Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Farmed Aquatic Products from Spain to China
According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning the inspection, quarantine and sanitary requirements for Spanish farmed aquatic products exported to China, effective immediately, the import of Spanish farmed aquatic products meeting the following requirements is permitted:
I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis
(1) The Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, and the Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations.
(2) The Measures for the Administration of Food Safety of Imported and Exported Food of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Registration Management of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food of the People's Republic of China.
(3) The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Kingdom of Spain on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Spanish Farmed Aquatic Products Exported to China.
II. Scope of Imported Products
Farmed aquatic products refer to artificially cultivated aquatic animal products and their derivatives, and marine plant products such as algae and their derivatives, intended for human consumption. This excludes live aquatic animals and aquatic plant and animal propagation materials. The list of Spanish farmed aquatic products exported to China is attached.
III. Requirements for Production Enterprises
Production enterprises (including farms, processing plants, and independent cold storage facilities) exporting farmed aquatic products to China must be approved by the Spanish authorities and subject to their effective supervision. The food hygiene conditions of these enterprises must comply with the relevant food safety laws and regulations of both China and Spain.
Production enterprises exporting farmed aquatic products to China must be recommended for registration by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to Chinese Customs. Exports to China are prohibited without registration.
IV. Requirements for Imported Products
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall ensure that farmed aquatic products exported to China meet the following conditions:
(I) Farmed in Spanish waters or originating from countries (regions) permitted for import by China.
(II) Neither the raw materials nor the products have encountered the following problems:
1. Farmed aquatic products already exported to or intended for export to China by Spain have seriously violated the relevant food safety laws and regulations of China and Spain, as well as the provisions of the Protocol.
2. Aquatic animal diseases listed in the "List of Quarantine Diseases for Animals Entering the People's Republic of China" (hereinafter referred to as the "List") and those required to be reported by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) that are related to the products listed in this announcement have occurred in Spain, seriously affecting the safety of farmed aquatic products exported to China.
3. Major food safety incidents have occurred in Spain, or major public health incidents have occurred at production enterprises, or farmed areas have been affected by contaminants, affecting the safety of farmed aquatic products exported to China.
(III) No drugs or additives prohibited in China or Spain have been used directly or indirectly; drugs or additives restricted or permitted by Chinese customs have been used in accordance with regulations.
(IV) Inspection and quarantine by the competent authorities have not found any pathogenic microorganisms, toxic or harmful substances, or foreign objects listed in Chinese and Spanish laws and regulations, nor any cases of infectious or parasitic diseases; and no aquatic animal diseases listed in the List or required to be reported by WOAH have been found.
(V) The production process (including farming, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transshipment, and export) must comply with relevant Chinese health requirements and traceability requirements.
(VI) The packaging and labeling of the products shall comply with Chinese national food safety standards and relevant regulations on imported food safety management.
V. Certificate Requirements
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for conducting inspection and quarantine on farmed aquatic products exported to China in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Customs, and for issuing a pre-confirmed sanitary certificate for each container or batch of farmed aquatic products exported to China, certifying that the batch of products complies with the relevant provisions of Chinese and Spanish food safety laws and regulations. The certificate shall be printed in at least Chinese, English, and Spanish (English is mandatory when filling out the certificate).
The sanitary certificate shall fully disclose the information of the farmed aquatic product production enterprise exporting to China. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall promptly provide a sample certificate and official seal to Chinese Customs for record-keeping. If there are any changes, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall file them with Chinese Customs at least one month before they take effect.
VI. Other Requirements
Chinese Customs will conduct inspection and quarantine on farmed aquatic products exported to China in accordance with Chinese laws, regulations, standards, and the Protocol. Non-compliant products will be destroyed, returned, or otherwise disposed of. For serious problems or repeated non-compliance issues, Chinese Customs may take measures such as strengthening inspection and quarantine or suspending imports.
GACC
November 27, 2025
