Aquatic Animals (Edible/Ornamental/Aquaculture)-GACC-AQSIQ-CIQ-CCIC-Cifer-Singlewindow

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Aquatic Animals

Product Definition:

Refers to live fish, mollusks, crustaceans, jellyfish, echinoderms, cephalochords and amphibians cultured in captivity or caught in natural waters, including semen, sperm and eggs used for reproduction; Imported turtles, soft-shelled turtles, snakes, crocodiles and other reptiles;

Uses: Edible, breeding, aquaculture and ornamental.

Scope of overseas enterprises to be registered:

Overseas enterprises exporting edible, breeding, breeding and ornamental aquatic animals to China, including farms, packaging enterprises and fishing vessels, have production methods including wild fishing and artificial breeding.

Farm: refers to the hatchery, nursery and breeding place of aquatic animals. Packaging yard: refers to the short-term concentration, storage, classification, processing, finishing, and packaging of aquatic animals before leaving the country.

Preconditions for overseas enterprises to register: Aquatic animal exporting countries and products have been approved for qualification, please refer to the List of Countries or Regions and Varieties Permitted for Aquatic Animals.

Registration Process:

(1) Recommendation

Overseas aquatic animal production enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) and storage enterprises that implement registration management shall be recommended to the General Administration of Customs after passing the examination by the competent authorities of the exporting country or region.

(2) Review

The General Administration of Customs shall review the recommended materials and, if necessary, after consultation with the competent authorities of the exporting country or region, send experts to the exporting country or region to inspect and evaluate the enterprises applying for registration.

(3) Registration

Overseas production enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) and storage enterprises in countries or regions that meet the requirements shall be registered after passing the inspection. Overseas production enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) and storage enterprises in countries or regions that do not meet the requirements shall not be registered.

Information that the General Administration of Customs may verify or exempt from verification on a case-by-case basis:

a. Relevant laws, regulations and standards in the exporting country or region on animal epidemic prevention and control, veterinary health management, veterinary drug residue control, and production enterprise registration management

b. The establishment of competent authorities, laboratory testing systems, and management and technical personnel allocation of the exporting country or region

c. Assessment of the inspection and quarantine and veterinary health control of the recommended enterprises by the competent authorities of the exporting country or region

d. Production enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) shall establish and implement a self-inspection and traceability system for the safety and health of aquatic animals. Ensure that the entire process of processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transit and export meets the relevant hygiene and traceability requirements of both parties.

List of countries or regions and varieties of aquatic animals approved for food (Download)

List of countries or regions and species approved for ornamental aquatic animals (Download)

List of countries or regions and varieties approved for breeding and breeding of aquatic animals (Download)

Application for quarantine permits for animals and plants entering the country

According to the requirements of the Administrative Measures for the Examination and Approval of Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering the Country and the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Aquatic Animals Entering the Country, the importer applying for quarantine examination and approval procedures shall be a unit with independent legal personality and directly signing trade contracts or agreements with foreign countries. Importers are required to obtain an Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit before signing a trade contract. The quarantine approval procedures for aquatic animals entering the country shall be handled at the customs at the port of entry.

Application Requirements:

(1) The unit applying for quarantine examination and approval procedures shall be a unit with independent legal personality and directly signing trade contracts or agreements with the outside world;

(2) There are no relevant animal epidemics in the countries or regions through which they are exported or routed;

(3) Comply with the provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering and Leaving the Country and its implementing regulations, and the Administrative Measures for the Examination and Approval of Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering the Country;

(4) comply with bilateral quarantine agreements (including quarantine agreements, protocols, memorandums, etc.) signed between China and the exporting country or region;

(5) The exporting countries (regions) and overseas enterprises that should be registered must be in the "List of Countries or Regions and Varieties Permitted to Enter Aquatic Animals" published by the General Administration of Customs;

Application Materials:

Provide certification materials for production, processing, breeding, storage and other utilization units.

Application process:

(1) The applicant unit logs in to the online platform for customs administrative examination and approval (website http://pre .chinaport.gov.cn/car) and submits materials to the customs. Customs issues an acceptance form or notice of inadmissibility to the applicant.

