Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Ornamental Fish from Madagascar to China
According to relevant Chinese laws and regulations and the "Protocol on Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for the Export of Marine Caught Ornamental Fish from Madagascar to China between China Customs and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar", from now on, the import of marine caught ornamental fish from Madagascar that meet the following requirements is allowed.
I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis
(1) "Law of the People's Republic of China on Biosafety";
(2) "Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine" and its Implementing Regulations;
(3) "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Entry Aquatic Animals";
(4) "Protocol on Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for the Export of Marine Caught Ornamental Fish from Madagascar to China between China Customs and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar".
II. Scope of Imported Products
The marine caught ornamental fish in this announcement refers to marine ornamental fish that are approved for export by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar, caught from natural waters and approved for quarantine by the Chinese Customs. Freshwater ornamental fish are not included in this announcement.
III. Requirements for transit packaging sites
Transit packaging sites for ornamental fish caught in the sea from Madagascar to China should meet the following requirements:
(1) After approval by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar, they should be recommended to the Chinese Customs, approved by the Chinese Customs and registered.
(2) They should have the corresponding biosafety conditions and be located in the biosafety isolation area for infectious hematopoietic necrosis, iridovirus disease of red sea bream, viral hemorrhagic septicemia and viral neuronecrosis.
(3) They should be located under the quarantine supervision of the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar, and continuously monitor infectious hematopoietic necrosis, iridovirus disease of red sea bream, viral hemorrhagic septicemia and viral neuronecrosis for susceptible species for more than 12 months in accordance with the methods and standards recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health, and the monitoring results should be negative.
IV. Requirements for imported products
The Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar shall ensure that the sea-caught ornamental fish exported to China meet the following conditions:
(1) Sea-caught ornamental fish exported to China must come from healthy groups and be quarantined for at least 48 hours in a quarantine facility approved and supervised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar before export. No clinical symptoms of aquatic animal diseases were found during the quarantine period.
(2) Before exporting sea-caught ornamental fish to China, they should be bathed, disinfected and dewormed with drugs recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health or approved by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar.
(3) Sea-caught ornamental fish exported to China should be packaged in new or sterilized containers, and the water, ice, bedding materials and all utensils and items in contact with them should meet the hygiene requirements.
(4) No infectious hematopoietic organ necrosis, red sea bream iridovirus disease, viral hemorrhagic septicemia and viral neuronecrosis occurred in the fishing area and the transit packaging area within 24 months before the export of sea-caught ornamental fish.
V. Labeling requirements
The packaging containers of sea-caught ornamental fish exported to China shall be labeled in Chinese or English, and the content shall at least include the name and scientific name of the ornamental fish, the quantity (weight), the fishing area and the approval number of the transit packaging site.
VI. Inspection and certificate requirements before export
(1) The Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar is responsible for the quarantine of sea-caught ornamental fish exported to China and the issuance of quarantine certificates recognized by both parties, proving that the sea-caught ornamental fish comply with the relevant laws and regulations of China and the Republic of Madagascar and the relevant provisions of the Protocol.
(2) Each batch of sea-caught ornamental fish shall be accompanied by at least one original quarantine certificate issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar. The language of the quarantine certificate shall at least include English, and the content shall include the contents of Articles 3 to 4 of this Announcement.
VII. Other requirements
China Customs implements inspection and quarantine on imported sea-caught ornamental fish.
For unqualified products, they will be returned, destroyed or otherwise handled in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. If necessary, China Customs will suspend the import of sea-caught ornamental fish from Madagascar.
GACC
May 26, 2025
