Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Fresh Pomelos and Limes from Viet Nam
In accordance with the regulations established by China Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam regarding the phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh pomelos and limes to China, effective immediately, the importation of fresh pomelos and limes from Vietnam that meet the following relevant requirements is permitted.
I. Basis for Quarantine
(1) *Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China*;
(2) *Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine* and its Implementing Regulations;
(3) *Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China* and its Implementing Regulations;
(4) *Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Fruits*;
(5) *Protocol between China Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Pomelos and Limes from Vietnam to China*.
II. Names of Commodities Permitted for Import
1. Fresh Pomelo (hereinafter referred to as "Pomelo"): Scientific name *Citrus maxima*; English name: Pomelo.
2. Fresh Lime (hereinafter referred to as "Lime"): Scientific names *Citrus latifolia* and *Citrus aurantiifolia*; English name: Limes. Limes intended for export must be green and immature; mature or yellow limes are not permitted for export to China.
III. Permitted Origins
Pomelo and lime production areas within Vietnam.
IV. Approved Orchards and Packing Plants
Orchards and packing plants producing pomelos and limes for export to China must undergo review by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam and be approved and registered by China Customs. Registration information shall include the name, address, and registration number, to facilitate accurate traceability in the event that exported shipments fail to comply with the relevant provisions of this Announcement. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall provide the list of registered entities to China Customs; following review and approval by China Customs, this list shall be published on the official website and updated periodically.
V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to China Customs
1. Bactrocera correcta
2. Citripestis sagittiferella
3. Dysmicoccus neobrevipes
4. Planococcus lilacinus
5. Planococcus minor
6. Prays citri
7. Prays endocarpa
8. Cylindrocarpon lichenicola
VI. Pre-export Management
(I) Orchard Management.
1. Orchards producing pomelos and limes for export to China shall, under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, establish a comprehensive quality management system and a traceability system. They shall implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain orchard sanitary conditions—such as ensuring the absence of surrounding pollution sources that could affect fruit production, and promptly clearing fallen or rotten fruit—and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This includes conducting regular pest monitoring surveys, as well as employing control measures such as physical, chemical, or biological controls, and agronomic practices.
2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall, in accordance with the requirements of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 6 (ISPM 6), formulate management plans specifically targeting the quarantine pests of concern to China Customs, and organize and implement orchard monitoring throughout the year.
Regarding the Bactrocera correcta: Monitoring shall be conducted using traps from the flowering stage through the harvest stage. The trap density shall be one trap per hectare; for orchards with an area of less than 3 hectares, at least three traps must be installed. These traps shall be inspected once every two weeks. Should fruit flies be detected during monitoring, effective control measures shall be implemented immediately.
Regarding Mealybugs: Orchards exporting to China shall conduct monitoring for *Planococcus lilacinus*, *Planococcus minor*, and *Dysmicoccus neobrevipes* from the flowering stage through the harvest stage, with monitoring performed once every 14 days. Particular attention shall be paid to inspecting branches, stems, leaves, and fruits for the presence of mealybugs. If pests or their associated symptoms are detected during monitoring, comprehensive management measures—including chemical or biological controls—shall be implemented immediately to control the pest infestation.
Regarding *Citripestis sagittiferella* (citrus flower moth), *Prays citri* (citrus fruit moth), and *Prays endocarpa* (olive moth), orchards exporting to China must conduct monitoring from the flowering stage through the harvest period, with monitoring performed once every 14 days. If pests or their associated symptoms are detected during monitoring, appropriate biological or chemical control measures must be implemented in a timely manner.
Regarding *Cylindrocarpon lichenicola*, orchards exporting to China must conduct monitoring from the flowering stage through the harvest period, with monitoring performed once every 14 days. If associated symptoms are detected during monitoring, samples must be sent to a laboratory for testing; if the pathogen is identified, pomelos and limes from that specific orchard are prohibited from being exported to China for the remainder of the current export season.
3. Pomelos intended for export to China must be bagged during their growth cycle; specific operational procedures are detailed in the Annex.
4. Pest monitoring and control activities must be carried out under the guidance of professional technical personnel. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, or training institutions authorized by the Ministry, shall be responsible for training these technical personnel.
5. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall maintain records of orchard pest monitoring and control activities, and shall provide such records to China Customs upon request. Control records must include information such as the names of chemical agents used during the growing season, their active ingredients, application dosages, and application dates.
(II) Packinghouse Management.
1. The processing, packing, storage, and shipping of pomelos and limes intended for export to China must be conducted under the quarantine supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam or personnel authorized by the Ministry.
2. Packinghouses exporting to China must be clean and sanitary, feature hardened flooring, and include designated areas for raw materials and finished products.
3. Functional areas within the packinghouse—such as those designated for the storage, processing, and handling of pomelos and limes—must be relatively independent and logically laid out; furthermore, these areas must be physically separated from living quarters and maintained at an appropriate distance.
4. During the packaging process, pomelos and limes intended for export to China must undergo manual sorting and cleaning to remove diseased, insect-infested, rotten, or malformed fruit, as well as twigs, leaves, other plant debris, and soil. Post-harvest fungicide treatments may also be applied; furthermore, if necessary, the fruit surfaces may be wiped to effectively remove adhering insects, insect eggs, pathogen spores, and similar contaminants.
5. If packaged pomelos and limes require storage, they must be immediately moved into a warehouse and stored separately to prevent re-infestation by pests.
6. Containers used to transport pomelos and limes to China must be inspected at the time of loading to ensure they meet appropriate sanitary standards. Each container must be affixed with a seal, which must remain intact and undamaged upon arrival at the designated entry port in China.