(2) After accepting the application, conduct a comprehensive review in accordance with the legally prescribed conditions and procedures, and make a decision to grant or not grant permission within 20 working days from the date of acceptance of the application.

(3) Where a permit decision is made in accordance with law, the "Examination and Approval Permit for Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering the Country of the People's Republic of China" shall be issued; Or make a decision not to grant permission in accordance with the law.

The "Quarantine Examination and Approval Permit for Animals and Plants Entering the Country" is valid for one year.

Regulatory Measures:

1. The exporting countries and products of aquatic animals have been approved for entry and listed in the List of Countries or Regions and Varieties of Aquatic Animals.

2. Overseas manufacturing enterprises shall register with China Customs and obtain registration number for exporting to China;

3. Inspection and quarantine certificate (Veterinary health certificate) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country;

4. Importers shall apply for Quarantine Permit for Imported Animal and Plants;

5. Inspection and quarantine shall be carried out at the designated supervision site of the entry port (only for edible purposes);

6. Overseas exporters/agents shall be put on record and obtain the record number;

7. Chinese importers shall record the consignees and obtain the record number;

Solutions for Meeting the Requirements of Regulatory Measures:

1. The exporting countries and products of aquatic animals have been approved for entry and listed in the List of Countries or Regions and Varieties of Aquatic Animals.

Solution: (1) The intended exporting country shall submit a written application to the General Administration of Customs of China for exporting aquatic animals to China. And China shall decide whether to initiate the assessment and review procedures based on the situation of the animal epidemic in the intended exporting country. Once initiated, a risk assessment questionnaire for relevant aquatic animals will be submitted to the intended exporting country. (2) The intended exporting country shall reply to the questionnaire and provide relevant technical information, including the legal and regulatory system of veterinary health and public health, organizational structure, veterinary service system, production mode of products, safety and health control system, residue monitoring system, detection and monitoring of animal diseases, and other information of the exporting country. (3) China shall make a risk assessment on the answer sheet and relevant materials provided by the official authorities of the exporting country, and will send an expert team to the exporting country for field investigation if the safety and health status of aquatic animals of the exporting country is found to be within the acceptable range. (4) The two sides shall negotiate on the inspection and quarantine requirements of meat products exported to China, sign the protocol after reaching an agreement, and confirm the content and format of the health certificate. Data that may be verified or exempted from verification by the GACC caccording to specific circumstances: a. Laws, regulations, standards and norms of the exporting country or region related to animal epidemic prevention and control, veterinary health management, veterinary drug residue control, manufacturing enterprises registration management, etc.; b. The institutional setup, laboratory testing system and management and technical personnel allocation of the competent authorities of the exporting country or region; c. Assessment of inspection and quarantine and veterinary health control of the recommended enterprises by the competent authorities of the exporting country or region; d. Manufacturing enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) shall establish and implement the self-inspection and control and traceability system for safety and health of aquatic animals to ensure that the whole process of processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transit and export meet the relevant hygiene and traceability requirements of both parties.

2. Overseas manufacturing enterprises shall register with China Customs and obtain registration number for exporting to China;

Solution: Overseas enterprises that export edible, breeding, quaculture and ornamental aquatic animals to China, including farms, packaging companies, fishing vessels, etc., with production methods including wild fishing and artificial breeding.

Farms: Refers to places where aquatic animals are incubated, raised and bred. Packaging sites: Refer to places where aquatic animals are concentrated, stored, classified, processed and packaged for a short time before leaving the country.

Registration process: (1) Recommendation; Overseas manufacturing enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) and storage enterprises of aquatic animals subject to registration administration can be recommended to the General Administration of Customs of China after being examined and approved by the competent authorities of the exporting countries or regions. (2) Examination; The GACC shall examine the recommendation materials and, when necessary, assign experts to the exporting country or region to inspect and assess the enterprise applying for registration after consultation with the competent authorities of the exporting country or region. (3) Registration; Overseas manufacturing enterprises (including packaging enterprises, fishing vessels, etc.) and storage enterprises of countries or regions that meet the requirements shall be registered after inspection. Those in countries or regions that do not meet the requirements shall not be registered.

