Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Fresh Banana from Colombia to China

According to relevant Chinese laws and regulations and the "Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for the Export of Fresh Bananas from Colombia to China between China Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia", the import of fresh bananas from Colombia that meet the following requirements is allowed from now on.

I. Inspection and quarantine basis

(I) "Law of the People's Republic of China on Biosafety";

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

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

(IV) "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Fruits";

(V) "Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for the Export of Fresh Bananas from Colombia to China between China Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia".

II. Names of commodities allowed for entry

Fresh bananas (hereinafter referred to as bananas), scientific name Musa spp., English name Banana. Only unripe green bananas with uncracked peels are allowed.

III. Permitted origin

Banana producing areas in Colombia

IV. Approved orchards and packaging plants

Orchards and packaging plants for banana exports to China must be audited by the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration and approved for registration by the Chinese Customs. Registration information must include the company name, address and identification code, etc., so that the exported goods can be accurately traced when they do not comply with the relevant provisions of this Protocol. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration shall provide the Chinese Customs with a list of registered orchards and packaging plants before the export season each year, and publish it on the website after review and approval by the Chinese Customs.

V. Quarantine pests of concern

1. Aleurodicus dispersus

2. Dysmicoccus grassii

3. Dysmicoccus neobrevipes

4. Pinnaspis strachani

5. Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi

6. Selenaspidus articulatus

7. Vinsonia stellifera

8. Ralstonia solanacearum race 2

VI. Pre-export management

(I) Orchard management.

1. Banana orchards exporting to China should establish and implement good agricultural practices (GAP) to ensure the traceability of the production process; maintain orchard sanitary conditions, remove rotten, diseased and cracked fruits during harvest, and implement integrated pest management (IPM), including pest and disease monitoring, chemical or biological control, and agricultural operations.

2. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration shall implement orchard monitoring for quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese Customs. The monitoring program and overall preventive control measures shall be implemented by producers in accordance with the technical guidelines of the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration. Once quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese Customs are found, corrective measures shall be taken immediately. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration will supervise the compliance of monitoring and control measures through monitoring and verification inspections.

3. Plant quarantine measures for orchards exported to China must be implemented under the guidance of technicians with plant quarantine knowledge such as pest control and monitoring. The technicians shall receive training from the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration or its authorized agencies.

4. All registered orchards must keep records of pest monitoring and control and provide them to the Chinese Customs upon request. The control records must include detailed information such as the name, active ingredient, application date and concentration of all chemical agents used during the growing season.

5. For banana bacterial wilt species 2, the monitoring of orchards exported to China shall be implemented by producers in accordance with the guidelines of the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration. Once symptoms related to banana bacterial wilt species 2 are found in the orchard, eradication measures shall be taken as required.

6. For other quarantine pests such as whiteflies and scale insects that are of concern to China Customs, orchard monitoring must be carried out every 15 days from the flowering period to the harvest period of bananas. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, comprehensive management measures including chemical, physical or biological control will be taken to ensure that bananas exported to China do not carry the above-mentioned quarantine pests. Monitoring and control activities are implemented by producers and supervised by the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration.

(II) Packaging plant management.

1. The processing, packaging, storage and shipping of bananas exported to China must be carried out under the quarantine supervision of officials of the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration.

2. The packaging plant should be kept clean and hygienic to prevent secondary infection of pests. During the packaging process, the defective fruits are removed through screening, sorting and grading, and the fruits are washed with water, brushed on the surface, sterilized and packaged to ensure that they are free of insects, mites, rotten fruits, branches, leaves, roots and soil.

3. If the processed bananas need to be stored, they should be stored separately to avoid reinfection by pests.

(III) Packaging requirements.

1. Packaging materials should be clean, unused, and comply with China's plant quarantine requirements. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with the relevant requirements of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

2. The packaging boxes of bananas exported to China should be marked with "输往中华人民共和国" or "Exported to the People's Republic of China" in Chinese or English, as well as the name of the fruit, the country of export, the place of origin (province/city), the name of the company and the registration number.

3. The means of transport loaded with bananas exported to China must meet safety and hygiene requirements and must not carry quarantine pests, branches, leaves and soil of concern to the Chinese Customs.

(IV) Pre-export inspection and quarantine.

1. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Agency shall conduct random inspections on each batch of bananas exported to China in accordance with the proportions recommended by International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 31 (ISPM 31). If the goods are less than 3,000 pieces, the random inspection ratio will not be less than 2%. Ensure that the exported bananas are in an immature state and do not carry quarantine pests, branches, leaves and soil of concern to the Chinese Customs.

2. If live quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese Customs are found, the entire batch of goods shall not be exported to China. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Agency shall find out the reasons and take corrective measures. At the same time, keep the records of seizures and provide them to the Chinese Customs upon request.

(V) Requirements for plant quarantine certificates.

1. For bananas that have passed quarantine, the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Agency shall issue a plant quarantine certificate, indicating the company name and code and container number, and indicate "This consignment complies with requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Banana Fruits from Colombia to China, and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to China." in the additional statement.

2. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Agency shall provide a sample of the plant quarantine certificate to the Chinese Customs before the start of trade so that the Chinese Customs can record and verify it.

VII. Entry inspection and quarantine and unqualified handling

When bananas exported to China arrive at the Chinese entry port, the Chinese Customs will verify the relevant documents and labels and implement inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements.

(i) Verification of relevant certificates and labels.

1. Check whether the imported bananas have obtained the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit".

2. Check whether the plant quarantine certificate complies with the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (e) of this announcement.

3. Check whether the markings on the packaging boxes or pallets comply with the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (iii) of this announcement.

(ii) Entry inspection and quarantine.

1. Bananas exported to China should enter the country from all ports where the Chinese Customs allows the import of fruits.

2. According to relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules and other regulations, imported bananas shall be subject to inspection and quarantine. If they pass the inspection and quarantine, they shall be allowed to enter the country.

(iii) Disqualified treatment.

1. If it is found that the goods come from orchards or packaging plants not approved by the Chinese Customs, the goods shall not be allowed to enter the country.

2. If ripe or cracked bananas are found, the above bananas shall be destroyed.

3. If banana bacterial wilt species 2 is found, the goods shall be returned or destroyed.

4. If other quarantine pests of concern to China Customs or newly occurring quarantine pests in Colombia, as well as branches, leaves and soil, are found, the batch of goods shall be returned, destroyed or treated with pests.

5. If it is found that it does not meet the national food safety standards of China, the batch of goods shall be returned or destroyed.

6. If the above non-compliance is found, China Customs will immediately notify the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration and suspend the import of bananas from the relevant orchards and packaging plants as appropriate until improvement measures are taken. The Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Administration should find out the reasons for the non-compliance and take measures to prevent similar situations from happening again. China Customs will decide whether to cancel the suspension measures based on the rectification results.

GACC