7. Registered packing houses must establish a traceability system to ensure that pomelos and limes exported to China can be traced back to their registered orchards. Records must be maintained detailing information such as the processing and packaging dates, the name or registration number of the source orchard, quantity, export date, export volume, destination country, and container number.
(III) Packaging Requirements
1. Packaging materials must be clean, sanitary, and unused, and must comply with China's relevant plant quarantine regulations. If wooden packaging materials are used, they must comply with the requirements of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).
2. Each package box must be labeled in either Chinese or English with the following information: the name of the fruit, the country of export, the place of origin (province/city), and the name or registration number of both the orchard and the packing house. Additionally, each package box and pallet must be marked in either Chinese or English with the code "输往中华人民共和国" or "Exported to the People's Republic of China".
(IV) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine
1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall conduct sampling inspections on each consignment of pomelos and limes intended for export to China, at a sampling rate of 2% per batch. If no quarantine-related issues are detected within a one-year period, the sampling rate may be reduced to 1%. All damaged or suspectedly damaged fruits must be cut open and inspected; for each consignment, a minimum of 30 fruits shall be dissected to check for infestation by fruit-boring pests.
2. If quarantine pests of concern to China Customs, or if branches, leaves, or soil are detected, the entire consignment shall be prohibited from export to China. Furthermore, depending on the circumstances, the export of pomelos and limes to China from the relevant orchards or packing houses may be suspended for the current export season. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall investigate the causes and implement corrective measures. Concurrently, records of such interceptions shall be maintained and provided to China Customs upon request.
(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.
1. For consignments that pass quarantine inspection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall issue a Phytosanitary Certificate in accordance with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12). The certificate shall specify the names or registration numbers of the orchards and packing houses, and include the following additional declaration: "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Pomelos and Limes from Viet Nam to China, and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to China.".
2. Prior to the commencement of trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall provide China Customs with a specimen of the Phytosanitary Certificate for record-keeping and verification purposes.
VII. Entry Inspection, Quarantine, and Handling of Non-compliant Consignments
Upon the arrival of pomelos and limes destined for China at designated entry ports in China, China Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine procedures in accordance with the following requirements:
(I) Verification of Certificates and Markings.
1. Verify whether the imported pomelos and limes have obtained the *Permit for Quarantine of Animals and Plants for Entry into China*.
2. Verify whether the Phytosanitary Certificate complies with the provisions set forth in Item (V) of Article VI of this Announcement.
3. Verify whether the markings on the packing cartons and pallets comply with the provisions set forth in Item (III) of Article VI of this Announcement.
(II) Entry Inspection and Quarantine.
1. Pomelos and limes destined for China shall enter through ports of entry authorized by China Customs for the importation of fruits.
2. Upon the arrival of pomelos and limes at a Chinese port of entry, China Customs shall inspect the relevant documentation and labeling, and conduct inspection and quarantine procedures in accordance with Chinese laws, regulations, national standards, and the requirements set forth in this Announcement.
(III) Handling of Non-Compliant Goods.
1. If the goods are found to originate from orchards or packing houses that have not been approved by China Customs, the entire consignment shall be denied entry.
2. If live specimens of quarantine pests of concern to China Customs—or other newly emerging quarantine pests from Vietnam—are detected, or if soil, plant debris, or similar materials are found, the consignment shall be returned, destroyed, or subjected to phytosanitary treatment.
3. If the goods are found to be non-compliant with China's national laws, regulations, or standards regarding food safety, the consignment shall be returned or destroyed.
GACC
April 27, 2026
Technical Specifications for Grapefruit Bagging
I. Scope
These specifications apply to the operational management of grapefruit (*Citrus maxima*) bagging.
II. Bagging Techniques
(I) Selection of Bags.
The fruit bags selected for use under this announcement shall be specialized paper bags that are wind-resistant, water-resistant, and highly breathable, capable of preventing the intrusion of pathogens and pests.
(II) Timing of Bagging.
Bagging should be performed during the late stage of fruit enlargement. Different regions may make appropriate adjustments based on factors such as climate and elevation; however, the bagging duration (the period the fruit remains bagged) must be no less than 60 days.
(III) Bagging Method and Precautions.
Open the mouth of the bag and support the bottom to ensure the ventilation holes are open and the bag body is fully expanded, allowing the fruit to hang suspended within the bag; then, securely tie the bag mouth. Three points must be observed during bagging: First, priority should be given to bagging individual fruits, with multi-fruit bagging serving as a secondary option; second, the bag mouth must be tied securely; and third, the ventilation holes must be kept open.
(IV) Pre-Bagging Management.
Based on the vigor and condition of the trees, determine a reasonable fruit load. Remove small, deformed, diseased, pest-infested, or overly dense fruits to ensure that the bagged fruits are evenly distributed and of substantially uniform size.
Based on field observations of pests and diseases and their life cycles, implement appropriate control measures prior to bagging. If necessary, apply pesticides for control in strict accordance with pesticide usage regulations.
(V) Post-Bagging Management.
1. Inspection of Bag Integrity.
Inspect the fruit bags prior to harvest; if any bags are found to be damaged, the corresponding fruits shall not be permitted to enter workshops or facilities designated for the processing and export of grapefruit to China.
2. Plant Quarantine Measures.
Based on the growth status of the grapefruit trees, implement appropriate measures—such as pruning branches and removing leaves—to improve ventilation and light penetration within the tree canopy, thereby reducing the incidence of pests and diseases. Utilize pesticides judiciously, and promote the adoption of physical and biological control techniques to minimize pest outbreaks.
3. Harvesting.
To prevent re-infestation by harmful organisms (such as fruit flies), grapefruit must be harvested while still enclosed in their bags. The harvested fruit must be transported promptly to a packing facility, where the bags are to be removed in accordance with established requirements, and any substandard fruits are to be culled.
