Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for the Fresh Jackfruits Exported from Lao PDR

According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment regarding the phytosanitary requirements for the import of fresh Lao jackfruit into China, effective immediately, the import of fresh Lao jackfruit 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 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 Import of Fresh Lao Jackfruit into China.

II. Permitted Imported Commodity Name

Fresh jackfruit, scientific name Artocarpus heterophyllus, English name Jackfruit.

III. Permitted Origin

Laos jackfruit producing areas.

IV. Approved Orchards and Packing Plants

Orchards and packing plants exporting jackfruit 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. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall provide a list of registered pests to Chinese Customs, which will be published on the Customs website and updated regularly after review and approval by Chinese Customs.

V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to Chinese Customs

1. Aleurodicus dispersus

2. Bactrocera umbrosa

3. Dysmicoccus neobrevipes

4. Planococcus minor

5. Planococcus lilacinus

VI. Pre-Export Management

(I) Orchard Management

1. Orchards exporting fruit to China should establish a comprehensive quality management 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 control, and agricultural operational control measures.

2. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should develop management plans for quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs in accordance with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 6 (ISPM 6), and organize orchard monitoring. For *Bactrocera umbrosa*, pheromone traps for fruit flies must be hung in the orchard, and physical monitoring using yellow sticky traps is required. For *Aleurodicus dispersus*, physical monitoring using insect-attracting lamps or yellow sticky traps is mandatory. For pests such as scale insects, orchard monitoring must be conducted at least every 15 days from flowering to harvest, checking for scale insects on fruits, stems, and leaves.

3. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, integrated management measures, including chemical, physical, or biological control, should be implemented to ensure that jackfruit exported to China does not carry quarantine pests of concern to Chinese customs. Integrated management measures for quarantine pests of concern to Chinese customs should be approved by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and provided to Chinese customs upon request before trade commences.

4. 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.

5. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should retain records of orchard pest monitoring and control and provide them to Chinese customs upon request. Control records should include detailed information such as the names of all chemical agents used during the growing season, application dates, active ingredients, and concentrations.

(II) Packing Plant Management.

1. The processing, packaging, storage, and shipment of jackfruit 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 jackfruit exported to China should be clean and hygienic, with paved ground and separate raw material and finished product storage areas.

3. Storage, processing, and handling areas for jackfruit exported to China should be relatively independent, rationally laid out, and isolated from living areas at an appropriate distance.

4. During the packaging process, jackfruit 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. If necessary, the surface of the jackfruit can be manually wiped with a soft, clean cotton cloth to effectively remove insects, insect eggs, pathogenic spores, etc., adhering to the fruit surface.

5. Packaged jackfruit, if requiring storage, should be immediately placed in a warehouse and stored separately to prevent reinfection by harmful organisms.

6. Registered packing plants should establish a traceability system to ensure that jackfruit exported to China can be traced back to the registered orchard, recording information such as processing and packaging date, name of the source orchard or its registration number, quantity, export date, export quantity, destination country, and container number.

(III) Packaging Requirements.

1. Packaging materials should be clean, hygienic, and unused, and comply with relevant Chinese phytosanitary and sanitary 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 traceability information such as fruit type, variety, export country, place of origin (province, city), orchard and packing plant name or its registration number. 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. Containers carrying jackfruit for export to China should be inspected for good sanitary conditions during loading. Containers should be sealed, and the seals should be intact upon arrival at Chinese ports of entry.

(IV) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.

1. Within two years of the Protocol's entry into force, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall conduct sampling inspections on 2% of each batch of jackfruit exported to China. If the number of fruits is less than 100, all fruits shall be sampled. Simultaneously, any suspicious fruits discovered during the inspection process shall be dissected for examination. If no phytosanitary issues arise within two years, the sampling rate may be reduced to 1%.

2. If live, twigs, leaves, or soil containing quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs are found, the entire batch of goods shall not be exported to China, and jackfruit exports from the relevant orchard or packing plant shall be suspended for the remainder of the export season, depending on the circumstances. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall investigate the cause and take corrective measures. Records of the seizures shall be preserved and, upon request, provided to Chinese Customs.

(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.

1. For jackfruit that has passed quarantine inspection, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall issue a phytosanitary certificate, indicating the name or registration number of the orchard and packing plant, and filling in the following supplementary declaration:"This consignment complies with requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Jackfruits from Lao PDR to China, and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to China.".

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

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

When jackfruit imported into China arrives at the Chinese port of entry, Chinese Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements:

(I) Verification of Relevant Certificates and Markings

1. Verify whether the imported jackfruit has 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 markings on the packaging box or wooden packaging comply with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph (III) of this Announcement.

(II) Import Inspection and Quarantine

1. Jackfruit exported to China must enter through ports of entry permitted by Chinese Customs for the import of fruits.

2. Upon arrival at a Chinese port 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. Goods that pass inspection and quarantine will be permitted entry.

(III) Handling of Non-Compliant Goods

1. If jackfruit is found to originate from unregistered orchards or packing plants, the shipment will not be permitted entry.

2. If live specimens of quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs or other newly emerging quarantine pests in Laos are found, or if soil or plant residues 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 national food safety laws, regulations, and standards, the shipment will be returned or destroyed.

GACC