Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Export of Fresh Apple from Belgium

According to the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority regarding phytosanitary requirements for the export of Belgian apples to China, effective immediately, Belgian apples that meet the following relevant requirements are permitted to be imported.

I. Quarantine Basis

(1) The Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China;

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

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

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

(5) Protocol between the Customs of China and the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Belgian Apples to China.

II. Permitted Import Commodity Names

The scientific name for apple is Malus domestica.

III. Permitted Places of Origin

Apple-producing regions in Belgium.

IV. Approved orchards and packing plants

Apple orchards, packing plants, and cold processing facilities exporting to China must be audited by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority and registered with Chinese Customs. Registration information includes name, address, and registration number to facilitate accurate traceability in case exported goods do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. Before each export season, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority shall provide a list of registered entities to Chinese Customs, which will then review and approve the list and publish it on the Customs website for regular updates.

V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to Chinese Customs

1. Ceratitis capitata

2. Cydia pomonella

3. Cydia lobarzewskii

4. Dasineura mali

5. Dysaphis devecta

6. Dysaphis plantaginea

7. Epidiaspis leperii

8. Eriosoma lanigerum

9. Hoplocampa testudinea

10. Lepidosaphes ulmi

11. Pulvinaria hydrangea

12. Rhopalosiphum insertum

13. Phytophthora syringae

14. Venturia inaequalis

15. Verticillium dahliae

16. Erwinia amylovora

VI. Pre-export management

(i) Orchard management.

1. Orchards exporting to China should establish a sound quality management system and traceability system under the supervision of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority, implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain orchard hygiene conditions, such as ensuring there are no pollution sources affecting fruit production in the surrounding area, timely removal of fallen and rotten fruit, and prohibiting the harvesting of such fruit; and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including regular pest monitoring and surveys, physical, chemical or biological control, and agricultural operation control measures.

2. The Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency shall, in accordance with the requirements of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 6 (ISPM 6), develop management plans for quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs and supervise the implementation of monitoring activities in orchards. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, integrated management measures, including chemical, physical, or biological control, shall be taken. Fallen fruit shall not be used for export.

3. Pest monitoring and control should be implemented under the supervision and guidance of professional technicians from the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority (BFSSA). The BFSSA or its authorized training institutions should provide training to the technicians.

4. The Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency should retain records of pest monitoring and control in orchards and provide them to Chinese Customs upon request. Control records should include information such as the name of the chemical agent used during the growing season, its active ingredient, dosage, and application time.

5. The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority (BFSSA) should ensure that, at least before fruit harvest, registered orchards are subject to random inspections by BFSSA or its authorized service providers (ASPs). The inspections should focus on the presence of quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs, the monitoring and control of pests in the orchard, and the maintenance of field hygiene. If quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs are suspected, samples should be sent to an official laboratory for identification, and control measures should be implemented immediately. Orchards that are poorly managed and fail to meet the phytosanitary requirements for apple exports to China should have their export eligibility suspended for the current season.

6. Regarding the Mediterranean fruit fly, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should oversee the establishment of a monitoring system for the Mediterranean fruit fly. In orchards exporting to China, producers should use Jackson traps with the sex pheromone Trimedlure as bait from flowering to harvest. The trap density should be one trap per hectare; orchards smaller than 3 hectares must have at least three traps, and inspections should be conducted every two weeks. Once the Mediterranean fruit fly is detected, effective control measures must be implemented and Chinese customs must be notified.

7. Regarding pear blight, apples exported to China should originate from blight-free growing sites. These sites should be established and maintained in accordance with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 10 (ISPM 10) and jointly approved by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority and Chinese Customs. At the request of Chinese Customs, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should promptly provide Chinese Customs with relevant information on the maintenance of blight-free growing sites.

