Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for the Chili Exported from Laos

According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment regarding phytosanitary requirements for the export of Lao chili peppers to China, effective immediately, the import of Lao chili peppers meeting the following requirements is permitted.

I. 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 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 Lao Chili Peppers to China.

II. Permitted Import Commodity Name

Chili peppers (Capsium spp.) refer to chili pepper fruits (including fresh and dried fruits) grown and processed in Laos for human consumption.

III. Enterprise Registration

Chili pepper planting bases and packing plants exporting to China must be reviewed by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and registered with the 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 trade commences, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should provide a registered list to Chinese Customs. After review and approval by Chinese Customs, the list will be published on its website and updated regularly.

IV. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to Chinese Customs

(I) Fresh Chili Peppers

1. Aleurodicus dispersus

2. Phenacoccus solenopsis

3. Bactrocera correcta

4. Bactrocera latifrons

5. Chrysodeixis chalcites

6. Cercospora capsici

(II) Dried Chili Peppers

1. Trogoderma granarium

2. Cercospora capsici

3. Cuscuta spp.

V. Pre-Export Management

(I) Management of Planting Bases

1. Under the supervision of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the planting base should establish a sound quality management system and traceability management system, implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain sanitary conditions for planting, such as ensuring there are no pollution sources affecting chili production in the surrounding area, timely removal of plant diseased plant debris, and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including pest monitoring and surveys, physical, chemical, or biological control, and control measures such as agricultural operations.

2. Under the supervision of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the planting base should conduct pest monitoring and integrated management targeting quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs. Pest monitoring and control should be carried out under the guidance of professional technicians. Technicians should receive training from the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment or its authorized agencies.

3. The planting base should retain pest monitoring and control records for at least two years and provide them to Chinese Customs upon request. Pest monitoring and control records should include at least the monitoring time, the name of the pest found, the control measures taken, and detailed information such as the date of use, active ingredient, and concentration of the chemicals used.

4. For Aleurodicus dispersus and Phenacoccus solenopsis, the planting base should conduct monitoring every two weeks during the growing season, focusing on branches, stems, leaves, and fruits. If harmful organisms or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, control measures, including chemical or biological control, should be taken promptly to control the occurrence of harmful organisms or maintain a low prevalence level.

5. For Bactrocera correcta, Bactrocera latifrons, and Chrysodeixis chalcites, the planting base should conduct visual and trap monitoring during the pepper growing season, using methods such as hanging fruit fly pheromone traps and yellow sticky insect boards. Once fruit flies are detected, effective control measures must be taken.

6. For Cercospora capsici, the planting base should be well-managed to maintain good ventilation and reduce disease occurrence. If diseases are found, timely control measures should be taken.

(II) Packing Plant Management.

1. The processing, packaging, storage, and shipment of chili peppers exported to China shall be conducted under the quarantine supervision of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment or its authorized officials.

2. Packaging plants for chili peppers exported to China should be clean and hygienic, with paved ground and separate raw material and finished product storage areas.

3. The functional areas for storing, processing, packaging, and preserving chili peppers exported to China should be relatively independent, rationally laid out, and isolated from living areas at an appropriate distance.

4. During processing, chili peppers exported to China should undergo manual sorting, screening, and rinsing to ensure they are free of insects, mites, snails, diseased or rotten fruit, weed seeds, plant debris such as stems and leaves, and soil.

5. Registered packaging plants should establish a traceability system to ensure that chili peppers exported to China can be traced back to the registered planting base, recording information such as the processing and packaging date, the name of the originating planting base or its registration number, quantity, export date, export quantity, destination country, and means of transport or container number.

(III) Packaging Requirements.

1. Packaging materials should be clean, hygienic, and 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 product name, country of origin, place of origin, planting base, and packing plant name or its registration number, etc., for traceability. Each package and pallet should 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.

3. The means of transport or containers carrying peppers for export to China should be inspected for good sanitary conditions at the time of loading. The means of transport or containers should be sealed, and the seals should be intact upon arrival at the Chinese port of entry.

(IV) Quarantine Treatment Measures.

For Bactrocera correcta, Bactrocera latifrons, and Chrysodeixis chalcites, fresh chili peppers exported to China should undergo quarantine treatment under the supervision of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should first conduct fumigation treatment on the goods, followed by cold treatment. The treatment indicators are as follows:

1. Fumigation treatment indicators: At a core temperature not lower than 22℃, treat with methyl bromide at a concentration of 32 g/m³ for 2 hours (the concentration before the end of fumigation should not be lower than 18 g/m³), or treat with methyl bromide at a concentration of 18 g/m³ for 5 hours (the concentration before the end of fumigation should not be lower than 13 g/m³).

2. Cold treatment indicators: Treat at a core temperature of 0.56–2.77℃ for 4 days, or treat at a core temperature of 3.33–8.33℃ for 11 days.

3. If cold treatment is used during transport, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall monitor the core temperature of the fruit in the refrigerated transport vehicle before export and confirm that it meets the requirements. The core temperature of the product during transport shall meet the above-mentioned cold treatment requirements, and temperature records during transport shall be kept.

(V) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.

1. Before export, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall conduct sampling inspections on 2% of each shipment of chili peppers exported to China. If no phytosanitary issues occur within one year, the sampling rate shall be reduced to 1%.

2. If any quarantine pests, plant residues, or soil of concern to Chinese Customs are found, the entire shipment shall not be exported to China. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall investigate the cause and take corrective measures. At the same time, the seizure record shall be kept and provided to Chinese Customs upon request.

(VI) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.

1. For chili peppers that have passed 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), specifying the name or registration number of the planting base and packing plant, the quarantine treatment conditions to be applied to the shipment, and completing the following supplementary declaration:"This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of chilies from Lao PDR to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China.".

2. Before the commencement of trade, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall provide a sample of the phytosanitary certificate to the Chinese Customs for filing and verification.

VI. Import Inspection and Quarantine and Handling of Non-conforming Products

When chili peppers imported into China arrive at Chinese ports of entry, the Chinese Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements:

(I) Verification of Relevant Certificates and Markings

1. Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate complies with the provisions of Article 5, Paragraphs (iv) and (vi) of this Announcement.

2. Verify whether the markings on the packaging boxes or wooden packaging comply with the provisions of Article 5, Paragraph (iii) of this Announcement.

(II) Import Inspection and Quarantine

Upon arrival at Chinese ports of entry, customs will inspect relevant documents and markings, and conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with Chinese laws, regulations, national standards, and the requirements of this announcement. Chili peppers that pass inspection and quarantine will be permitted entry.

(III) Handling of Non-Compliant Goods

1. If chili peppers are found to originate from unregistered planting bases or packing plants, the shipment will not be permitted entry.

2. If live quarantine pests or other quarantine pests of concern to Chinese customs are found, or if plant debris, soil, etc., are found, the shipment will be returned, destroyed, or treated for pest control.

3. If the shipment is found to be non-compliant with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, and national standards, the shipment will be returned or destroyed.

GACC