phytosanitary certificate issued by MOALI, indicating the registration code of orchard and packing plant and stating in the attached declaration: “The consignment is in compliance with requirements described in The Protocol of Phytosanitary requirements for The Export of Banana from Myanmar to China, And is free of soil and the quarantine pests of concern to China.”

        2. The certificate format shall be in accordance with ISPM no. 12 and MOALI shall provide samples of current and valid PHYTOsanitary certificates to GACC for confirmation and filing prior to the commencement of trade.

        VII. Entry quarantine and unqualified treatment

        When bananas arrive at Chinese entry ports, Chinese customs shall carry out quarantine according to the following requirements.

        (1) Verification of relevant certificates and marks.

        1. Check whether the imported bananas have obtained the Import Animal and plant Quarantine Permit of the People’s Republic of China.

        2. Verify whether the plant quarantine certificate conforms to the provisions of article 6 (5) of this requirement.

        3. Check whether the mark on the packing case complies with paragraph (3) of Article 6 of this requirement.

        (2) Entry inspection and quarantine.

        1. Bananas to Be exported to China should be imported from GACC ports allowed to import fruits.

        2. The inspection and quarantine of imported bananas shall be carried out in accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations and rules. Those that pass the inspection and quarantine shall be allowed to enter the country.

        (3) Handling of non-compliance with requirements.

        1. If bananas are found to come from orchards or packing plants not approved by the Chinese side, or if they are found to be ripe or with branches, leaves or soil, the bananas will not be allowed to enter the country.

        2. If quarantinable pests of concern to The Chinese side are intercepted, the goods shall be returned, destroyed or treated with other effective quarantine treatments. The Chinese side will immediately inform the Myanmar side and, depending on the circumstances, suspend banana imports from relevant production areas or packaging plants. Myanmar should find out the cause and urge relevant enterprises to make rectification until China’s requirements are met again.

        3. If agricultural chemicals and other toxic and harmful substances are found to exceed the standard, the fruits will be returned or destroyed. The Chinese side will immediately inform The Myanmar side and suspend banana imports from relevant production areas or packaging plants depending on the situation. The Myanmar side should find out the reasons and urge relevant enterprises to make rectification until China’s requirements are met again.

        VIII. Retrospective review

        GACC will conduct a further risk assessment, review the above phytosanitary requirements retrospectively, and adjust the list of quarantinable pests and quarantine measures in consultation with MOALI, based on the situation of banana epidemic occurrence and seizure in Myanmar.

Article source：General Administration of Customs, PRC