Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Fresh Coconuts Fruits from Malaysia to China

According to the provisions of the "Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Coconuts from Malaysia to China between the Customs of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia", the import of fresh coconuts from Malaysia that meet the following relevant requirements is allowed from now on.

I. Inspection and quarantine basis

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

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

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

(4) "Regulations on Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Fruits";

(5) "Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Coconuts from Malaysia to China between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia".

II. Names of commodities allowed for entry

Fresh coconut (hereinafter referred to as coconut), scientific name Cocos nucifera L., English name Fresh Coconut.

III. Permitted origin

Coconut producing areas in Malaysia.

IV. Enterprise registration

Coconut orchards and packaging plants exporting to China must be reviewed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia and approved for registration by the Chinese Customs. Registration information should include name, address and registration number so that the export goods can be accurately traced back to the registered orchard and packaging plant when they do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. Before the export season each year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia shall provide the registration list to the Chinese Customs, which will be published on the website after review and approval by the Chinese Customs.

V. Quarantine pests of concern

1. Libilli's gray mealybug

2. Black silk shield scale

3. Mango oyster scale

4. Ocean hip-lined mealybug

5. Coconut heart leaf beetle

6. Red palm weevil

7. Sub-palm weevil

VI. Pre-export management

(I) Orchard management.

1. Coconut orchards exported to China should establish a sound quality management and traceability system under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, implement good agricultural practices (GAP), maintain sanitary conditions in the orchard, such as no pollution sources affecting fruit production in the surrounding area, timely clean up fallen and rotten fruits, and implement integrated pest management (IPM), including regular pest monitoring surveys, physical, chemical or biological pest control, and agricultural operations and other prevention and control measures.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia should formulate a management plan for quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs in accordance with the requirements of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 6 (ISPM 6) and organize orchard monitoring. In order to monitor and capture pests, in addition to visual inspections, some physical and chemical control methods should also be used in orchards.

3. For scale insect pests, orchard monitoring should be carried out, from flowering to harvest, at least once every 15 days to check whether there are scale insects on fruits, stems and leaves.

4. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, integrated management measures including chemical, physical or biological control shall be taken to ensure that coconuts exported to China do not carry quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs. The integrated management measures must be approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia and provided to Chinese Customs upon request before the start of trade.

5. Pest monitoring and control should be carried out under the guidance of professional technicians. The technicians should receive training from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia or its authorized training institutions.

6. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia shall keep pest monitoring and control records of registered orchards and provide them to Chinese Customs when necessary. The control records shall include information such as the name, active ingredients, dosage and time of the chemical agents used during the growing season.

(II) Packaging plant management.

1. The processing and packaging process of coconuts exported to China must be carried out under the quarantine supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia or its authorized officials.

2. The packaging plant for coconuts exported to China should be clean and hygienic, with hardened ground and raw material field and finished product warehouse.

3. Storage, processing, handling, and storage of coconuts exported to China should be relatively independent and reasonably laid out, and isolated from living areas.

4. During the packaging process, coconuts exported to China should be manually selected, graded, and cleaned to remove diseased, worm-eaten, rotten, deformed, branches, leaves, fruit stalks, or other plant debris and soil.

5. If packaged coconuts need to be stored, they should be immediately put into storage and stored separately to avoid reinfection by pests.

6. Registered packaging plants should establish a traceability system to ensure that coconuts exported from Malaysia to China can be traced back to registered orchards. The information in the traceability system should include the date of processing and packaging, the name of the source orchard or its registration number, the date of export, the export quantity, the country of export, the container number, etc.

(III) Packaging requirements.

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

2. Each package box must be labeled in Chinese or English with the fruit name, variety, country, origin, registered orchard and packaging factory name or its registration number. Each package box and pallet must 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 loaded with coconuts exported from Malaysia to China must be checked for good sanitary conditions before packing. The containers should be sealed and the seals should be intact when arriving at the Chinese entry port.

(IV) Pre-export inspection and quarantine.

1. Before export, the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security shall conduct sampling inspections on each batch of coconuts exported to China at a rate of 2%. If there are no plant quarantine issues within two years, the sampling rate will be reduced to 1%.

2. If branches, leaves, soil or quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese Customs listed in this announcement are found, the entire batch of goods shall not be exported to China, and the export of coconuts from the relevant orchards and packaging factories to China in this export season shall be suspended depending on the situation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia shall find out the reasons and take corrective measures; at the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia shall keep the records of seizure and provide them to China Customs upon request.

(V) Requirements for plant quarantine certificates.

For goods that have passed the quarantine, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia shall issue a plant quarantine certificate in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12), indicating the name of the orchard and packaging plant or its registration number, and fill in the following additional statement: " This consignment complies with requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Coconuts Fruits from Malaysia to the People's Republic of China, and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China. "

VII. Entry inspection and quarantine and unqualified treatment

When coconuts exported to China arrive at the Chinese entry port, China 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. Verify whether the imported coconuts have obtained the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit".

2. Verify whether the plant quarantine certificate complies with the provisions of Article 6, Item (V) of this Announcement.

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

(II) Entry Inspection and Quarantine.

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

2. According to relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules, etc., imported coconuts 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 coconuts come from unregistered orchards or packaging factories, or the coconuts are overripe, the batch of goods will not be allowed to enter the country.

2. If quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese Customs or other quarantine pests newly occurring in Malaysia are found, or soil, plant residues, etc. are found, the batch of goods will be returned, destroyed or pest-free.

3. If it is found that the goods do not comply with China's food safety laws, regulations and national standards, the batch of goods will be returned or destroyed.

4. If the above-mentioned non-conformity is found, China Customs will immediately notify the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia and suspend the import of coconuts from the relevant orchards and packaging plants in this export season as appropriate. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia should find out the reasons for the non-conformity and require the relevant orchards and packaging plants to make rectifications until the relevant rectification measures are effectively implemented and approved by China Customs.

GACC

April 30, 2025