(1) The Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency shall supervise the monitoring activities of pear blight in apple-producing areas registered for export to China. Producers shall monitor pear blight in orchards and surrounding susceptible plants at least three times a year, namely after new bud sprouting, 30-40 days after flowering, and before harvest. A buffer zone shall be established within 1000 meters of the non-blighted growing point, all susceptible hosts shall be marked, and monitoring shall be conducted at least three times a year. At the request of Chinese Customs, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency shall promptly provide relevant monitoring data to Chinese Customs.

(2) If pear blight is detected in either a disease-free growing area or a buffer zone, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority shall suspend the export eligibility of that disease-free growing area to China for the relevant season and immediately notify Chinese Customs. The disease-free growing area may be reinstated for the next growing season after the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority eliminates the disease and it is approved by Chinese Customs.

8. Regarding the codling moth, orchards exporting to China must conduct orchard monitoring for the codling moth under the supervision of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority and under the guidance of plant protection technicians. The monitoring should begin during the peak flowering period and continue until the end of the apple harvest. The trap density should be one trap per hectare; orchards smaller than 3 hectares should have at least three traps. The lure should be replaced according to the product label instructions, and the trapping activity should be checked and recorded every two weeks. If three or more codling moths are found in a trap, the relevant production site must immediately implement effective control measures. For orchards where control measures are incomplete, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should suspend the orchard's export qualification to China and immediately notify Chinese Customs. Upon request, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should provide Chinese Customs with an investigation report or management records regarding this pest.

9. For apple leafhoppers and leafrollers, orchards exporting to China should monitor these pests under the supervision and guidance of Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority (BFSSA) technicians. Monitoring should begin during the flowering period and continue until harvest. Once apple leafhoppers or leafrollers are detected, Belgian-approved pesticides should be used promptly for control. Monitoring should also be conducted through the use of traps, sticky traps, or visual inspection of the pests in the orchard. The density of traps should be one per hectare; orchards smaller than 3 hectares must have at least three sticky traps. Traps should be inspected every two weeks. In autumn, the orchard should be cleaned, and infected fruit collected and destroyed. Orchards with incomplete control measures should be removed from the list of approved orchards for the season, and BFSSA should immediately notify Chinese Customs. Upon request, BFSSA should provide Chinese Customs with investigation reports or management records regarding these two pests.

10. For other quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs, such as apple gall midge, plantain aphid, peach scale insect, elm scale insect, as well as syringomyelia and apple black spot fungus, orchards exporting to China should conduct monitoring under the supervision and guidance of technical personnel from the Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency. Pest monitoring should be conducted at least every two weeks from flowering to harvest, focusing on checking for occurrences on stems, branches, leaves, fruit stalks, and fruits. If pests or their corresponding symptoms are found during monitoring, biological, physical, or chemical methods should be used for timely control. Orchards with incomplete control measures should be removed from the list of approved orchards for the current season, and Chinese Customs should be notified immediately. Upon request, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency should provide Chinese Customs with investigation reports or management records regarding the pests.

11. During the long-distance transportation of fruit from the orchard to the packing plant, sealed boxes or tarpaulin coverings must be used to prevent infection by harmful organisms during the journey.

(ii) Packaging plant management.

1. The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized quarantine officials oversee the apple packaging, storage, and shipping processes through annual inspections of packing plants. Packaging facilities and cold storage warehouses must maintain good hygiene and be equipped to prevent reinfection by harmful organisms (such as insect nets or ultraviolet lamps).

2. During the packaging process, apples must undergo sorting, grading, washing, and other processes to remove defective fruits, ensuring that they are free of insects, pathogens, rotten fruit, leaves, branches, roots, and soil.

3. During grading and packaging, packing plant technicians should inspect 600 fruits in each batch and select 60 fruits with suspicious symptoms for dissection. If any quarantine pests of concern to Chinese customs are found, that batch of apples cannot be exported to China. If pear blight is found, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should also suspend the export qualification of the relevant disease-free growing site to China and immediately notify Chinese customs. The disease-free status of the growing site can be restored in the next growing season after the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority has eliminated the disease and it has been approved by Chinese customs.

(iii) Packaging requirements.

