Regarding the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Watermelon from Uzbekistan to China

In accordance with the phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh watermelons from Uzbekistan to China—as agreed upon by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Food Safety Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan—the import of fresh watermelons from Uzbekistan that meet the following requirements is permitted, effective immediately.

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 Fruits;

(V) The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Food Safety Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Phytosanitary Requirements for Fresh Watermelons Exported from Uzbekistan to China.

II. Permitted Commodity

Watermelon (scientific name: *Citrullus lanatus* L.).

III. Permitted Origin

Watermelon-producing regions within the Republic of Uzbekistan.

IV. Approved Production Sites and Packing Houses

Production sites and packing houses for watermelons intended for export to China must be audited by the Food Safety Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and jointly registered and approved by the General Administration of Customs of China and the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan. Registration information—including the name, address, and registration number—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 Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan 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.

V. Quarantine Pests of Concern to the General Administration of Customs of China

1. Myiopardalis pardalina

2. Cladosporium cucumerinum

3. Verticillium albo-atrum

4. Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi

VI. Pre-export Management

(I) Field Management

1. Watermelon orchards intended for export to China shall establish a comprehensive quality management and traceability system under the supervision of the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan. This includes implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintaining sanitary conditions in the orchards (e.g., ensuring no pollution sources that could adversely affect watermelon production are present nearby, and promptly removing fallen or rotten fruit), and employing Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM measures shall include regular pest monitoring and surveys, as well as physical, chemical, or biological control methods and appropriate cultivation practices.

2. In accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 6 (ISPM 6), the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall develop a field management plan targeting quarantine pests of concern to China Customs and organize year-round field monitoring. If any pests or associated symptoms are detected during monitoring, comprehensive management measures—including chemical, physical, or biological controls—must be implemented to suppress pest population density or maintain it at a low-prevalence level.

3. Watermelons intended for export to China must originate from production areas free from Myiopardalis pardalina. Such pest-free areas shall be established by the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 10 (ISPM 10), with pest monitoring conducted as required, and must be approved by China Customs. If Myiopardalis pardalina is detected within a designated pest-free area, the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall immediately suspend the pest-free status of that area, notify China Customs within 48 hours, and initiate emergency response procedures. Once the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan has eradicated an outbreak and this has been recognized by China Customs, the status of the affected area as a pest-free production zone may be restored.

4. Regarding Cladosporium cucumerinum and Verticillium albo-atrum, the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan or its authorized personnel must conduct field surveys starting from the watermelon seedling stage, with inspections carried out every 7 days. If either of these pests—or symptoms of damage caused by them—is detected, integrated management measures, including chemical or biological control, must be implemented. The Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall suspend exports to China for the current season from all registered watermelon production plots in the affected area and notify China Customs accordingly.

5. Regarding Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi, the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan or its authorized personnel must conduct manual monitoring throughout the watermelon growing season, with field inspections carried out every 15 days. These inspections should focus on detecting any damage caused by this pest on leaves, fruits, or fruit stalks. If the pest or symptoms of damage are identified, integrated management measures, including chemical or biological control, must be implemented.

6. The Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall maintain records of pest monitoring and control measures for all production plots intended for export to China and provide these records to China Customs upon request. Such records must include, at a minimum, the date of monitoring, the name of any pest detected, and the control measures taken. Records of chemical control must include detailed information on all chemical agents used during the watermelon growing season, such as their names, active ingredients, concentrations, and dates of application.

7. Pest monitoring and control activities must be carried out under the guidance of professional technical personnel. Such personnel shall have received training from the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan or its authorized institutions.

(II) Management of Packing Houses.

1. The processing, packaging, storage, and shipment of watermelons destined for China must be conducted under the quarantine supervision of the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan or its authorized personnel.

2. Packing facilities for watermelons destined for China must be clean and hygienic, feature paved (hardened) flooring, and include designated areas for raw materials and finished products.

3. Functional areas for the storage, processing, handling, and warehousing of watermelons destined for China must be relatively independent and logically laid out; they must also be separated from living quarters by an appropriate distance.

4. During the packing process, watermelons destined for China must undergo manual selection, grading, and cleaning to remove diseased, pest-infested, rotten, or deformed fruit, as well as branches, leaves, roots, other plant debris, and soil.

5. If packed watermelons require storage, they must be moved into a warehouse immediately. All stored watermelons must meet the same phytosanitary requirements and be kept separate to prevent re-infestation by pests.

6. Registered packing facilities must establish a traceability system to ensure that watermelons destined for China can be traced back to their registered production fields. This includes recording information such as the processing and packing date, the registered name or registration number, the date of export, the export quantity, and the destination country.

(III) Packaging Requirements

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

2. Each package must be labeled—in either Chinese or English—with information including the type of watermelon, variety, country of origin, production area, specific plot, and the name or registration number of the packing facility. Each shipping carton and pallet must be marked 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 watermelons to China must be inspected at the time of loading to ensure they are in good, hygienic condition. Containers must be sealed, and the seals must remain intact upon arrival at the port of entry in China.

(IV) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.

