Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Fresh Durian from Lao PDR to China
According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment concerning the phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh durian to China, effective immediately, the import of fresh durian from Laos that meets 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 Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations;
(4) The Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Fruits;
(5) The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Durian from Laos to China.
II. Permitted Imported Commodity Name
Fresh durian (scientific name: *Durio zibethinus* Murray, English name: Durian).
III. Permitted Origin
Laos durian producing areas. IV. Approved Orchards and Packing Plants
Orchards and packing plants exporting durian to China must be reviewed by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and registered with Chinese Customs. Registration information includes name, address, and registration number to facilitate accurate traceability in case exported goods do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. Before each export season, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will provide a list of registered companies to Chinese Customs, which will be published on its website after review and approval by Chinese Customs.
V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to Chinese Customs
1. Bactrocera correcta
2. Mudaria luteileprosa
3. Pseudococcus jackbeardsley
4. Planococcus lilacinus
5. Planococcus minor
VI. Pre-Export Management
(I) Orchard Management
1. Orchards exporting to China should establish a sound quality management system and traceability system under the supervision of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain orchard hygiene conditions (e.g., no pollution sources affecting fruit production in the surrounding area, timely removal of damaged, fallen, and rotten fruit), and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including regular pest monitoring, physical, chemical, or biological pest control, and agricultural operational control measures.
2. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall, in accordance with the requirements of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 6 (ISPM 6), develop a management plan for quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs and organize orchard monitoring. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, comprehensive management measures, including chemical, physical, or biological control, shall be implemented to ensure that durians exported to China do not carry quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs.
3. Pest monitoring and control shall be carried out under the guidance of professional technicians. Technicians shall receive training from the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment or its authorized agencies.
4. All registered orchards must maintain records of pest monitoring and control and provide them to Chinese Customs upon request. Control records shall include detailed information such as the names of all chemical agents used during the growing season, active ingredients, dosage, and dates of application.
5. For *Bactrocera correcta*, orchards exporting to China shall conduct fruit fly monitoring using traps from flowering to harvest. The trap density shall be one trap per hectare; orchards smaller than 3 hectares shall have at least three traps installed, and checks shall be conducted every two weeks. Once fruit flies are detected, effective control measures must be implemented. Orchards with incomplete control measures will be prohibited from exporting.
6. For *Mudaria luteileprosa*, orchards exporting to China should conduct regular monitoring throughout the growing season, focusing on checking for insect holes on the fruit surface. If insect holes are found, the fruit should be dissected immediately to check for eggs, larvae, and damage. In addition, light traps and sex pheromone traps should be used for pest monitoring within the orchard. Once *Mudaria luteileprosa* is found, appropriate physical, chemical, or biological control measures should be taken immediately for eradication.
7. For pests such as *Pseudococcus jackbeardsley*, *Planococcus lilacinus*, and *Planococcus minor*, orchards should be monitored every two weeks from the durian flowering period to harvest, checking for scale insects on the fruit, stems, branches, and leaves. In addition to visual inspection, various physical or chemical methods should be used to monitor for pests on branches and stems. Once found, effective control measures should be implemented.
(II) Packing Plant Management.
1. The processing, packaging, storage, and shipping of durians exported to China must be conducted under the supervision of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment or its authorized officials.
2. Packaging plants for durians exported to China should be clean and hygienic, with paved ground and dedicated raw material and finished product storage areas.
3. The functional areas for storing, processing, handling, and preserving durians exported to China should be relatively independent, rationally laid out, and isolated from living areas at an appropriate distance.
4. During the packaging process, durians exported to China should undergo manual selection, grading, and cleaning to remove diseased, insect-infested, rotten, deformed, or damaged plant debris, soil, etc. The fruit surface should be cleaned using high-pressure air guns or water guns, and brushing is also necessary. If required, the durian surface can be manually wiped with a soft, clean cotton cloth to effectively remove scale insects, insect eggs, pathogenic spores, etc. Furthermore, pest control treatment should be carried out within the packaging plant if necessary.
5. The packaging process must comply with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, and national standards, and the illegal addition of non-edible substances is prohibited.
6. Packaged durians, if requiring storage, should be immediately placed in a warehouse and stored separately to prevent reinfection by harmful organisms.
7. Containers carrying durians for export to China must be inspected during loading to ensure they meet good sanitary conditions.
8. Registered packing plants should establish a traceability system to ensure that durians exported to China are traceable to registered orchards, recording information including processing and packaging date, name of the source orchard or its registration number, production volume, export date, export quantity, destination country, and container number.
(III) Packaging Requirements
1. Packaging materials for durians exported to China should be clean, hygienic, unused, and comply with relevant Chinese phytosanitary requirements. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).
2. Each package should be labeled in Chinese or English with the fruit name, place of origin (province, city, district), export country, orchard name or its registration number, and packing plant name or its registration number. Each package and pallet must be labeled with "输往中华人民共和国" or "Exported to the People's Republic of China" in Chinese or English.
(IV) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.
1. Within the first two years of trade commencement, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall conduct sampling inspections on 2% of each batch of durians exported to China. If no phytosanitary issues are found within two years, the sampling rate may be reduced to 1%.
2. If any quarantine pests, branches, leaves, or soil of concern to Chinese Customs are found, the entire batch of goods shall not be exported to China. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall investigate the cause and take corrective measures. Simultaneously, it shall retain the seizure record and, upon request, provide it to Chinese Customs.
(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.
1. For goods that pass quarantine inspection, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall issue a phytosanitary certificate in accordance with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12), indicating the name or registration number of the orchard and packing plant, and completing the following supplementary declaration:"This consignment complies with requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Durian from Lao PDR to China, and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to China.".
2. Before the commencement of durian exports to China, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should provide Chinese Customs with a sample of the phytosanitary certificate for verification and filing.
VII. Import Inspection and Quarantine and Handling of Non-compliant Products
When durians imported for China arrive at Chinese ports of entry, Chinese Customs will conduct inspection and quarantine according to the following requirements:
(I) Verification of Relevant Certificates and Labels
1. Verify whether the imported durians have obtained an import permit for animals and plants.
2. Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate complies with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph (V) of this Announcement.
3. Verify whether the labels on the packaging boxes and pallets comply with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph (III) of this Announcement.
(II) Import Inspection and Quarantine
1. Durians exported to China should enter through ports of entry permitted by Chinese Customs for the import of fruits.
2. Imported durians will be subject to inspection and quarantine in accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules, and the requirements of this Announcement. Those that pass the inspection and quarantine will be permitted entry.
(III) Handling of Non-compliant Products
1. 1. If the goods are found to originate from unapproved orchards or packing plants, the shipment will not be permitted entry.
2. If live organisms of quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs, or other newly emerging pests in Laos, or soil or plant debris are found, the shipment will be returned, destroyed, or subjected to pest control treatment.
3. If the goods are found to be non-compliant with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, and national standards, the shipment will be returned or destroyed.
GACC
December 12, 2025
