Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Honey from Mongolia to China

According to the regulations of the General Administration of Customs of China and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia concerning the inspection, quarantine and veterinary sanitary requirements for honey exported to China, effective immediately, the import of Mongolian honey that meets the relevant requirements is permitted.

I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis

(1) Laws and Regulations

The *Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China* and its implementing regulations, the *Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine* and its implementing regulations, the *Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection* and its implementing regulations, as well as the *Measures for the Administration of Food Safety of Imported and Exported Food* and the *Regulations on the Registration Management of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food*, etc.

(2) Bilateral Protocols

The *Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia on Inspection, Quarantine and Veterinary Sanitary Requirements for Honey Exported to China*.

II. Permitted Products for Export

The Mongolian honey permitted for export to China refers to a natural sweet substance produced by bees from the nectar, secretions, or honeydew of plants, mixed with their own secretions, and fully fermented.

III. Processing Enterprise Requirements

Processing enterprises exporting honey to China must be registered with the Chinese Customs. The Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry reviews honey processing enterprises intending to export to China. Those deemed compliant with Chinese laws, regulations, standards, and the Protocol are recommended to Chinese Customs. Unregistered honey processing enterprises are prohibited from exporting honey to China.

IV. Inspection and Quarantine Requirements

(i) Bees providing raw materials for honey exported to China must meet the following conditions:

1. They must originate from apiaries located within Mongolia, which must be registered with the relevant authorities and subject to effective supervision.

2. The nectar, secretions, or honeydew collected by the bees must be safe and non-toxic, and must not originate from toxic nectar-producing plants or genetically modified plants.

(ii) The Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry confirms that there is no honeycomb beetle disease (socket beetle) or bee scorching mite disease within its territory.

(iii) The area within a 5-kilometer radius of the apiary and the 12 months prior to the export of the products to China must be free of American honeybee foulbrood and European honeybee foulbrood.

(iv) Quarantine requirements for Varroa mites in bees: The honey must have been free of Varroa mite infestation within a 5-kilometer radius of the apiary from which it originated, and within 12 months prior to export to China; or it must have been filtered using a filter with a pore size not exceeding 0.42 mm; or heated to a core temperature above 50°C and maintained at this temperature for 20 minutes; or frozen to a core temperature of -12°C or lower and maintained at this temperature for at least 24 hours to ensure the eradication of Varroa mites and their eggs, and necessary measures must be taken to effectively remove mite remains and their eggs.

V. Production, Storage, and Transportation Requirements

(i) The apiaries providing raw materials for the production of honey exported to China have never used veterinary drugs prohibited in China and Mongolia.

(ii) The honey exported to China comes from processing enterprises with established traceability systems, ensuring that the honey exported to China can be traced back to its apiary.

(iii) The residues of veterinary drugs, pesticides, microorganisms, heavy metals, and other environmental pollutants in the honey exported to China do not exceed the maximum limits set by China and Mongolia.

(iv) During major public health epidemics, enterprises shall formulate necessary honey safety control measures in accordance with relevant international regulations and standards to ensure the effectiveness of control measures throughout the entire process of raw material receipt, processing, packaging, storage, and transportation, preventing cross-contamination.

(v) Honey exported to China is hygienic, safe, and suitable for human consumption.

(vi) The entire process of processing, storage, and transportation of honey exported to China shall comply with the relevant health requirements of China and Mongolia to prevent contamination by toxic and harmful substances. Honey exported to China shall not be processed or mixed simultaneously with products that do not meet the requirements of the Protocol, products from non-registered processing enterprises, or other products from registered processing enterprises.

(vii) The Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry shall ensure proper labeling at each stage from beekeeping to processing, packaging, and storage. A separate, clearly marked warehouse or area shall be established for storing honey exported to China.

(viii) After the goods are loaded into containers, they shall be sealed under the supervision of officials from the Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry. The seal number shall be noted in the veterinary health certificate. The packaging must not be opened or replaced during transportation.

VI. Certificate Requirements

Each container/batch of honey exported to China must be accompanied by at least one original health certificate, proving that the batch of products complies with the relevant laws and regulations of veterinary and public health in China and Mongolia, as well as the relevant provisions of the Protocol.

The veterinary health certificate shall be written in Chinese, Mongolian, and English. The format and content of the veterinary health certificate must be approved by both parties in advance.

The Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry shall provide Chinese Customs with the following information for record-keeping: inspection and quarantine stamp impressions, seal markings, health certificate samples, a list of authorized visa officers and their corresponding signatures, and explanations of anti-counterfeiting labels. Any changes or alterations must be notified to Chinese Customs at least one month in advance.

VII. Packaging and Labeling Requirements

Honey exported to China must be packaged using food contact materials that comply with the national food safety standards of China and Mongolia. Packaging must be sealed and labeled in Chinese, Mongolian, and English with the product name, specifications, place of origin (down to the state/province/city), manufacturer registration number, batch number, destination (the destination must be clearly stated as the People's Republic of China), production date (year/month/day), and shelf life. Prepackaged honey exported to China must also comply with Chinese laws, regulations, and standards regarding labeling of prepackaged food.

VIII. Other Requirements

Chinese Customs will conduct inspection and quarantine on honey exported to China. If any violations of relevant Chinese food safety laws and regulations, national food safety standards, or the Protocol are found, Chinese Customs will handle the matter in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations.

GACC

November 27, 2025