1. During the first two years of trade, the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall conduct sampling inspections of watermelons destined for China at a rate of 2% per consignment. If signs of potential pest infestation or the presence of other insects are detected, the fruit may be cut open for further examination. If no phytosanitary issues arise within these two years, the sampling rate shall be reduced to 1%.

2. If any quarantine pests of concern to China, as well as plant debris (branches/leaves) or soil, are detected, the affected consignment shall be prohibited from export to China. Depending on the circumstances, exports of watermelons from the specific production plots and packing houses involved may be suspended for the remainder of the export season. The Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall investigate the cause and implement corrective measures. Records of such detections must be maintained and provided to China Customs upon request.

(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements.

For consignments that pass inspection and quarantine, the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall issue a phytosanitary certificate in accordance with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12). The certificate must specify the name or registration number of the production plot and packing house, as well as the container number (if applicable). Additionally, the following statement must be included in the "Additional Declaration" section of the phytosanitary certificate: "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Watermelon from Uzbekistan to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China."

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

Upon the arrival of watermelons at the 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 watermelons are covered by a valid "Permit for Entry of Animals and Plants."

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

3. Verify that the markings on the packaging boxes and pallets comply with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph (III) of this announcement.

(II) Entry Inspection and Quarantine.

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

2. Upon arrival at a Chinese port of entry, China Customs will examine the relevant documents and markings, and conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with Chinese laws, regulations, national standards, and the requirements of this announcement. Consignments that pass inspection and quarantine will be permitted to enter.

(III) Handling of Non-compliant Consignments.

1. If a consignment is found to originate from an unapproved production site or packing house, it shall be denied entry.

2. If any quarantine pests of concern to China Customs—or any quarantine pests newly detected in Uzbekistan—are found, the consignment shall be returned, destroyed, or subjected to phytosanitary treatment.

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

GACC

Monitoring Guidelines for Myiopardalis Pardalina

I. Monitoring via Attractant-Based Trapping

The Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall conduct monitoring for *Myiopardalis pardalina* in watermelon production areas intended for export to China, utilizing pheromones and protein-based attractants. The monitoring period shall span from April 20 (the onset of the watermelon flowering season) to September 30 (the conclusion of the watermelon harvest season).

(I) Types of Attractants and Traps

1. Pheromones and Pheromone Traps

The attractant consists of a male sex pheromone; the lure must be sourced from a legitimate supplier. Traps used should be of the "Dome" type or another design approved by China Customs. Each trap shall contain one pheromone lure.

2. Protein-Based Attractants and Traps

The attractant consists of a protein-based bait for *Myiopardalis pardalina* (Torula yeast and borax pellets) in the form of cylindrical granules. Traps used should be of the "McPhail" type or another design approved by China Customs. To prepare, add a small amount of clean water to the trap, then place four pellets into the water until they dissolve.

(II) Monitoring Locations

Watermelon fields, packing facilities, watermelon collection/distribution points, cold storage facilities, etc.

(III) Trap Placement

Hang the traps approximately 15–30 cm from the plants. Ensure they are shaded to protect them from direct sunlight and rainfall.

(IV) Trap Density

For watermelon fields, one hectare shall serve as a single monitoring unit. At least two traps for each type of attractant must be deployed per unit. For every additional hectare of watermelon cultivation, two additional traps for each type of attractant must be added. At all other monitoring locations, at least two traps for each type of attractant must be deployed.

(V) Replacement of Attractants

Pheromone lures must be replaced every 15–20 days, and protein-based attractants must be replaced every 1–2 weeks.

(VI) Inspection Frequency

Apply sex pheromones 5–6 days before the germination and flowering of the melon seedlings. Starting from the date of application, count the number of fruit flies every 3 days. If any fruit flies are detected at 8:00 AM on a scheduled counting day, record the data immediately and cease further counting.

(VII) Inspectors.

Personnel from the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan or authorized technical staff.

II. Yellow Sticky Traps

Yellow sticky traps must be installed in all registered plots. To enhance trapping efficacy, these should be used in conjunction with a carbamide-based agent (or another agent approved by the General Administration of Customs of China).

Monitoring via traps must be conducted from the fruit-setting stage (growth phase) through the end of the harvest period.

A minimum of 3 yellow sticky traps must be hung per hectare in each plot. For plantations exceeding 1 hectare, an additional 3 traps must be added for every additional hectare.

During the production season, the traps should be inspected every 7 days; in the period leading up to harvest, they should be inspected twice every 7 days.

The yellow sticky traps and the carbamide-based liquid agent must be replaced at least once every two weeks. If the surface of a trap becomes covered with plant debris, it should be replaced promptly. The carbamide-based attractant must be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure its effectiveness throughout the entire growing season.

If the average number of fruit flies caught per trap in a registered plot exceeds two over a period of two consecutive weeks, the Food Safety Committee of Uzbekistan shall suspend the export eligibility of the affected plot(s) for that season and notify the General Administration of Customs of China.

III. Inspection by Cutting Open Watermelons

During the growing season for watermelons intended for export to China, 200 watermelons exhibiting deformities, rot, insect damage, or other blemishes shall be selected from each 40-hectare production unit and cut open to inspect for the presence of fruit fly infestation.