Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Fresh Avocado Fruits from Rwanda to China

According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda concerning the phytosanitary requirements for the import of fresh Rwandan avocados into China, effective immediately, the import of fresh Rwandan avocados meeting the following requirements is permitted.

I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis

(1) The Biosafety Law of the People's Republic of China;

(2) The Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations;

(3) The Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations;

(4) The Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Fruits;

(5) The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of the Republic of Rwanda on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Import of Fresh Rwandan Avocados into China.

II. Permitted Imported Commodity Name

Fresh avocado, scientific name: Persea americana, English name: Avocado.

III. Permitted Origin

Rwandan avocado producing regions.

IV. Approved Orchards and Packing Plants

Orchards, packing plants, and fumigation facilities for avocados exported to China must be reviewed by the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and registered with Chinese Customs. Registration information includes name, address, and registration code to facilitate accurate traceability in case exported goods do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. The registered list should be provided to Chinese Customs by the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources before each export season.

V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to Chinese Customs

1. Ceratitis capitata

2. Ceratitis rosa

3. Thaumatotibia (= Cryptophlebia) leucotreta

4. Spodoptera littoralis

5. Rastrococcus invadens

6. Sphaceloma perseae

VI. Pre-Export Management

(I) Orchard Management

1. Orchards exporting to China should establish and implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) under the supervision of the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, including maintaining orchard hygiene, timely removal of fallen fruit, and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM), such as pest monitoring and surveys, chemical or biological control, and agricultural practices, to avoid or minimize the occurrence of quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs on avocados.

2. Orchards exporting to China must have personnel trained by the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources or its authorized agencies conduct monitoring and surveys of quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs. If such pests are found, appropriate control measures should be implemented immediately.

3. Orchards exporting to China should retain records of pest monitoring, surveys, and control for at least two years and provide them to Chinese Customs upon request. These records should include the monitoring time, the name of the pest found, and the control measures taken. Chemical control records should include detailed information such as the name, active ingredient, concentration, and application date of all chemical reagents used during the growing season.

4. For the Mediterranean fruit fly, the Natal fruit fly, and the apple leafroller, integrated management measures should be implemented in avocado-producing areas, including the use of chemical control, biological control, mating disruption, or other control methods, to control pest occurrence or maintain a low prevalence level.

5. For pests of concern to Chinese Customs, such as the West African mealybug, the sea mongoose moth, and the avocado scab fungus, monitoring and surveys must be conducted from flowering to harvest, at least once every two weeks, focusing on the fruit, pedicels, branches, stems, and leaves. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, control measures, including chemical or biological control, should be implemented promptly to control the occurrence of pests or maintain a low prevalence level.

Specific monitoring plans and integrated management measures for the above pests must be approved by the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and provided to Chinese Customs as required.

(II) Packing Plant Management

1. The processing, packaging, storage, and shipment of avocados must be carried out under the quarantine supervision of the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources or its authorized officials.

2. During processing, avocados should undergo washing, brushing, manual sorting, and grading to ensure they are free of any live insects, damaged fruit, inferior fruit (overripe, detached, scarred, black-spotted, deformed, etc.), branches, leaves, soil, etc. The fruit stem should not exceed 3 mm in length.

3. Packaging materials should be clean, hygienic, unused, and comply with relevant Chinese phytosanitary requirements. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

4. Packaged avocados, if requiring storage, should be immediately placed in a warehouse and stored separately to prevent reinfection by harmful organisms. Each package must be labeled with the fruit name, exporting country, place of origin (city, county, or district), orchard name or its registration number, and packing plant name or its registration number. Each package and pallet must be labeled with "输往中华人民共和国" or "Exported to the People's Republic of China" in Chinese or English.

5. Before shipment, containers should be inspected to ensure they are in good sanitary condition. Necessary insect control measures should be taken during packing.

(III) Quarantine Treatment Requirements.

Avocados exported to China shall undergo pre-export phosphine fumigation under the supervision of personnel authorized by the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to eliminate fruit flies and apple leafrollers. Fumigation treatment parameters are as follows:

* Bottled pure phosphine gas or bottled mixed gas of 2% phosphine and 98% CO2 (w/w).

(IV) Pre-export inspection and quarantine.

1. The Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources shall sample 2% of each shipment of avocados exported to China, with a minimum sample size of 1200 fruits. At least 60 fruits from the 2% sample, or any suspicious fruits discovered during the inspection, shall be dissected for examination. If no phytosanitary issues arise within two years, the sampling rate may be reduced to 1%, but the sample size shall not be less than 1200 fruits.

2. If live quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs are found, the entire shipment shall not be exported to China. The Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources shall investigate the cause and take corrective measures. Inspection records shall be preserved and provided to Chinese Customs upon request.

(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements

1. For avocados that have passed quarantine inspection, the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources shall issue a phytosanitary certificate, indicating the orchard, packing plant or its registration number, and container number, and specify "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Avocado Fruits from Rwanda to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China." in the supplementary declaration.

2. The phytosanitary certificate must specify the dosage, duration, and temperature of phosphine used in the fumigation treatment, as well as the name or registration number of the fumigation treatment company.

VII. Import Inspection and Quarantine and Handling of Non-conforming Products

When avocados imported into China arrive at Chinese ports of entry, Chinese Customs will conduct inspection and quarantine according to the following requirements:

(I) Verification of Relevant Certificates and Labels

1. Verify whether the imported avocados have obtained an "Import Permit for Animals and Plants".

2. Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate complies with Article 6, Paragraph (V).

3. Verify whether the packaging complies with Article 6, Paragraph (II).

(II) Import Inspection and Quarantine

1. Avocados imported into China should enter through ports of entry permitted by Chinese Customs for the import of fruits.

2. Inspection and quarantine will be conducted in accordance with Chinese laws, regulations, and national standards. Those that pass inspection and quarantine will be permitted entry.

(III) Handling of Non-conforming Products

1. If the goods are found to originate from unregistered orchards, packing plants, etc., the goods will be prohibited from entering the country according to relevant regulations.

2. If fumigation treatment is deemed unsuccessful or ineffective, the goods will be returned, destroyed, or treated for pest control.

3. If live quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs or newly emerging quarantine pests in Rwanda are found, the goods will be returned, destroyed, or treated for pest control.

4. If the goods are found to be non-compliant with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, and national standards, the goods will be returned or destroyed.

GACC