Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Alfalfa from France to China

According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agro-Food and Food on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for alfalfa, effective immediately, the import of French alfalfa meeting the following requirements is permitted:

I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis

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

(2) The Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations;

(3) The Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives;

(4) The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agro-Food and Food on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of French alfalfa to China.

II. Permitted Import Commodity Name

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) refers to alfalfa pellets or bales grown in France and processed through high-temperature dehydration and compression.

III. Enterprise Registration

Alfalfa exported to China must originate from processing enterprises approved by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agro-Food and Food. Processing enterprises are recommended to Chinese Customs by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. Registration is conducted by Chinese Customs after on-site inspection or document review, and the information is published and dynamically updated on the Customs website.

IV. Pests of Concern

The following pests of concern to Chinese Customs must not be carried on alfalfa exported to China:

1. Verticillium albo-atrum

2. Lolium temulentum

3. Cuscuta australis

4. Cuscuta campestris

5. Cuscuta epilinum

6. Cuscuta epithymum

7. Centaurea diffusa

8. Solanum carolinense

9. Solanum elaeagnifolium

10. Sorghum halepense

11. Centaurea solstitialis

12. Centaurea stoebe subsp. australis

13. Elymus repens

14. Fumaria officinalis

15. Orobanche minor

16. Amaranthus blitoides

17. Chenopodiastrum murale

18. Pennisetum macrourum

V. Production and Export Requirements

(I) Planting, Processing, Storage, and Transportation

1. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty shall strengthen official control over plantations and processing enterprises and implement daily supervision. Plantations must implement effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures to avoid and control the occurrence of pests of concern to Chinese Customs. Processing enterprises should establish and effectively operate a sound Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and a traceability management system, or manage according to its principles.

2. Processing enterprises and alfalfa planting, processing, and storage sites should be isolated from animal farms, pastures, etc., to avoid contamination by excrement, secretions, and other substances from ungulates. During the harvesting, drying, storage, and transportation of alfalfa, it is essential to avoid contamination with grass roots, soil, and other foreign matter.

3. Processing enterprises should possess mechanical drying facilities, and the drying process should maintain a temperature of 170℃ for at least 15 minutes.

4. Processing enterprises should implement effective management of raw material procurement, high-temperature dehydration, and product testing, maintain the cleanliness of processing areas and equipment, and take effective measures to remove impurities and contaminants before compression and baling. Metal materials should not be used for baling and packaging. The exported alfalfa must meet the following requirements:

(1) Free from harmful organisms and other live harmful organisms of concern to Chinese customs;

(2) Free from grass roots, plant seeds, other plant residues, and foreign matter;

(3) Free from animal feces, animal carcasses, and poultry feathers;

(4) Free from soil;

(5) Free from genetically modified ingredients not approved by Chinese customs;

(6) Relevant requirements of the Chinese National Standard "Feed Hygiene Standard" (GB 13078).

5. Storage facilities before shipment shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Have a relatively enclosed and independent space;

(2) Take effective measures to prevent rodent, insect, and bird infestation and to prevent contamination by harmful organisms.

6. Use clean containers for transportation. If necessary, inspection and quarantine treatment shall be implemented. Each container shall contain at least one packaging label indicating the processing company's name, registration number, and the Chinese and English letters "法国苜蓿草输往中华人民共和国/Alfalfa from France export to the People's Republic of China".

Product labels shall comply with the requirements of the Chinese national standard "Feed Labeling" (GB 10648).

(II) Pre-departure Quarantine and Certificate Requirements.

Before export, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall conduct inspection and quarantine on alfalfa exported to China and issue phytosanitary certificates and sanitary certificates conforming to international standards for those that meet the requirements. The phytosanitary certificate and sanitary certificate shall indicate the processing company's name and registration number, the name and address of the shipper and consignee, container number, and other information. The phytosanitary certificate should include the declaration "This consignment complies with the Protocol on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of alfalfa from France to China, and is free of any pest of concern for China.", and the sanitary certificate should include "Does not contain any hazardous substances that pose a risk to public or animal health and complies with China's safety and hygiene standards, does not contain GMOs that are not authorized by China.".

VI. Import Inspection and Quarantine

(I) Document Verification

1. Verify whether the goods originate from a registered enterprise.

2. Verify the authenticity and validity of the accompanying phytosanitary and sanitary certificates.

(II) Cargo Inspection

In accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules, and in conjunction with Articles 4 and 5 of this announcement, alfalfa exported to China will be subject to inspection and quarantine. Goods that pass inspection will be permitted entry.

(III) Handling of Non-compliance

1. Goods without a valid phytosanitary or sanitary certificate will be returned or destroyed.

2. Goods originating from an unregistered enterprise will be returned or destroyed.

3. Goods found to contain soil or genetically modified components not approved by the Chinese government will be returned or destroyed.

4. Items found to be non-compliant with Article 5, Paragraph (1), Item 4 of this Announcement shall be disposed of through pest control, return, or destruction in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Items that pass the treatment shall be permitted entry.

5. Items found to be non-compliant with Article 5, Paragraph (1), Item 6 of this Announcement shall be rectified, returned, or destroyed.

6. Items found to be non-compliant with China's import quarantine requirements for animals and plants or with relevant Chinese feed safety and hygiene standards shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Upon discovering the above-mentioned non-compliance, Chinese Customs will notify the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and, depending on the severity of the violation, may suspend the export qualifications of relevant processing enterprises and production areas to China, or even suspend alfalfa exports to China, until Chinese Customs confirms that the problem has been effectively rectified.

GACC