Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Bird's Nest from Vietnam to China

In accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, as well as the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam on the inspection, quarantine and sanitation requirements for Vietnam's export of raw bird's nests and edible bird's nests to China, from now on, Vietnamese raw bird's nests and edible bird's nests that meet the relevant requirements are allowed to be imported.

I. Inspection and quarantine basis

(1) Laws and regulations.

"Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations, "Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine" and its implementing regulations, "Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection" and its implementing regulations, "Special Provisions of the State Council on Strengthening the Supervision and Management of Food and Other Product Safety", "Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety of the People's Republic of China", "Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food of the People's Republic of China", etc.

(2) Bilateral Protocol.

"Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitation Requirements for Vietnam's Export of Raw Bird's Nests and Edible Bird's Nests to China" between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

II. Products allowed to be imported

"Raw bird's nests" allowed to be imported refer to: products formed by the saliva of swiftlets and similar swiftlets, which have been effectively treated to remove feces, soil and general impurities, are free of mold and mildew, and have not added any substances. They are the raw materials for the production of edible bird's nests.

The "edible bird's nest" allowed for import refers to: bird's nest formed by the saliva of swiftlets and the same type of swallows, which has been effectively removed of dirt and feathers and is suitable for human consumption.

III. Requirements for production enterprises

The production and processing of hairy bird's nests and edible bird's nests exported to China must comply with the relevant inspection and quarantine and food safety and sanitation regulations of China and Vietnam. Hairy bird's nests and edible bird's nests exported to China must be effectively heated to kill avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus with a center temperature of not less than 70°C for at least 3.6 seconds.

Primary processing enterprises of hairy bird's nests exported to China and processing enterprises of edible bird's nests must be registered with the Chinese Customs in accordance with the "Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Foods of the People's Republic of China". Products produced after the date of registration can only be exported to China. Production enterprises that have not obtained registration are not allowed to export to the Chinese Customs. Primary processing enterprises of hairy bird's nests exported to China and processing enterprises of edible bird's nests should have production and operation equipment or facilities that are suitable for the variety and quantity of products they produce and operate; have reasonable equipment layout and process flow to avoid cross contamination; have effective epidemic prevention and management systems and corresponding facilities and equipment to ensure product safety and sanitation.

IV. Inspection and quarantine requirements

(1) The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall establish a bird's nest house (bird's nest cave) epidemic prevention and sanitation management system; bird's nest harvesting and transportation sanitation control operation procedures; annual animal disease monitoring plan and toxic and hazardous substances monitoring plan related to quarantine and sanitation and food safety of exported raw bird's nests and edible bird's nests, of which the annual disease monitoring plan shall include a monitoring plan for avian influenza and Newcastle disease of a reasonable number of swiftlets in bird's nests (bird's nest caves) that have been reported to the Chinese Customs.

(2) The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall ensure that primary processing enterprises of raw bird's nests exported to China and edible bird's nest processing enterprises establish a bird's nest traceability system from bird's nests (bird's nest caves) to export, which can be traced and recalled when problems occur, and traced back to registered bird's nests (bird's nest caves).

(3) Raw bird's nests and edible bird's nests are produced and processed under an effective quality system, and are effectively heat-processed, without any contamination by pathogens that may harm the health of poultry and humans, and comply with the laws and regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam and the Chinese Customs. Implement effective sanitation treatment. The outer packaging and transportation containers are disinfected.

V. Product Certificate Requirements

Each batch of raw bird's nest and edible bird's nest exported to China shall be accompanied by an original veterinary health certificate. The veterinary health certificate shall be written in Chinese and English, and its format and content shall be approved by both parties in advance.

The veterinary health certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam shall indicate:

(1) Registration number of the bird's nest house (bird's nest cave), registration number of the primary processing enterprise (processing enterprise), and source of raw materials of the product.

(2) The area where the bird's nest (bird's nest cave) is located has carried out monitoring of highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease in accordance with the relevant rules of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and no abnormalities have been found.

(3) Necessary precautions have been taken to prevent the product from contacting all sources of avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses.

(4) The product has undergone effective heat processing, and the processing technology requirements are not less than "heating at a center temperature of not less than 70°C for at least 3.6 seconds".

(5) The product complies with Chinese laws, regulations and relevant standards and requirements.

(6) Suitable for processed food or human consumption.

VI. Product packaging and labeling requirements

Raw bird's nests and edible bird's nests exported to China must be packaged with new materials that meet international health standards, and the inner and outer packaging should be sealed.

The outer packaging of raw bird's nests exported to China must clearly indicate the product name, weight, bird's nest (bird's nest cave) registration number, name, address and registration number of the primary processing enterprise, product storage conditions and production date, shelf life in Chinese and English, and indicate the destination as the People's Republic of China; mark "only for deep processing in the processing site, not for the retail market" and other relevant information.

The inner and outer packaging of edible bird's nests exported to China must indicate the product name, weight, bird's nest (bird's nest cave) registration number, name, address and registration number of the processing enterprise, product storage conditions and production date and other relevant information in Chinese and English. The labeling of relevant product information must comply with Chinese laws, regulations and relevant standards and requirements.

GACC

April 25, 2025