3. Inspection and quarantine certificate (Veterinary health certificate) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country;

Solution: The inspection and quarantine veterinary (health) certificate shall be signed and issued by a signatory officer registered with China authority according to the bilateral agreement entered into by and between the exporting country and China, the inspection and quarantine protocol, the sample certificate of inspection and quarantine as specified in the memorandum or the announcement, the official seal of the issuing authority. After the goods are loaded into the container, they shall be sealed under the supervision of the official veterinarian of the exporting country before transport, and the seal number shall be indicated in the veterinary health certificate. Do not open and change the package during transportation.

4. Importers shall apply for Quarantine Permit for Imported Animal and Plants;

Solution: Importers can log in the "Internet + Customs" integrated online service platform (platform address: http://online.customs.gov.cn) to handle the formalities.

5. Inspection and quarantine shall be carried out at the designated supervision site of the entry port (only for edible purposes);

Solution: Check the List of Designated Supervision Sites for Imported Aquatic Animals through the official website of the GACC.

6. Overseas exporters/agents shall be put on record and obtain the record number;

Solution: Submit the application through "Internet + Customs" - "Record System for Importers and Exporters of Imported Food".

7. Chinese importers shall record the consignees and obtain the record number;

Solution: Submit the application through "Internet + Customs" - "Record System for Importers and Exporters of Imported Food".

Demonstration of Customs clearance process of imported edible aquatic animals with lobster as an example

I. Goods Classification

Lobsters are aquatic animals for human consumption.

II. Quarantine Access

Carefully check the List of Approved Countries or Regions and Varieties of Edible Aquatic Animals that both the exporting country and lobster are in the list to confirm that they have obtained quarantine access.

III. Registration of Overseas Enterprises

Confirm that the overseas manufacturing enterprise is in the List of Registered Enterprises of Edible Aquatic Animals issued by the GACC, and its products include lobster.

VI. Quarantine Approval

Chinese importers are required to apply for an Quarantine Permit for Animals and Plants before import.

V. Record-keeping for importers

Complete the filing through "Internet + Customs" - "Record-keeping System for Domestic Importers of Imported Food".

VI. Record-keeping for overseas exporters

Complete the filing through "Internet + Customs" - "Record-keeping System for Domestic Importers of Imported Food".

VII. Designated ports for entry and implementation of inspection and quarantine

For edible lobsters, the inspection and quarantine should be carried out in the supervision sites of a designated port, please refer to the List of Designated Supervision Sites for Imported Edible Aquatic Animals.

Formalities required for import declaration:

1. Certificate of Origin

2. Packing list

3. Invoice

4. Contract

5. Inspection and quarantine certificate (Veterinary health certificate) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country

6. Quarantine Permit for Imported Animals and Plants

7. Other supporting declaration elements and reports

On-site inspection:

Entry edible aquatic animals shall be subject to on-site inspection in accordance with the requirements, and shall be released after passing the on-site inspection by the Customs; Those that fail to pass the inspection shall be returned or destroyed. The Customs at the entry port shall conduct on-site inspection on entry edible aquatic animals in accordance with the regulations. The relevant inspection requirements are as follows:

1. Goods certificate: Check whether the name, quantity (weight), packaging, export date, means of transport, export country or region, transit country or region, etc., are consistent;

2. Packaging and label check: Whether the packaging container is in good condition; Whether there is a firm, clear and legible Chinese or English label on the packaging container, indicating the name, scientific name and origin of the edible aquatic animal, and the approval number of the breeding or packaging enterprise etc.

3. Clinical examination: the health status of edible aquatic animals, mainly including whether the swimming is abnormal, whether the body color is normal, whether the abdomen of fish is swollen, whether the anus is red and swollen, whether the contraction of the closed shell muscle of shellfish is abnormal, and whether there are black or white spots on the body surface and cephalothorax of crustacea;

4. Packaging water or ice, matting materials: check whether there is soil and harmful organisms that endanger animals, plants and human health and other prohibited substances stipulated by laws and regulations.

