Announcement on the requirements for the inspection and quarantine of Oman Wild Aquatic Products

In accordance with Chinese laws and regulations and the stipulations between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman concerning the inspection, quarantine, and veterinary health requirements for wild aquatic products exported from Oman to China, from this day forward, the importation of Omani wild aquatic products that meet the following conditions is permitted:

I. Basis for Inspection and Quarantine

1. Laws and Implementing Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine, and on the Inspection of Import and Export Commodities, as well as the Food Safety Law and its Implementing Regulations.

2. Administrative Measures on Food Safety for Imports and Exports, and Regulations on the Registration of Foreign Producers of Imported Food.

3. Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman on the Inspection, Quarantine, and Veterinary Health Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products Exported from Oman to China (hereinafter referred to as "the Protocol").

II. Scope of Imported Products

Wild aquatic products refer to wild aquatic animals and their derivatives for human consumption, marine plant products, and their derivatives, excluding species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix and the List of China’s Key Protected Wild Animals (LSKPWA), live aquatic animals, and breeding materials.

III. Production Enterprise Requirements

Enterprises exporting wild aquatic products to China (including processing enterprises, fishing vessels, transportation vessels, processing vessels, and independent cold storage) must obtain official approval from Oman and operate under its effective supervision. The sanitary conditions of these enterprises should comply with the veterinary health and public health regulations of both China and Oman.

According to the Food Safety Law and the Implementing Regulations of the PRC on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine, enterprises exporting wild aquatic products to China should be recommended for registration by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman (hereinafter referred to as the Omani side) to the General Administration of Customs of the PRC (hereinafter referred to as the Chinese side). Enterprises not registered are prohibited from exporting to China.

IV. Requirements for Imported Products

The Omani side should ensure that exported wild aquatic products to China meet the following conditions:

1. Legally captured in Oman's national waters or international waters.

2. The raw materials and products have not been exposed to:

    - Aquatic animal diseases listed in the Entry Animal Quarantine Disease List of the PRC or those that the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) mandates to be reported, which may infect the exported wild aquatic products.

    - Significant food safety incidents in Oman that have or may affect the exported products.

    - Serious violations of Chinese and Omani laws and the stipulations of the Protocol regarding exported or intended exported wild aquatic products.

    - Major public health incidents at the production enterprise, such as staff infections with severe contagious diseases, that have or may contaminate the products, packaging, or transport tools.

    - Pollution, such as radioactive contaminants, in the fishing area that has or may affect the exported products.

3. Products have not directly or indirectly used banned drugs or additives by both parties, and drugs or additives that are restricted or permitted by both sides have been used in compliance. Inspection by competent authorities did not reveal pathogens, toxic and harmful substances, and foreign bodies stipulated in Chinese and Omani laws and regulations.

4. All exported wild aquatic products have undergone inspection and quarantine by competent authorities, are sanitary and safe, suitable for human consumption, have no pathological signs of infectious diseases and parasitic diseases, and no aquatic animal diseases as listed in the Entry Animal Quarantine Disease List of the PRC and mandated by WOAH have been found.

5. The entire process, from fishing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transit, and export, should comply with the sanitary and traceability requirements of both parties and conform to cold-chain safety and health requirements.

V. Certificate Requirements

Each container of wild aquatic products exported from Oman to China should be accompanied by at least one original veterinary (health) certificate, proving that the batch complies with the veterinary and public health laws and regulations of China and Oman and the relevant provisions of the Protocol. The Omani side should complete all details on the veterinary (health) certificate, including the names and registration numbers of processing plants, fishing vessels, transportation vessels, processing vessels, and independent cold storage. Any omission of the above details is not allowed.

Certificates should be printed in both Chinese and English (English being mandatory for certificate content). The format and content of the certificate should be approved by both parties in advance. The Omani side should provide the Chinese side with sample certificates, official issuing organization stamps, and signatures of signing officials for record. If there are changes in the content and format of the sample certificate, official issuing organization stamp, and signature of the signing official, the Omani side should provide them for record to the Chinese side at least one month before they take effect.

VI. Packaging and Labeling Requirements

Exported wild aquatic products should have external and individual inner packaging. Both types of packaging should be made of brand new materials that meet international sanitary standards and should be protective against external contamination.

Labels in both Chinese and English or Chinese and Arabic should be affixed to both inner and outer packaging. Information should include product name and scientific name, specifications, production date, expiration date, batch number, storage conditions, production method (wild capture), name and number of the production enterprise, production area and address of the production enterprise (down to the state/province/city), and destination (marked as the People's Republic of China).

For pre-packaged wild aquatic products exported to China, the Chinese label on the pre-packaging should meet the labeling requirements for imported pre-packaged food in China.

VII. Other Requirements

China Customs will carry out inspection and quarantine on wild aquatic products exported from Oman to China.

For non-compliant products, actions such as return, destruction, or other treatment will be taken in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. For enterprises with serious issues or repeated non-compliance, intensified inspection, quarantine, or suspension of imports may be implemented by the Chinese side.

This is hereby announced.

General Administration of Customs

October 16, 2023