Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Cocoa Bean from Sao Tome and Principe to China
I. Inspection and quarantine basis
(I) "Biosafety Law of the People's Republic of China";
(II) "Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine" and its implementing regulations;
(III) "Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations;
(IV) "Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations;
(V) "Administrative Measures for Import and Export Food Safety of the People's Republic of China";
(VI) "Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for the Export of Cocoa Beans from Sao Tome and Principe to China between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe".
II. Names of commodities allowed for entry
The cocoa beans in this announcement refer to the unroasted cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seeds grown and processed in Sao Tome and Principe, with the pulp and pods removed, and are fermented, dried, screened and other processes.
III. Permitted origin
The entire territory of Sao Tome and Principe.
IV. Pests of concern
The following pests shall not be carried by cocoa beans exported to China:
1. Caryedon serratus
2. Phytophthora megakarya
V. Pre-shipment requirements
(I) Registration requirements.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe shall inspect the production and processing enterprises of cocoa beans exported to China and recommend qualified enterprises to the Chinese Customs. The Chinese Customs will conduct an audit and register the enterprises that pass the audit.
(II) Production requirements.
1. The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe shall, in accordance with relevant international plant quarantine measures standards, conduct epidemic investigations and integrated prevention and control management of quarantine pests of concern to China Customs during the growth of cocoa and the production, processing and storage of cocoa beans. Pest epidemic investigations and integrated prevention and control should be completed under the guidance of technical personnel. Technical personnel must pass the training of the authorized institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe. In the work of pest control, pesticides prohibited by China Customs shall not be used.
2. According to the needs of China Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe shall submit to China Customs the investigation report and integrated prevention and control records of pest occurrence. When new pests occur in Sao Tome and Principe cocoa, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe shall promptly inform China Customs of the relevant situation and the control measures taken so that China Customs can conduct an assessment.
3. During the production and processing of cocoa beans, measures must be taken to remove moldy beans, worm-eaten beans, and foreign objects. They must not carry live insects, insect eggs, soil, or be mixed with weed seeds, plant residues, gravel, and other impurities.
(III) Packaging and transportation requirements.
1. Processed cocoa beans should be stored separately from cocoa beans sold to other markets and unprocessed cocoa beans to prevent contamination.
2. Cocoa beans should be packaged with clean, new, and phytosanitary materials. Each package should be marked with the words "This product will be exported to the People's Republic of China" in English, as well as the product name, processing company name, and registration number in Chinese or English.
3. Before shipment, the shipping tools must be thoroughly inspected to prevent contamination by pests.
(IV) Product requirements. Cocoa beans must not carry quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese Customs and must comply with China's inbound plant quarantine laws and regulations and China's national food safety standards.
(V) Pre-export quarantine and certificate requirements.
Before export, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe must conduct inspection and quarantine on cocoa beans exported to China, and issue a phytosanitary certificate for those that meet the requirements, indicating the name and registration number of the processing enterprise, and stating in the additional statement: "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Cocoa Beans from Sao Tome and Principe to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China.". For fumigated cocoa beans, the name of the fumigant, the dosage, the treatment temperature and the duration, etc. must be indicated in the phytosanitary certificate.
VI. Entry Inspection and Quarantine
When cocoa beans arrive at the Chinese port, the Chinese Customs will conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements.
(I) Certificate verification.
1. Verify whether it comes from a registered enterprise.
2. Verify whether the attached phytosanitary certificate is authentic and valid.
(II) Cargo inspection.
In accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules and regulations, and in combination with the requirements of this announcement, inbound cocoa beans shall be subject to inspection and quarantine. Those that pass the inspection and quarantine shall be allowed to enter the country.
(III) Disqualified treatment.
1. If there is no valid plant quarantine certificate, it shall be returned or destroyed.
2. If it comes from an unregistered processing enterprise, it shall be returned or destroyed.
3. If soil is found, it shall be returned or destroyed.
4. If quarantine pests or other quarantine pests, plant residues, etc. of concern to the Chinese Customs are found, they shall be treated by pest control, return or destruction.
5. If other non-compliance with China's entry quarantine requirements or food safety requirements is found, it shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
If the above non-compliance is found, the Chinese Customs will notify the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe, and suspend the relevant enterprises' qualifications to import into China depending on the severity of the violation until the Chinese Customs confirms that the problem has been effectively rectified.
GACC
Sep. 14, 2024