1. Packaging materials should be clean, hygienic, unused, and comply with Chinese phytosanitary and sanitary requirements. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

2. Packaged apples destined for China should be immediately stored in warehouses, kept in the same warehouses as apples with the same quarantine status, and isolated from other products to prevent reinfection by harmful organisms.

3. Each package must be labeled in Chinese or English with the fruit name, country, place of origin (city or province), orchard name or its registration number, and packing plant name or its registration number. Each package and pallet must be labeled with "输往中华人民共和国" or "For the People's Republic of China" in Chinese or English.

4. Containers loaded with apples destined for China must be inspected during loading to ensure they meet good sanitary conditions. This activity must be documented for inspection by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority.

(iv) Quarantine measures.

Apples exported to China must undergo cold treatment to prevent the Mediterranean fruit fly. This cold treatment must be carried out under the supervision of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized personnel, following the cold treatment operating procedures (see Annexes 1 and 2). The cold treatment requirements should meet any one of the following:

1. The core temperature of the pulp is 1.11°C or below, and the treatment is carried out continuously for 14 days or more;

2. The core temperature of the fruit pulp is 1.67°C or below, and the treatment lasts for 16 days or more.

3. The core temperature of the fruit pulp is 2.22°C or below, and the treatment is carried out continuously for 18 days or more.

(v) Inspection and quarantine before departure.

1. During the first two years of trade, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized personnel shall conduct random inspections on 2% of each shipment of apples exported to China, with a minimum sample size of 1200 fruits. At least 60 of these fruits, along with any suspicious fruits discovered during the inspection, shall be dissected for examination. If no phytosanitary issues arise within two years, the sampling rate may be reduced to 1%, but the sample size shall not be less than 600 fruits.

2. If pear blight is detected, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should suspend the export eligibility of the relevant disease-free growing area to China and immediately notify Chinese Customs. Once the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority has eliminated the disease and it has been approved by Chinese Customs, the status of the relevant disease-free growing area can be restored in the next export season.

3. If any other live quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs are found, the shipment shall not be exported to China. The Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency shall investigate the cause and take preventative measures to improve the situation. Inspection records shall be preserved and provided to Chinese Customs upon request.

(vi) Requirements for phytosanitary certificates.

1. For apples that have passed quarantine, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority will issue a phytosanitary certificate, indicating the registered name or code of the orchard and packing plant, and specifying in the supplementary declaration:"This consignment complies with requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Apples from Belgium to China, and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China."

2. For apples that undergo pre-export cold treatment, the phytosanitary certificate should specify the treatment temperature, duration, and name or code of the treatment facility. For apples that undergo in-transit cold treatment, the phytosanitary certificate should be marked with "Cold treatment in transit" and specify the proposed treatment temperature, duration, container, and seal number.

3. Before trade officially begins, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority should provide Chinese customs with a sample of the phytosanitary certificate.

VII. Entry Inspection and Quarantine and Handling of Non-compliant Items

When apples destined for China arrive at the port of entry, Chinese customs will verify the relevant documents and labels and conduct inspection and quarantine.

(i) Verification of relevant certificates and markings.

1. Verify whether the imported apples have obtained the "Import Quarantine Permit for Animals and Plants".

2. Verify whether the plant quarantine certificate complies with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph (6) of this announcement.

3. Verify whether the markings on the packaging boxes or wooden packaging comply with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph (3) of this announcement.

4. For goods that have undergone cold treatment before export, it is necessary to verify whether the phytosanitary certificate, the cold treatment result report signed and confirmed by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority, and the fruit temperature probe calibration record meet the requirements of Article 6, Paragraph (iv) of this announcement.

5. For goods that undergo cold treatment during transportation, it is necessary to verify whether the phytosanitary certificate, cold treatment report, fruit temperature probe calibration record, etc. meet the requirements of Article 6, Paragraph (iv) of this announcement.

(ii) Entry inspection and quarantine.

1. Apples exported to China should enter China through ports of entry permitted by Chinese customs for the import of fruits.

