Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Wild Aquatic Products from Bulgaria to China
According to the regulations on inspection and sanitary requirements for wild aquatic products jointly issued by the Chinese Customs and the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, effective immediately, the import of Bulgarian wild aquatic products meeting the following requirements is permitted:
I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis
(1) The Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection and its implementing regulations.
(2) The Measures for the Administration of Food Safety of Imported and Exported Food of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Registration Management of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food of the People's Republic of China.
(3) The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Bulgaria on Inspection and Sanitary Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products Exported from Bulgaria to China.
II. Scope of Imported Products
Wild aquatic products refer to wild aquatic animal products and their derivatives, and marine plant products such as algae and their derivatives, intended for human consumption. This excludes live aquatic animals and aquatic plant and animal propagation materials.
III. Requirements for Production Enterprises
Production enterprises (including production, processing, and storage enterprises) exporting wild aquatic products to China must obtain official approval from Bulgaria and be subject to its effective supervision. The food safety and hygiene management and protection systems of production enterprises must comply with the requirements of relevant Chinese food safety laws and regulations.
Production enterprises exporting wild aquatic products to China must be recommended for registration by the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food to Chinese Customs. Exports to China are prohibited without registration.
IV. Requirements for Imported Products
The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall ensure that wild aquatic products exported to China meet the following conditions:
(I) Legally caught in domestic or international waters.
(II) Neither the raw materials nor the products fall under the following categories:
1. Wild aquatic products already exported or intended for export from Bulgaria to China seriously violate relevant Chinese food safety laws and regulations and the provisions of the Protocol.
2. Aquatic animal diseases listed in the "List of Quarantine Diseases for Animals Entering the People's Republic of China" (hereinafter referred to as the "List") and those required to be notified by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) that are related to products covered by the Protocol have occurred in Bulgaria, seriously affecting the safety of wild aquatic products exported to China.
3. A major food safety incident has occurred in Bulgaria, or a major public health incident has occurred at a production enterprise, or the fishing waters have been affected by pollutants, seriously impacting the safety of wild aquatic products exported to China.
(III) No drugs or additives prohibited in China have been used directly or indirectly; drugs or additives restricted or permitted by Chinese customs have been used in accordance with regulations.
(IV) Inspection and quarantine by the competent authorities have not revealed any pathogenic microorganisms, toxic or harmful substances, or foreign objects listed in Chinese laws and regulations, nor any cases of infectious or parasitic diseases, nor any aquatic animal diseases listed in the "List" or required to be reported by WOAH.
(V) The production process (including fishing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transshipment, and export) must comply with relevant Chinese safety and hygiene requirements and traceability requirements.
(VI) The packaging and labeling of the products must comply with Chinese national food safety standards and relevant regulations on imported food safety management.
V. Certificate Requirements
The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food is responsible for inspecting and quarantining wild aquatic products exported to China in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Customs, and for issuing a health certificate, mutually confirmed, for each batch of wild aquatic products exported to China, certifying that the batch of products complies with the relevant provisions of Chinese food safety laws and regulations. The certificate must be printed in at least Chinese and English (English is a mandatory language when filling out the certificate).
The health certificate should fully disclose the information of the wild aquatic product production enterprise exporting the products to China. The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food should promptly provide a sample certificate and official seal to Chinese Customs for record-keeping. If there are any changes, the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food should file them with Chinese Customs at least one month before they take effect.
VI. Other Requirements
Chinese Customs will conduct inspection and quarantine on wild aquatic products exported to China in accordance with Chinese laws, regulations, standards, and the Protocol.
For non-compliant products, destruction, return, or other treatment will be implemented. For production enterprises with serious problems or repeated non-compliance issues, Chinese Customs may take measures such as strengthening inspection and quarantine or suspending imports.
GACC
November 6, 2025
