Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for the cherry from Hungary to China
1. Inspection and quarantine basis
(1) Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China;
(2) Law of the People's Republic of China on Quarantine of Animals and Plants at Entry and Exit and its Implementing Regulations;
(3) Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations;
(4) imported fruit inspection and quarantine supervision and management measures;
(5) General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture on Hungary's phytosanitary requirements for export of fresh cherries to China Protocol.
2. The name of goods allowed to enter the country
Fresh Cherries (hereinafter referred to as cherries), scientific name Prunus avium L., English name Cherry.
3. Permitted places of origin
Hungarian cherry producing areas.
4. Approved Orchards and Packing Plants
Cherry orchards, packing plants, cold storage and cold treatment facilities for export to China shall be examined and filed by the competent authorities under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary (hereinafter referred to as Hungary) and approved for registration by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as China). The registration information shall include the name, address and registration number, etc. in order to facilitate accurate traceability in case the exported goods do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. The registration list shall be provided to China by the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture before the annual export season.
5. List of quarantine pests of concern to China
(1) Archips podana
(2) Archips rosana
(3) Enarmonia formosana
(4) Epidiaspis leperii
(5) Eurytoma amygdali
(6) Hedya nubiferana
(7) Lobesia botrana
(8) Myzus cerasi
(9) Rhagoletis cerasi
(10) Saturnia pyri
(11) Monilinia fructicola
(12) Arabis mosaic virus
(13) Plum pox virus
(14) Prunus necrotic ringspot virus
(15) Raspberry ringspot virus
6. Pre-export management
6.1 Orchard management.
6.1.1 The orchards exported to China should establish and implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to establish a perfect traceability system. Maintain orchard sanitation, timely cleanup of fallen fruit, harvest pruning, etc.; implementation of integrated pest management measures (IPM), including pest monitoring, chemical or biological control and agricultural operations and other control measures.
6.1.2 Hungary should carry out orchard monitoring for quarantine pests of concern to China. Pest monitoring and control in orchards should be done under the guidance of technicians with the necessary plant protection knowledge. Pest monitoring and control records must be kept for orchards exported to China and made available to China upon request. The control records include the name, active ingredients, dosage and time of use of all chemicals used during the growing season.
6.1.3 For the grapevine codling moth, Hungary shall monitor the grapevine codling moth by visual inspection and trapping in registered orchards from cherry blossom to harvest, with traps set at a density of at least 2 per hectare in registered orchards and inspected every fortnight. Once the grape winged petrel moth is monitored, effective control must be carried out, and orchards failing to take effective control measures will be disqualified from exporting in the next export season.
6.1.4 For the European cherry fly, Hungary should monitor the European cherry fly from the beginning of cherry fruit set to the end of picking, and set traps in all cherry orchards. Traps shall be set at a density of at least 1 per hectare, with the lure changed at least once a month during the monitoring period and the traps inspected every fortnight. Once the European cherry fruit fly is monitored, effective control needs to be carried out immediately.
6.1.5 For fungi and viruses, cherries exported to China must be produced in non-infested production areas, non-infested production sites or orchards where systematic control measures have been implemented for American and Australian brown rot of drupe, southern mustard mosaic virus, plum pox virus, plum necrotic ringspot virus or suspensory ringspot virus.
6.1.6 For leaf roller moths, aphids, mesquite species and other pests, orchards exporting to China are required to monitor from flowering to harvest, once a week, focusing on the investigation of branches, stems, leaves and fruits for the presence of these pests. If any pests are found, immediate measures, such as chemical and biological control, shall be taken to control the pests.
6.2 Packing plant management.
6.2.1 The processing and packing process of cherries exported to China needs to be carried out under the quarantine supervision of Hungary. Packing plant and cold storage need to have good hygiene conditions, and with measures to prevent pest reinfection (such as insect nets, etc.).
6.2.2 During processing, cherries shall be washed, picked, graded, defective fruit removed and treated with post-harvest fungicides to ensure that they are free from insects, mites, rotten fruit, branches, leaves, roots and soil.
6.2.3 Packed cherries shall be immediately warehoused and stored separately to avoid being re-infected by harmful organisms.
6.3 Packaging requirements.
6.3.1 Packing materials should be clean and hygienic, unused, and in line with China's relevant phytosanitary requirements.
6.3.2 If there are ventilation holes in the packing boxes, insect-proof nets (maximum aperture 1.6 mm) or bags with micro-perforations should be used to cover the ventilation holes in each box or the whole pallet to prevent pests from entering. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with the requirements of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).
6.3.3 Each box must be marked in English with the name of the fruit, export country, origin (province, district), orchard or its registration number, packing house or its registration number and other information. Each box and tray to be marked in Chinese or English‘Exported to the People's Republic of China’.