2. When apples arrive at Chinese ports of entry, Chinese customs will verify the relevant documents and labels and conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, national standards and the requirements of this announcement.

(iii) Handling of non-compliance.

1. If apples are found to originate from unapproved orchards and packing plants, the shipment shall not be permitted to enter the country.

2. If the cold treatment is deemed invalid, the shipment will be subject to quarantine measures such as onshore cold treatment (which may be carried out within the container), return, or destruction.

3. If any live quarantine pests of concern to Chinese Customs or newly discovered quarantine pests in Belgium are found, or if soil or plant residues are found, the shipment will be returned, destroyed, or subject to quarantine treatment.

4. If any goods are found to be non-compliant with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, and national standards, the goods shall be returned or destroyed.

 

GACC

June 2, 2026

 

Pre-export Cold Treatment Procedures

 

I. Types of Cold Treatment Facilities

(a) Pre-export cold treatment can only be carried out in cold storage facilities approved by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority and Chinese Customs .

(ii) The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials are responsible for supervising that the cold storage rooms used for apples exported to China meet appropriate standards and have refrigeration equipment that can bring the apples to and maintain the required temperature.

(iii) Cold storage facilities must retain registration documents for cold storage rooms approved for pre-export cold treatment of apples destined for China . These documents should include the following:

1. Location and construction plans for all facilities, including detailed contact information for owners / operators;

2. The size and capacity of the facility ;

3. Types of insulation for walls, floors, and ceilings ;

4. Brand, style, type, and capacity of the refrigeration compressor , evaporator , and air circulation system ;

5. Specifications and details of the equipment's temperature range, defrost cycle control, and any integrated temperature recording devices .

(iv) Before the start of the apple export season, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Agency shall submit a list of currently registered cold processing facilities to the Chinese Customs .

II. Types of Recorders

The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials oversee probes and temperature recorders to ensure that the following conditions are met:

(a) The probe temperature is between -3.0°C and + 3.0°C, accurate to ± 0.15 °C ;

(ii) Capable of accommodating the required number of probes;

(iii) The ability to record and store data from the processing procedure until inspection by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority;

(iv) It is able to record the temperature of all probes at least once per hour, with the required accuracy for the probe temperatures , and is supervised by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials ;

(v) It can print out the identification of each probe, time and temperature , and indicate the recorder model and cold treatment facility identification number .

III. Temperature Probe Calibration

Calibration must be performed using a certified thermometer, supervised by officials from the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority, in a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water.

(a) Any probe with a reading exceeding 0°C ± 0.3°C must be replaced with another probe that meets this standard ;

(ii) Upon completion of the process, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials must verify the calibration value of the fruit temperature probe using the calibration method mentioned.

IV. Temperature probe installation

(a) Apples exported to China must be pre-cooled and packed into cold storage rooms under the supervision of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials.

(ii) Use at least two probes to measure the room temperature at the air outlet and the air return outlet respectively, and insert at least four of the following probes to measure the fruit temperature:

1. The center of a container for fruit located in the middle of a cold processing chamber ;

2. A corner of the top layer of fruit located in the middle of the cold processing chamber ;

3. One located in the middle of the package , near the return air vent ;

4. One located at the corner of the top layer of fruit , near the return air vent.

(iii) The insertion of the probe and its connection to the recorder must be completed under the supervision and guidance of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials.

(iv) The recorder can be started at any time, but the processing time can only be calculated when all fruit temperature probes have reached the specified temperature.

(v) When using only the minimum number of probes, if any probe exceeds the effective range of the pulp temperature for 4 consecutive hours , the treatment is invalid and must be restarted.

V. Review of Processing Results

(a) If the processing records indicate that all processing parameters have met the requirements, the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials may authorize the termination of the processing and the calibration of the probes ; if the probe calibration and placement meet the requirements of Articles 3 and 4, the processing shall be considered valid .

(ii) The probes must be calibrated before the apples exported to China are removed from the container.

