Inspection, quarantine and sanitary requirements for imported wild aquatic products from Venezuela
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With the continuous development of the mainland economy in recent years, the improvement of residents' living standards, and the increasing demand for aquatic products by residents, on April 17, 2024, the General Administration of Customs issued an announcement to allow the import of wild aquatic products from Venezuela that meet the relevant requirements, and this article will lead you to understand the inspection and quarantine and health requirements for imported wild aquatic products from Venezuela.
Q: What is the basis for inspection and quarantine?
Answer: (1) "People's Republic of China Law on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering and Leaving the Country", "Regulations on the Implementation of the Law on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering and Leaving the Country of People's Republic of China", "Law on the Inspection of People's Republic of China Import and Export Commodities", "Regulations on the Implementation of the Law on the Inspection of People's Republic of China Import and Export Commodities", "People's Republic of China Food Safety Law", and "Regulations on the Implementation of the People's Republic of China Food Safety Law";
(2) Measures of the People's Republic of China Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety, and the People's Republic of China Provisions on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food;
(3) Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Fisheries and Fisheries of the People's Power of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products Exported from Venezuela to China (hereinafter referred to as the "Protocol").
Q What is the scope of products allowed to be imported?
A Wild aquatic products refer to wild aquatic animal products and their products, algae and other marine plant products and their products for human consumption, excluding species, live aquatic animals and aquatic animal and plant breeding materials listed in the appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the List of Wild Animals under National Key Protection of China (LSKPWA).
Q: What are the requirements for production enterprises?
A Production enterprises (including fishing vessels, processing vessels, transport vessels, and independent cold storage) exporting wild aquatic products to China shall be officially approved by Venezuela and subject to its effective supervision. The food safety and hygiene conditions of the production enterprises shall comply with the requirements of the relevant food safety laws and regulations of China and Venezuela.
According to the relevant provisions of the People's Republic of China Food Safety Law and its implementing regulations, the Law on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering and Leaving the Country of People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations, the production enterprises that export wild aquatic products to China shall be recommended by the Venezuelan Party to the Chinese side for registration. It is not allowed to be exported to China without registration.
Q What are the requirements for imported products?
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Venezuela shall ensure that the export of wild aquatic products to China meets the following conditions:
(1) Legal fishing in Venezuela or international waters.
(2) The following problems have not occurred in the raw materials and products:
1. The occurrence of aquatic animal diseases related to the products of the Protocol listed in the List of Quarantine Diseases of Imported Animals of the People's Republic of China and required by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to be notified in Venezuela, causing wild aquatic products exported to China to be or may be infected;
2. Any major food safety incident in Venezuela that has affected or may affect the export of wild aquatic products to China;
3. Wild aquatic products that Venezuela has exported or intends to export to China seriously violate the laws and regulations of China and Venezuela as well as the provisions of the Protocol;
4. Any major public health incident occurs in the production enterprise, such as employees infected with major infectious diseases, which have contaminated or may contaminate wild aquatic products exported to China and their packaging and means of transportation;
5. The fishing area is affected by pollutants, such as radioactive pollutants, which have been polluted or may contaminate wild aquatic products exported to China.
(3) Failing to directly or indirectly use drugs or additives prohibited by both sides, and using drugs or additives that are restricted or permitted by both sides in accordance with regulations; After inspection by the competent authorities of Venezuela, no pathogenic microorganisms, toxic and harmful substances and foreign substances listed in the laws and regulations of China and Venezuela were found.
(4) All wild aquatic products exported to China have been inspected and quarantined by the competent authorities of Venezuela and are safe, hygienic and suitable for human consumption, and no pathological indications of infectious diseases and parasitic diseases have been found, and no aquatic animal diseases listed in the List of Quarantine Diseases of Imported Animals of the People's Republic of China and must be notified as stipulated by WOAH.
(5) The whole process of fishing, production and processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transit and export are in line with the relevant safety and health requirements and traceability requirements of aquatic products of both sides, and at the same time meet the relevant safety and health requirements of the cold chain.
Q What certificates are required?
A Each batch or container of wild aquatic products exported by Venezuela to China shall be accompanied by at least one original health certificate certifying that the batch of products complies with the relevant laws and regulations on food safety of China and Venezuela and the relevant provisions of the Protocol. The Venezuelan side shall completely fill in the information of the production enterprises involved in the whole process of fishing, production and processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transit and export on the health certificate.
The certificate should be printed in at least Chinese and English (English is a required language when filling in the certificate). The format and content of the certificate must be approved by both parties in advance. The Venezuelan side shall promptly provide the sample of the certificate, the seal of the official issuing authority and the handwriting of the signing official to the Chinese side for the record. If there is any change in the content and format of the sample certificate, the seal of the official issuing authority and the handwriting of the signing official, the Venezuelan side shall file it with the Chinese side at least one month before it takes effect.
Q: What are the requirements for packaging and labeling?
A: Wild aquatic products exported from Venezuela to China should have outer packaging and separate inner packaging. The inner and outer packaging should be new materials that meet international food safety standards and meet the requirements of preventing contamination by external factors.
The inner and outer packaging shall have firm, clear and legible labels in Chinese and English or Chinese and Western languages, indicating the following contents: trade name and scientific name, specification, production date, batch number, shelf life and storage conditions, production method (marine fishing, freshwater fishing), production area (marine fishing area, freshwater fishing country or region), name, registration number and address of all production enterprises involved (including fishing vessels, processing vessels, transport vessels, independent cold storage) (specific to the state/province/city), Destination (must be marked as People's Republic of China).
For wild aquatic products exported to China in pre-packaged form, the pre-packaged Chinese label shall meet the labeling requirements of pre-packaged food imported from China.
Customs Tips
China Customs implements inspection and quarantine on imported wild aquatic products. For unqualified products, they will be returned, destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. For manufacturers that have serious problems or multiple non-conforming problems, China will take measures such as strengthening inspection and quarantine or suspending imports.
Source: Tianjin Customs 12360