Seedlings and flowers export to Japan require to know how much

        Our export of seedlings and flowers has a long history, and the export of many varieties and large quantity, while Japan, as an important neighbor of our country, is also one of our main destinations of seedlings and flowers export. Because seedlings and flowers extremely easy to carry harmful organisms for long distance transmission, Japan has formulated quite many inspection and quarantine regulations to strengthen the country’s plant protection work, in the meantime, our country has also introduced some regulations to promote the export of seedlings and flowers industry healthy development. Next, let’s talk about the requirements for exporting seedlings and flowers to Japan.

Plant quarantine requirements implemented in Japan

        In recent years, Japan has developed five lists, which are updated frequently, including the list of quarantine pests, the list of plants that are prohibited from entering the country, the list of plants that need to be inspected in the growing areas of exporting countries, the list of plants that need to be subjected to specific phytosanitary measures in exporting countries, and the list of non-quarantine pests.

I. No entry list

（1）Quarantine pest list

        The list came into effect in 2011. Japan revises the list almost every year according to the occurrence of pests. The latest revision was in March 2022, which includes 1,023 species (genera) of quarantine pests, more than 100 of which are already occurring in China. Including the newest addition, the Tomato mottle mosaic virus. According to the Japanese Plant Protection Law, quarantine pests are prohibited from entering Japan.

The website of the directory:https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/law/houki/shorei/E_Annexed_Table1_from_20210428.html

（2）List of the import prohibited plants

        The list lists plants or plant products from certain regions that carry a high risk of carrying a quarantine pest but are prohibited from entering Japan due to lack of effective treatment measures. Among the Chinese plants included in the list: live roots, leaves and fresh fruits of Cucurbitaceae, which carry Bactrocera cucurbitae, are banned from entering Japan; Live vines, leaves, lumpy roots, underground stems, cassava roots and underground parts of Calystegia sp., Ipomoea sp., Pharbitis sp., which easily carry the sweet potato ant (Cylas formicarius), are prohibited from entering Japan. Apple and apricot fruits, which can carry Cydia pomonlla, are banned from entering Japan.

The website of the directory:https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/law/houki/shorei/E_Annexed_Table2_from_20210428.html

II. Restricted entry list

（3）List of the plants subject to field inspection in exporting countries and the details of requirements for each of the quarantine pests

        The list is mainly for plants from a certain country or region for planting purposes. The exporting country should monitor the pests in the list during the growing season and indicate in the phytosanitary certificate that no related pests have been monitored. There are 23 pests on the list, all of which are part of the Quarantine Pest List. For example, seeds for planting melons, watermelons and winter melons from China are required to state in the phytosanitary certificate that “Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (bacterial fruit spot pathogen) did not occur during growth”.

The website of the directory:https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/law/houki/shorei/E_Annexed_Table1-2_from_20210428.html

（4）List of the plants subject to specific phytosanitary measures to be carried out in exporting countries

        The list includes a list of plants subject to specific phytosanitary measures in the exporting country and detailed requirements for each quarantine pest. Plants from certain countries must be tested to prove they are free of certain pests before they are allowed into Japan. For example, seeds and other plants of the genus Chrysopanthus from China are subject to RT-PCR testing before export, along with an additional statement stating that “these plants were born from a place where Potato spindle tuber viroid did not occur, The mother plants or seeds of these plants are free of these pests by appropriate genetic methods such as RT-PCR.”

The website of the directory:https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/law/houki/shorei/E_Annexed_Table2-2_from_20210428.html

（5）List of non-quarantine pest

        The list refers to the introduction of plants and plant products that have occurred in Japan without taking measures against these pests. The list currently includes 506 species and 5 genera of pests, including 421 species of arthropods, 7 species of mollusks, 1 species of nematodes and 58 species of fungi. There were 3 kinds of bacteria and 16 kinds of viruses. In Japan, if a new pest is not in the list of quarantine pests, nor in the list of non-quarantine pests, it needs to be determined whether it is a quarantine pest on the basis of risk analysis.

The website of the directory:https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/law/houki/shorei/Non_Q_Pest_List_from_20210428.html

        Can be seen from the above content, for their own protection of agroforestry, Japan to import seedlings to carry the various types of harmful organisms are made clear regulatory requirements, but look from breed, food crops, solanaceae, cucurbitaceae, gramineae and fruits and other economic crops is the focus of attention of the country as a result, the customs remind relevant trade enterprises, is engaged in the export business, Timely attention should be paid to the changes in relevant policy requirements so as to facilitate the smooth development of trade.

Qualification requirements for enterprises exporting seedlings and flowers

        The registration of production enterprises is divided into two kinds, one is the registration of planting bases, the other is the registration of processing and packaging factories and storage warehouses. The relevant registration requirements mainly involve the quality and safety assurance system of production enterprises, pest monitoring and control and other aspects. Enterprises in demand can learn about them in detail through the service guide on the “Internet + Customs” page of the General Administration of Customs.

        At present, the registration of outbound seedlings and flowers is handled online through the “Internet + Customs” page of the website of the General Administration of Customs. Enterprise to be submitted when applying for outbound seedlings flower production management enterprise registration application form, planting base and processing and packaging plant schematic, testing laboratory floor plan as well as the main production and processing area, the elimination of photos of the facilities, plant protection professional and technical personnel, quality inspectors and laboratory testing personnel training certificate and corresponding qualification, qualification certificate and so on three kinds of materials. After accepting the application, the customs shall conduct a comprehensive examination according to the legal conditions and procedures, and make a decision within 20 working days from the date of acceptance.

Customs to export seedlings and flowers quarantine and unqualified treatment

        The quarantine basis of the customs for exported seedlings and flowers includes the import country or region and China’s relevant animal and plant quarantine regulations, bilateral quarantine agreements, and the quarantine requirements stipulated in trade contracts. The quarantine contents mainly involve whether the goods are in accordance with the certificate, whether the product is labeled, whether the treatment is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the importing country, and whether no harmful organisms are carried in the importing country. If the seedlings and flowers pass the quarantine inspection or pass the treatment of disinfestation, a plant quarantine certificate shall be issued and they shall be allowed to leave the country; Those who fail to pass quarantine inspection and have no effective means of treatment shall not be allowed to leave the country.

Article source：12360 Customs hotline