6.4 Quarantine treatment requirements.
All cherries exported to China must be cold treated. Cold treatment shall be carried out under the supervision of Hungary in accordance with the operating procedures for cold treatment before export or during transport, and the cold treatment index requirements are as follows:
| Fruit centre temperature | Duration of treatment |
| 1ºC or less | 16 days or more |
| 2.1ºC or below | 21 days or more |
6.5 Pre-export inspection and quarantine.
6.5.1 In the first two years of trade, Hungary shall implement quarantine on cherry exports to China at the rate of 2 per cent, and conduct fruit dissection and inspection of suspicious fruits therein. If there is no phytosanitary problem within two years, the sampling ratio shall be reduced to 1 per cent.
6.5.2 If quarantine pests of concern to China are found, the whole consignment shall not be exported to China. If from non-quarantine producing areas or non-quarantine production sites, the status of the relevant non-quarantine producing areas or non-quarantine production sites shall be cancelled. Hungary shall identify the cause and take corrective measures. At the same time, records of seizures shall be kept and made available to China upon request.
6.6 Requirements for phytosanitary certificates.
6.6.1 After the quarantine of qualified cherries, Hungary shall issue phytosanitary certificates, indicating the registration number of the orchard and packing house, and in the additional statement: ‘This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Cherries from Hungary to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China.’
6.6.2 For cherries subjected to cold treatment before export, information such as treatment temperature, duration and name or registration number of the treatment facility shall be indicated on the phytosanitary certificate. For the implementation of cold treatment in transit, it should be marked on the phytosanitary certificate as ‘Cold treatment in transit’, and indicate the temperature of cold treatment, time of treatment, container number and seal number, etc. Before the commencement of trade, Hungary shall notify the exporting country of the temperature and duration of the treatment, and the name or registration number of the treatment facility.
6.6.3 Before the start of trade, Hungary should provide China with samples of phytosanitary certificates for confirmation and record.
7. Entry inspection and quarantine and unqualified treatment
When the cherry arrives at the port of entry into China, the Chinese Customs shall implement inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements.
7.1 Verification of relevant certificates and labelling.
7.1.1 Verify whether the imported cherries get ‘imported animal and plant quarantine permit’.
7.1.2 Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate in accordance with the provisions of Article VI (6) of this announcement.
7.1.3 Verify that the packing boxes and trays on the marking is consistent with the announcement of Article VI (c) of the provisions.
7.2 entry inspection and quarantine.
7.2.1 Hungarian cherries should be allowed to import fruit from China's ports of entry.
7.2.2 For the export of goods before the implementation of cold treatment, but also need to provide by the Hungarian signatures to confirm the results of cold treatment report form and fruit temperature probe correction records; for the implementation of cold treatment of goods in transit, need to provide cold treatment report, fruit temperature probe correction records.
7.2.3 According to relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules and other provisions of the implementation of inspection and quarantine of imported cherries, by the inspection and quarantine qualified, allowed to enter the country.
7.3 Unqualified treatment.
7.3.1 If found from unregistered orchards, packing plants or cold treatment facilities, the goods are not allowed to enter the country.
7.3.2 If found in China concerned about any quarantine pests or Hungary's new quarantine pests or soil, the goods for the return, destruction or quarantine treatment.
7.3.3 If it is found to be non-compliant with China's national standards for food safety, the goods shall be returned or destroyed.
7.3.4 If the cold treatment is found to be ineffective, the goods shall be treated with cold treatment on shore (if it is a refrigerated container, it can be carried out in this container), returned or destroyed.
7.3.5 If the above non-conformity is found, China will immediately inform the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and suspend the import of cherries from the relevant orchards, packing plants and cold treatment facilities as appropriate; if from non-infected production areas or non-infected production sites, the status of the relevant non-infected production areas or non-infected production sites will be cancelled. The Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture shall identify the reasons for the non-conformity and take improvement measures to prevent similar situations from recurring. China will decide whether to lift the suspension measures based on the results of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture's rectification.
GACC
May 9, 2024
Integrated pest management measures
1. Non-diseased production areas or non-diseased production sites
Non-infected production areas or non-infected production sites are established by Hungary in accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 10 (ISPM 10) and must be approved by China. The establishment programme and the emergency plan of the NPP or NPP must be reviewed and approved by China before they are implemented by the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture.
If Monilinia fructicola, Arabis mosaic virus, Plum pox virus, Prunus necrotic ringspot virus or Raspberry ringspot virus are detected in the relevant non-infected production areas or non-infected production sites, they must be approved by the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary. virus Raspberry ringspot virus and other harmful organisms, the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture is required to immediately suspend the status of the relevant non-epidemic production areas or non-epidemic production sites, and notify China within 48 hours and activate the emergency plan. When Hungary eradicates the epidemic and is recognised by China, the relevant non-epidemic production area or non-epidemic production site can be resumed.
