Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Peanut from Laos to China

According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment regarding phytosanitary requirements for peanut exports to China, effective immediately, Lao peanuts meeting the following requirements are permitted for import:

I. Inspection and 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 of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety;

(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 Lao Peanut Exports to China.

II. Permitted Import Commodity Name

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) in this announcement refer to non-seed shelled peanut kernels grown and processed in Laos for consumption or food processing.

III. Permitted Origin

The entire territory of Laos.

IV. Enterprise Registration

The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall ensure that enterprises engaged in the production, processing, and storage of peanuts exported to China meet Chinese inspection and quarantine requirements, and shall recommend qualified enterprises to Chinese Customs. After review and approval by Chinese Customs, these enterprises shall be registered and their names published on the website.

V. Pests of Concern to Chinese Customs

Peanuts exported to China shall not carry the following pests:

1. Trogoderma granarium

2. Cenchrus echinatus

3. Eupatorium odoratum L.

4. Mikania micrantha

VI. Pre-shipment Requirements

(I) Production Requirements.

1. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall supervise peanut planting, production, processing, and storage enterprises to establish integrated pest management systems to reduce the incidence of pests of concern to Chinese Customs. 2. The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall supervise peanut exporting enterprises to China to ensure that they take screening and other cleaning measures during peanut harvesting, storage, processing, and transportation, or before shipment, to ensure that exported peanuts are free of plant residues, impurities, and dangerous toxic or harmful weed seeds.

(II) Packaging and Transportation Requirements.

Peanuts exported to China shall be packaged to prevent spillage and contamination during transportation. Packaging materials must be clean, hygienic, and used for the first time, and must not contain toxic or harmful substances. Each package shall be marked with "本产品输往中华人民共和国/This consignment is exported to the People's Republic of China" in both Chinese and English, along with the product name, place of origin, name of the production, processing, and storage enterprise, and its Chinese Customs registration number.

(III) Pre-Export Inspection and Quarantine and Certificate Requirements.

Before export, the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall conduct inspection and quarantine on peanuts exported to China, issue a phytosanitary certificate for goods that meet the requirements, and indicate "This consignment complies with the phytosanitary requirements described in the Protocol for Peanut from Laos to China, and is free from pests of concern to China" in the supplementary declaration, while also indicating the name of the production, processing, and storage enterprise and its Chinese Customs registration number. For any shipments found to contain live insects, fumigation treatment should be carried out before export, and the name of the fumigant, dosage, temperature, and time should be noted on the phytosanitary certificate.

VII. Import Inspection and Quarantine

(I) Document Verification.

1. Verify whether the product originates from a registered enterprise;

2. Verify the authenticity and validity of the phytosanitary certificate.

(II) Cargo Inspection.

In accordance with relevant laws, regulations, administrative rules, and rules, and in conjunction with this announcement, peanuts will be subject to inspection and quarantine. Those that pass the inspection will be permitted entry.

(III) Handling of Non-compliant Products.

1. Goods without a valid phytosanitary certificate will be returned or destroyed.

2. Goods from unregistered enterprises will be returned or destroyed.

3. Goods exceeding the limits set by China's national food safety standards for substances such as aflatoxin will be returned or destroyed.

4. Goods found to be harmful organisms of concern to Chinese Customs will be allowed entry after pest control treatment; if no effective treatment method is available, they will be returned or destroyed.

5. Goods found to be non-compliant with Chinese laws, regulations, and standards regarding animal and plant quarantine and food safety will be handled according to relevant regulations.

Upon discovering the above violations, Chinese Customs will notify the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and, depending on the severity, suspend the export licenses of the relevant enterprises until the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment takes effective corrective measures.

GACC