Conformity Assessment of Inspection and Quarantine:

1. If the imported edible aquatic animals pass the inspection and quarantine, the Customs shall issue the Certificate of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Goods.

2. If the goods fail to pass the inspection and quarantine, the Customs shall issue the Notice of Inspection and Quarantine Treatment, and the owner or his agent shall, under the supervision of the Customs, conduct the treatment of disinfestation, return or destruction. If the goods pass the inspection and quarantine treatment, the Customs shall issue the relevant certificate.

1. What are the requirements for packaging and labeling of aquatic animals entering the country?

A: Aquatic animals exported to China from different fishing areas or registered enterprises should be packaged separately, and different types of aquatic animals should be packaged separately; The inner and outer packaging should be a new material that meets international health standards to meet the requirements of preventing pollution by external factors. Packaging containers should be new or sterilized to meet the animal's survival and welfare needs. The outer packaging should be affixed with Chinese labels, including: the name and scientific name of aquatic animals, the fishing area, the name of the packaging enterprise and the export enterprise, the registration number and other information. The destination must be the People's Republic of China.

2. What are the inspection and quarantine requirements for edible aquatic animals before export?

A: Edible aquatic animals must undergo veterinary clinical health examination before being exported to China, and no clinical symptoms of animal infectious diseases and parasitic diseases have been found, and no aquatic animal diseases listed in China and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have been found.

3. How many years is the registration period of overseas aquatic animal breeding and packaging enterprises?

A: 3 years. Enterprises that need to extend their registration shall apply for extension at least 6 months before the expiration of the validity period. The General Administration of Customs may conduct spot checks on overseas aquaculture and packaging enterprises that apply for extension, and spot check other registered enterprises that meet the requirements and those that have not been randomly inspected, and extend the validity period of registration for 3 years. If the application for extension of registration is not submitted within the time limit, the General Administration of Customs shall cancel the registration.

4. What are the names of countries or regions and varieties of aquatic animals that have been approved for consumption?

A: Please check the List of Countries or Regions and Varieties Approved for Consumption of Aquatic Animals

5. What are the countries or regions and varieties of ornamental aquatic animals that have been approved?

A: Please check the List of Countries or Regions and Varieties Approved for Ornamental Aquatic Animals

6. What are the countries or regions and varieties that have been approved for breeding and breeding aquatic animals?

A: Please refer to the List of Countries or Regions and Varieties Approved for Breeding and Breeding of Aquatic Animals

7. Where is the Chinese importer recorded?

A: In the "Domestic Importer Filing System for Imported Food".

8. What are the designated entry points for edible aquatic animals?

A: List download

9. What are the specific regulations for the inspection and quarantine of aquatic animals in transit?

A: If the consignor or its agent is transited to the mainland via Hong Kong or Macao, the consignor or its agent shall apply for transit inspection to the inspection agency designated by the General Administration of Customs. Those who have not passed the transit inspection or fail the transfer inspection shall not be transferred to the mainland. If the transit is through a third country or region, the official competent department of the third country or region shall issue transit certification documents in accordance with the relevant requirements of the General Administration of Customs, and shall not enter China without valid transit certification documents.

List of registered enterprises for edible aquatic animals exported from Egypt to China

List of registered enterprises of edible aquatic animals and live crab packaging farms exported from Ireland to China

List of registered lobster companies exporting from Antigua and Barbuda

List of registered enterprises of aquatic animals exported from Papua New Guinea to China

List of registered enterprises for ornamental fish exported from Brazil to China

List of registered enterprises of aquatic animals exported from Iceland to China

List of registered enterprises for aquatic animals exported from Denmark to China

List of registered enterprises for edible aquatic animals exported from Russia to China

List of registered enterprises for edible aquatic animals exported from France to China

List of registered enterprises of ornamental aquatic animals exported from the Philippines to China

List of registered enterprises for edible aquatic animals exported from the Philippines to China

List of registered aquatic animal farms exported from Korea to China