2. Systematic control measures
2.1 Pruning and good orchard hygiene before and during winter. Monitor for ulcer symptoms in the orchard and prune susceptible branches or use fungicides (e.g., copper sprays).
2.2 Monitor the orchard for symptoms of the above pathogens every fortnight from flowering to harvest. Once pathogens are detected, they need to be identified.
2.3 Once any of these pathogens are detected, control measures will be applied to the orchard or the export of fruit from the orchard concerned will be suspended for the current export season. Control measures include appropriate chemical applications and removal of infected plant material.
2.4 At harvest, fruit is checked for fruit symptoms. Fruit found to be infected with any of these pathogens is removed.
2.5 If any of the above pathogens are found during quarantine inspection in Hungary, the consignment shall not be exported.
2.6 If any of the above pathogenic bacteria are found during the inspection in China, the consignment will be returned or destroyed. China will notify the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and suspend the export eligibility of the orchard concerned for the current season.
Pre-export Cold Treatment Operating Procedures
1. Types of cold treatment facilities
1.1 Pre-export cold treatment may only be carried out in cold treatment facilities registered in Hungary.
1.2 Hungary shall ensure that the cold treatment facilities used by the exporter meet the appropriate standards and have refrigeration equipment capable of enabling the fruit to reach and maintain the required temperature.
1.3 Hungary shall maintain a registration document authorising the use of cold treatment facilities for the pre-export of fruit destined for China. The document shall contain the following:
(1) Location and construction plan of all facilities, including contact details of the owner/operator;
(2) Dimensions and capacity of the facility;
(3) Type of insulation for walls, floors and ceilings;
(4) Brand, style, type and capacity of refrigeration compressors, evaporators and air circulation systems;
(5) The temperature range of the equipment, specifications and details of defrost cycle controls and any integrated temperature recording equipment, etc.
1.4 Before the start of each cherry export season, the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture is required to submit to China a list of currently registered cold treatment facilities, including names, addresses and other information.
2. Types of loggers
Hungary shall ensure that the probe and temperature loggers fulfil the following conditions:
(1) Probe temperatures should be between -3.0°C and +3.0°C, accurate to ±0.15°C;
(2) Capable of holding the required number of probes;
(3) Be capable of recording and storing data from the treatment process;
(4) Be capable of recording all probe temperatures at least once an hour under Hungarian supervision with the required accuracy for probe temperatures;
(5) The ability to print out the results of the identification of each probe, time and temperature and indicate the recorder model and container number.
3. The temperature probe calibration
Calibration shall be carried out with a standard thermometer approved by Hungary in a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water:
(1) Any probe whose reading exceeds 0°C ± 0.3°C shall be replaced with another probe conforming to this standard;
(2) At the completion of the treatment, Hungary shall verify the calibration value of the fruit temperature probe using the mentioned calibration method.
4. Probe Placement
4.1 Fruit on the pallet shall be pre-cooled and loaded into the cold treatment room under the supervision of Hungary.
4.2 At least two probes shall be used to measure the room temperature at the air outlet and return air outlet respectively, and at least four probes shall be placed to measure the fruit temperature as follows:
(1) One located in the centre of the fruit loaded in the middle of the cold treatment chamber;
(2) One located at the edge of the top layer of the fruit loaded in the middle of the cold treatment chamber;
(3) One located in the centre of the loaded fruit near the return air opening;
(4) One is located at the top of the loaded fruit near the air return opening.
4.3 The placement of the probes and their connection to the loggers shall be done under the supervision and guidance of Hungary.
4.4 The logger may be activated at any time, however, the calculation of the processing time shall only begin when all fruit temperature probes have reached the specified temperature.
4.5 When only the minimum number of probes is used, if any probe fails for more than 4 consecutive hours, the treatment is invalidated and must be restarted.
5. Review of treatment results
(1) If the processing records show that the processing parameters have met the requirements, Hungary can authorise the end of the treatment; if the probe calibration results in line with the provisions of Article 3, it can be considered that the treatment has been successfully completed.
(2) Before the fruit is removed from the treatment room, the probe should be calibrated.
6. The results of the confirmation
6.1 The printout of the cold treatment temperature record shall contain statistical data matching the treatment parameters to prove that the cold treatment has been completed.
6.2 Hungary shall endorse the cold treatment temperature record after confirming the success of the treatment and provide it to China for review upon request.
6.3 If the treatment fails to meet the required cold treatment requirements, the logger may be reconnected and the treatment may continue if one of the following conditions is met:
(1) Hungary confirms that the conditions required by Article 6 are still met.
(2) The interval between the time of stopping and the time of restarting is within 24 hours.
