Regarding the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Cocoa Beans from Africa to China

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, and following a risk assessment, the import of cocoa beans from African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China is permitted, provided they meet the requirements set forth below.

I. Legal Basis for Inspection and Quarantine

(1) The Biosecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China;

(2) The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the 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.

II. Permitted Commodities

Cocoa beans refers to the unroasted seeds of the cocoa plant (*Theobroma cacao* L.) that have been cultivated and processed within the exporting country. This process includes the removal of pulp and pods, followed by fermentation, drying, and sorting.

III. Origin

African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China.

IV. Enterprise Registration

Production and processing enterprises exporting cocoa beans to China must be vetted by the competent authorities of the exporting country and registered with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Registration details—including the enterprise name, address, and registration number—must be provided to ensure traceability in the event that a shipment fails to comply with the requirements of this announcement. Prior to the commencement of trade, the official authorities of the exporting country shall submit the list of registered enterprises to the GACC. Once reviewed and approved by the GACC, the list will be published on the GACC website.

V. Quarantine Pests of Concern to China Customs

1. Caryedon serratus

2. Nectria rigidiuscula

3. Phytophthora megakarya

4. Dematophora bunodes

5. Phellinus noxius

6. Rigidoporus lignosus

VI. Pre-shipment Requirements

(I) Cultivation Management

1. Cultivation enterprises shall, under the official supervision of the exporting country, establish comprehensive quality management and traceability systems. They must implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain sanitary cultivation conditions—such as ensuring the absence of nearby pollution sources and promptly removing diseased or damaged plant debris—and carry out Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM measures include pest monitoring and surveys, the application of physical, chemical, or biological control methods, and other relevant agricultural practices.

2. Under the official supervision of the exporting country, cultivation enterprises shall conduct pest monitoring and implement integrated control measures specifically targeting quarantine pests of concern to China Customs. Such monitoring and control activities must be carried out under the guidance of qualified technical personnel, who shall have received training from the competent authority of the exporting country or its authorized agency. Cultivation enterprises must retain records of pest monitoring and control for at least two years and provide them to China Customs upon request. These records shall include, at a minimum, the date of monitoring, the names of any pests detected, the control measures taken, and—for any chemical agents used—the date of application, active ingredients, and concentration. Pesticides prohibited by China Customs shall not be used in any pest control operations.

(II) Processing Management

1. Processing enterprises shall establish a traceability system to ensure that cocoa beans destined for China can be traced back to their specific cultivation sites.

2. The processes of production, packaging, storage, and shipment shall be conducted under the quarantine supervision of the exporting country’s competent authority or its authorized personnel. Relevant facilities must be relatively independent, logically laid out, kept clean and sanitary, and feature paved (hardened) surfaces; they must also be isolated from living quarters and maintained at an appropriate distance.

3. During processing, the cocoa beans must undergo manual sorting, screening, cleaning, and impurity removal to ensure they are free from moldy or insect-damaged beans, as well as live insects, insect eggs, soil, weed seeds, plant debris, gravel, and other foreign matter.

(III) Packaging Requirements

1. Raw materials and finished cocoa bean products shall be stored separately to prevent contamination. Cocoa beans must be packed using clean, hygienic, and new materials that meet phytosanitary requirements. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

2. Each shipping container (box/carton) must be marked—in either Chinese or English—with the product name, country of origin, specific place of origin, and the name or registration number of the production/processing enterprise to ensure traceability. Additionally, each shipping container and pallet must be labeled with "输往中华人民共和国" or the phrase "Exported to the People's Republic of China" in Chinese or English.

3. The means of transport or shipping containers used for cocoa beans destined for China must be inspected at the time of loading to ensure they are in good sanitary condition. These means of transport or containers must be sealed, and the seals must remain intact upon arrival at the Chinese port of entry.

(IV) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.

1. Prior to export, the competent authority of the exporting country shall conduct inspection and quarantine of the cocoa beans intended for China. Only those that pass this inspection and quarantine and are confirmed to meet the requirements stipulated in this announcement shall be permitted for export to China.

2. During the first two years of trade, the competent authority of the exporting country shall conduct sampling inspections on each consignment of cocoa beans destined for China at a rate of no less than 2%. If no phytosanitary issues arise within these two years, the sampling rate may be adjusted to no less than 1%.

3. If any quarantine pests of concern to China Customs, plant debris, or soil are detected, the entire consignment shall be prohibited from export to China. The competent authority of the exporting country shall investigate the cause and implement corrective measures. Furthermore, records of such detections must be maintained and provided to China Customs upon request.

(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.

1. For cocoa beans that have passed quarantine inspection, the official authority of the exporting country shall issue a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate must specify the name or registration number of the production or processing enterprise and include the following additional declaration: "This consignment complies with Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Cocoa Beans from Africa to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China."

If live pests are detected, the consignment must undergo pest-eradication treatment—such as fumigation—prior to export. The phytosanitary certificate must detail the treatment method, the name of the chemical agent used, the dosage, the duration, and the temperature.

2. Before trade commences, the official authority of the exporting country shall provide a sample of the phytosanitary certificate to China Customs for verification and record-keeping purposes.

VII. Inspection and Quarantine upon Entry and Handling of Non-Compliant Consignments

Upon the arrival of cocoa beans destined for China at a Chinese port of entry, China Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements:

(I) Verification of Certificates and Markings

1. Verify that the accompanying phytosanitary certificate is authentic and valid.

2. Verify that the markings on the packaging (crates/boxes) and pallets comply with the provisions set forth in Section (III) of Article VI of this Announcement.

(II) Inspection of Goods

Imported cocoa beans shall be subject to inspection and quarantine in accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules. Consignments that pass inspection and quarantine shall be permitted to enter China.

(III) Handling of Non-Compliant Consignments

1. If the cocoa beans are found to originate from an unregistered production or processing enterprise, the consignment shall be returned or destroyed.

2. If the consignment is not accompanied by a valid phytosanitary certificate, it shall be returned or destroyed.

3. If any quarantine pests—including those of specific concern to China Customs—are detected in a live state, or if plant debris or soil is found, the affected shipment shall be returned, destroyed, or subjected to quarantine treatment.

4. If a shipment is found to be non-compliant with China’s food safety laws, regulations, or national standards, it shall be returned or destroyed.

5. Any other instances of non-compliance with China’s import quarantine requirements shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Should any of the aforementioned non-compliance issues arise, China Customs will immediately notify the competent authorities of the exporting country and, depending on the circumstances, may suspend the import of cocoa beans from the relevant production or processing enterprises. The competent authorities of the exporting country shall investigate the root cause and implement corrective measures to prevent a recurrence. China Customs will determine whether to lift the suspension based on the outcome of the corrective actions taken by the exporting country’s authorities.

This announcement shall take effect on December 15, 2026.

GACC