Regarding the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Berries from Kyrgyz Republic to China

In accordance with the phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh berries from the Kyrgyz Republic to China—as established between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter referred to as the "competent Kyrgyz authority")—the import of fresh berries from the Kyrgyz Republic that meet the following requirements is now permitted.

I. Legal Basis for Quarantine

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

(ii) The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementation regulations;

(iii) The Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and its implementation regulations;

(iv) The Administrative Measures for the Inspection and Quarantine Supervision of Imported Fruit;

(v) ​​The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic on Phytosanitary Requirements for Fresh Berries Exported from the Kyrgyz Republic to China.

II. Permitted Commodities

Fresh berries, including raspberries (*Rubus idaeus*), blackcurrants (*Ribes nigrum*), and blackberries (*Rubus fruticosus*).

III. Permitted Origin

Berry-producing regions within the Kyrgyz Republic.

IV. Approved Orchards and Packing Houses

All orchards and packing houses exporting berries to China must be audited by the competent Kyrgyz authority and registered with the General Administration of Customs of China. Registration details—including the name, address, and registration code—must be provided to ensure accurate traceability in the event that exported goods fail to comply with the provisions of this announcement. Prior to the start of each export season, the competent Kyrgyz authority shall submit the list of registered entities to the General Administration of Customs of China; once reviewed and approved, the list will be published on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China.

V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to China Customs

1. Byturus tomentosus

2. Erwinia amylovora

3. Podosphaera mors-uvae

4. Tobacco Ringspot Virus

5. Verticillium dahliae

VI. Pre-export Management

(I) Orchard Management

1. Orchards exporting to China shall establish and implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) under the supervision of the competent authority of Kyrgyzstan. This includes maintaining orchard hygiene (e.g., timely removal of fallen fruit) and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—such as pest surveys, monitoring, chemical or biological control, and other cultivation practices—to prevent or minimize the occurrence of quarantine pests of concern to China Customs on the berries.

2. The competent authority of Kyrgyzstan shall develop a management plan for the quarantine pests of concern to China Customs, in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 6 (ISPM 6), and organize the implementation of monitoring activities in the orchards. If any quarantine pest of concern to China Customs is detected, appropriate control measures must be taken immediately.

3. Pest monitoring and control shall be carried out under the guidance of professional technical personnel from the competent authority of Kyrgyzstan. Such personnel must have received training from the competent authority of Kyrgyzstan or its authorized institutions.

4. The competent authority of Kyrgyzstan shall maintain records of pest monitoring, surveys, and control activities in the orchards, and shall provide these to China Customs upon request. Records of pest monitoring and control must include the date of monitoring, the name of any pests detected, and the control measures taken. Records of chemical control must include detailed information on all chemical agents used during the growing season, such as their names, active ingredients, concentrations, and dates of application.

5. For Byturus tomentosus, orchards intended for export to China must be monitored every two weeks from the bud stage through to harvest. Inspections should focus on the soil, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit to detect the presence of this pest. If Byturus tomentosus is discovered, chemical or biological control measures must be implemented immediately to manage the infestation.

6. Regarding Podosphaera mors-uvae, Erwinia amylovora, Tobacco Ringspot Virus, and Verticillium dahliae, orchards must be kept clean through regular maintenance. This includes removing diseased branches, leaves, or roots, and disposing of plant debris found on the ground—such as fallen branches and leaves—by burning or deep burial. Monitoring must be conducted every two weeks from the bud stage through to harvest, with a focus on inspecting branches, trunks, leaves, buds, stems, and fruit for any suspicious symptoms. If any such symptoms are observed, samples must be collected for laboratory testing. Should the presence of a disease be confirmed, chemical or biological control measures must be taken immediately.

(II) Management of Packing Houses

1. The processing, packaging, storage, and shipment of berries intended for export to China must be carried out under the supervision of competent official authorities in Kyrgyzstan or their authorized agencies.

2. Packing houses handling berries for export to China must maintain high standards of hygiene. The ground must be paved (hardened surface), and facilities must be equipped to prevent re-infestation by pests (e.g., through the installation of insect-proof netting).

3. Berries intended for export to China must be packed and stored separately from fruit not destined for the Chinese market.

4. During the packaging process, berries intended for export to China must undergo culling, sorting, and grading to ensure they are free from insects, mites, decayed fruit, plant parts (such as branches, leaves, or roots), and soil.

5. Registered packing houses shall establish a traceability system to ensure that berries exported to China can be traced back to the registered orchards. Records must include the date of processing and packaging, the name or registration number of the source orchard, quantity, date of export, export volume, destination country, and container number.

(III) Packaging Requirements.

1. Packaging materials must be clean, hygienic, unused, and compliant with China’s phytosanitary and sanitary requirements. If wood packaging is used, it must comply with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

2. Each carton must be marked—in either Chinese or English—with the name of the fruit, the country of origin, the place of origin (province/city), and the name or registration number of the orchard and packing house. Each carton and pallet must also be labeled in Chinese or English with "输往中华人民共和国" or "Exported to the People's Republic of China."

3. Containers used for transporting berries to China must be inspected prior to loading to ensure they are in a sanitary condition. Appropriate pest-prevention measures must be taken during the loading process.

(IV) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.

1. The competent authority of Kyrgyzstan (or its authorized agency) shall conduct sampling inspections on each consignment of berries destined for China at a rate of 2%. If no phytosanitary issues occur within a two-year period, this sampling rate may be reduced to 1%.

2. If any live quarantine pests of concern to China Customs, as well as plant debris (twigs/leaves) or soil, are detected, the entire consignment shall be prohibited from export to China. The competent authority of Kyrgyzstan shall investigate the cause and implement corrective measures. Furthermore, the competent authority of Kyrgyzstan shall maintain inspection records and provide them to China Customs upon request.

(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.

1. For berries that pass quarantine inspection, the competent authority of the Kyrgyz Republic shall issue a phytosanitary certificate in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12). The certificate must specify the name or registration number of the orchard and the packing house, as well as the container number. Additionally, it shall include the following, or similar, statement in the "Additional Declaration" section: "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Berries from the Kyrgyz Republic to China, and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to China."

2. Prior to the commencement of trade, the competent authority of the Kyrgyz Republic shall provide a sample of the phytosanitary certificate to China Customs for verification and record-keeping purposes.

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

Upon the arrival of berries exported to China at a Chinese port of entry, China Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements:

(I) Verification of relevant certificates and markings:

1. Verify whether the imported berries have obtained an "Entry Permit for Animals and Plants."

2. Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate complies with the provisions set forth in Article VI, Paragraph (V) of this Announcement.

3. Verify whether the markings on the packaging boxes and pallets comply with the provisions set forth in Article VI, Paragraph (III) of this Announcement.

(II) Entry inspection and quarantine:

1. Berries exported to China must enter through ports approved by China Customs for the importation of fruit.

2. Upon the arrival of the berries at a Chinese port of entry, China Customs shall verify the relevant documents and markings, and conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, national standards, and the requirements of this Announcement. Consignments that pass inspection and quarantine shall be permitted entry.

(III) Handling of non-compliant consignments:

1. If any berries are found to originate from orchards or packing houses not registered with China Customs, the shipment shall be denied entry.

2. If any live quarantine pests of concern to China Customs, quarantine pests newly emerged in the Kyrgyz Republic, or contaminants such as soil or plant debris are detected, the shipment shall be returned, destroyed, or subjected to phytosanitary treatment.

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

GACC

October 20, 2026