(3) In both of the above cases, data collection may continue from the time the logger is reconnected.
7. Loading into containers
(1) Containers shall be inspected by Hungary prior to loading to ensure that they are free from pests and that they are screened at the entrance to prevent the entry of pests.
(2) Fruits shall be packed in the building with pest-proof measures, or the outlet of the cold room and the entrance of the container are connected with pest-proof materials.
8. Sealing of containers
(1) Containers loaded with fruits shall be sealed by the competent authorities with coded seals, and their seal numbers shall be indicated on the phytosanitary certificates.
(2) The seal can only be opened by Chinese customs officials at the port of entry into China.
9. Fruit storage without immediate packing
If the treated fruits are not packed immediately, they can be stored temporarily under the supervision of Hungary.
(1) If the fruit is stored in the cold treatment room, the door of the cold treatment room shall be closed. 2;
(2) if the fruit is to be transferred to another storage room for storage, the method of transfer shall be authorised by Hungary and no other fruit shall be stored in that storage room;
(3) The fruit shall be packed under Hungarian supervision in accordance with the provisions of Article VII.
10. Phytosanitary certificate
(1) The temperature, duration and name of the cold treatment facility or its registration number before export shall be indicated in the phytosanitary certificate.
(2) When the cherries enter the country, it is necessary to provide China Customs with phytosanitary certificate and report on the result of cold treatment, which should be accompanied by the record of cold treatment temperature and fruit temperature probe correction record confirmed by Hungary's signature.
Cold treatment operation procedure during transport
1. Container type
The container shall be a transport container with its own (whole) refrigeration and with refrigeration equipment capable of reaching and maintaining the required temperature.
2. Type of logger
Hungary shall ensure that the probe and temperature logger fulfil the following conditions:
(1) probe temperatures shall be between -3.0°C and +3.0°C with an accuracy of ±0.15°C;
(2) a sufficient number of probes are available;
(3) be capable of recording and storing data from the process;
(4) be capable of recording all probe temperatures at least once per hour with the required accuracy for probe temperatures;
(5) Print out the temperature record, must correspond to each probe to record the corresponding time, temperature, and indicate the recorder model and container number.
3. Probe calibration
(1) The calibration shall be carried out in a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water using a standard thermometer approved by Hungary.
(2) Any probe that reads more than 0°C ± 0.3°C must be replaced.
(3) A ‘Fruit Temperature Probe Correction Record’ signed by Hungary shall be issued for each container, the original of which shall be attached to the phytosanitary certificate accompanying the shipment.
(4) Fruit arrives in China's ports of entry, China Customs will be fruit temperature probe correction checks.
4. The temperature probe insertion
4.1 Packed fruit shall be in Hungary under the supervision of the container, packing boxes should be stacked loosely to ensure that enough airflow clearance.
4.2 Each container must be inserted at least 3 fruit temperature probe, 2 space temperature probe, the specific location for:
(1) No. 1 fruit temperature probe inserted in the container filled with fruit in the first row of the top layer of the central position;
(2) No. 2 fruit temperature probe inserted in the distance from the container door 1.5 metres (40-foot container) or 1 metre (20-foot container) in the centre, and in the loaded goods half the height of the position;
(3) Fruit temperature probe No. 3 is placed on the left side of the container 1.5 metres (for 40-foot containers) or 1 metre (for 20-foot containers) from the container door and at half the height of the loaded cargo;
(4) 2 space (ambient) temperature probe were inserted in the container air intake and return air intake.
4.3 All probes shall be placed under the supervision and guidance of Hungary.
4.4 Before packing the fruit to be stored in the cold room (pre-cooling) to the pulp temperature of 4 ° C.
5. Container sealing
(1) Containers with fruits are sealed by Hungary with coded seals.
(2) The seal can only be opened by Chinese customs officials at the Chinese ports of entry.
6. Temperature Record and Confirmation
(1) Cold treatment during transport can be started before the fruit leaves the Hungarian port of entry and finished before or after arriving at the first Chinese port of entry.
(2) Recording can be initiated at any time, however, the processing time is only calculated when all fruit temperature probes have reached the specified temperature.
(3) The shipping company shall download the cold processing temperature record and submit it to the Chinese Customs upon arrival at the first port of entry into China.
(4) China Customs will review the cold treatment record to see if it meets the relevant treatment requirements and decide whether the cold treatment is effective or not based on the probe calibration results.
7. Phytosanitary Certificate
(1) The temperature and start time of cold treatment, the name or registration number of packing plant or cold treatment facility shall be indicated in the phytosanitary certificate; remark ‘in transport’.
(2) When cherries enter the country, it is necessary to provide China Customs with phytosanitary certificate, cold treatment report (with cold treatment temperature record), fruit temperature probe correction record.
