Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Edible Aquatic Animals from Thailand to China

According to the regulations of Chinese Customs and the Thai Ministry of Agriculture regarding inspection, quarantine, and hygiene requirements for edible aquatic animals exported to China, starting today, imports of edible aquatic animals from Thailand that meet the following requirements are permitted.

I. Basis for Inspection and Quarantine

(1) 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) "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Entering Aquatic Animals";

(5) Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Thailand on Inspection, Quarantine, and Sanitary Requirements for Edible Aquatic Animals Exported to China (hereinafter referred to as the "Protocol").

II. Scope of imported products

Edible aquatic animals refer to live aquatic animals that are either farmed or wild and intended for human consumption. They do not include species listed in the Appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the List of National Key Protected Wild Animals of China, and the List of Key Managed Invasive Alien Species. The relevant species lists are published on the General Administration of Customs website.

III. Quarantine approval

Imported edible aquatic animals from Thailand must first complete quarantine approval procedures and obtain the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit."

IV. Requirements for Manufacturing Enterprises

Producers exporting edible aquatic animals to China (including farms, transshipment packaging plants, etc.) must meet the following conditions:

(1) Comply with relevant laws and regulations in Thailand and be under effective supervision by the competent department of the Ministry of Agriculture of Thailand;

(2) After approval by the competent department of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture, be recommended to Chinese Customs for registration and obtain the qualification to register with Chinese Customs;

(3) Registered enterprises must establish effective self-management and traceability systems for safety and hygiene, ensuring that the entire process of breeding, fishing, packaging, storage, transportation, transshipment, and export of edible aquatic animals meets the hygiene and traceability requirements of both China and Thailand.

V. Requirements for imported products

(1) Wild edible aquatic animals exported to China must come from within Thailand or international waters; farmed edible aquatic animals must come from waters within Thailand;

(2) During the breeding, fishing, temporary keeping, packaging, and transportation of edible aquatic animals exported to China, drugs prohibited by both China and Thailand must not be used, and drugs restricted or permitted by both parties must be used scientifically according to regulations;

(3) The competent department of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture shall effectively monitor diseases related to edible aquatic animals exported to China, toxic and harmful substances, and foodborne pathogenic microorganisms, with monitoring results meeting the requirements of Chinese Customs food safety and animal health standards;

(4) Edible aquatic animals must undergo clinical examination by official officials of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture before export, confirmed to be healthy and free of clinical symptoms of infectious diseases or parasitic diseases, and thus suitable for export.

VI. Packaging and labeling requirements

(1) Edible aquatic animals exported to China from different fishing areas or registered enterprises shall be packaged separately, and different types of edible aquatic animals shall be packaged separately;

(2) The packaging containers must be brand new or disinfected to meet the needs of animal survival and welfare;

(3) Packaging materials, water, ice, and bedding materials must meet safety and hygiene requirements and must not contain pathogenic microorganisms or toxic or harmful substances harmful to animals, plants, or human health;

(4) The outer packaging must affix Chinese labels, including: the product and scientific names of aquatic animals, fishing area (applicable only to wild-caught aquatic animals), names of farms/packaging farms and exporting enterprises, registration number, and destination (the destination should be marked as the People's Republic of China), among other information.

VII. Certificate Requirements

Each batch of edible aquatic animals exported to China must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the Thai Ministry of Agriculture, and the original certificate must be accompanied by the goods. The hygiene certificate must be printed in English or Chinese; handwritten (except for the signature of the inspector) or altered documents are invalid. A health certificate must include at least the following:

(1) The scientific name, packaging type, and weight of the edible aquatic animal;

(2) For edible aquatic animals that are farmed, the farm name and registration number must be listed; If edible aquatic animals are caught wild, specific information about the fishing area, the name of the packaging site, and the registration number must be provided;

(3) The names and addresses of the exporter and importer;

(4) Departure date, port of departure, and type and number of means of transport;

(5) Declare that edible aquatic animals meet the relevant requirements of the Protocol and are suitable for human consumption;

(6) The date of issuance of the certificate, the signature or seal of the official veterinarian of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture;

(7) Official seal of the competent department of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture.

VIII. Other Requirements

Chinese Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine on edible aquatic animals exported to China in accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules, and other provisions, and in accordance with the requirements of this announcement.

Non-compliant products will be returned, destroyed, or otherwise handled in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. For manufacturers with serious problems or repeated non-compliance issues, Chinese customs may take measures such as strengthening inspection and quarantine or suspending imports.

GACC

August 9, 2026