VI. Confirmation of Processing Results

(a) The printed temperature record indicates that the required cooling process has been completed.

(ii) The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials must retain the aforementioned records and statistics until the processing is confirmed to be successful. These records are to be provided for review by Chinese Customs upon request.

(iii) If the processing fails to meet the required cooling requirements, the recorder may be reconnected and processing may continue if one of the following conditions is met:

1. The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials confirm that the conditions required under Article 6 are still met;

2. The time interval between stopping and restarting must be within 24 hours .

In both of the above situations, data collection can continue from the moment the recorder is reconnected .

VII. Loading into containers

(a ) Containers loaded with apples destined for China must be inspected for cleanliness during loading, and their activities must be recorded for verification by officials of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority.

(ii) Apples exported to China must be packed in buildings with insect-proof measures; or the exit of the cold storage room and the entrance of the container must be connected with insect-proof materials.

8. Sealing of Containers

(a) Containers loaded with apples destined for China shall be sealed, and the seal number shall be noted on the phytosanitary certificate.

(ii) The seal can only be opened by Chinese customs at the port of entry.

9. Storage of apples not immediately packed

chilled apples are not immediately packed, their storage conditions must be inspected by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials .

(a) If apples exported to China are stored in a cold treatment room, the door of the cold treatment room must be closed;

(ii) If apples exported to China need to be transferred to other storage rooms, the transfer method must be approved by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority, and no other fruits may be stored in such storage rooms;

(iii) Apples exported to China must be packed in accordance with Article 7 under the supervision of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials .

10. Phytosanitary Certificate

(a) The temperature, duration, name of the cold treatment facility or its registration number for pre-export cold treatment must be specified in the phytosanitary certificate.

(ii) When apples are imported into China , the importer must provide the Chinese customs with a phytosanitary certificate , a cold treatment report ( with a record of the cold treatment temperature) and a fruit temperature probe calibration record.

 

Cold Handling Procedures During Transportation

 

I. Container Types

The container must be a self-cooled transport container with refrigeration equipment capable of reaching and maintaining the required temperature.

II. Types of Recorders

The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials oversee probes and temperature recorders to ensure that the following conditions are met:

(a) The probe temperature should be between -3.0°C and +3.0°C , accurate to ±0.15 ° C;

(ii) Capable of accommodating the required number of probes;

(iii) It is capable of recording and storing data from the processing procedure;

(iv) It is able to record the temperature of all probes at least once per hour, and achieve the required accuracy for the probe temperature;

(v) It can print out the identification of each probe, time and temperature , and indicate the recorder model and container number.

III. Temperature Probe Calibration

Calibration must be performed using a standard thermometer approved by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials in a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water.

(a) Any probe with a reading exceeding 0°C ± 0.3°C must be replaced with another probe that meets this standard ;

A “Fruit Temperature Probe Calibration Record” signed and confirmed by the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials must be provided for each container , and the original must be attached to the accompanying phytosanitary certificate.

(iii) When apples arrive at the port of entry, Chinese customs will conduct a calibration inspection of the fruit temperature probe .

IV. Temperature probe installation

(a) Apples on pallets must be loaded into containers under the supervision of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials . Pallets and boxes should be stacked loosely to ensure sufficient airflow.

(ii) Each container must be equipped with at least 3 fruit temperature probes and 2 space temperature probes, at the following locations:

1. The No. 1 fruit temperature probe is inserted in the center of the top layer of the first row of fruits inside the container;

2. The No. 2 fruit temperature probe is inserted in the center of the container door at a distance of 1.5 meters (40-foot container) or 1 meter (20-foot container), at half the height of the fruit being loaded ;

3. The No. 3 fruit temperature probe is placed 1.5 meters (40-foot container) or 1 meter (20-foot container) from the left side of the container door, at half the height of the fruit being loaded ;

4. Two space temperature probes are respectively installed at the air inlet and air outlet of the container .

(iii) The insertion of the probe and its connection to the recorder must be completed under the supervision and guidance of the Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials .

(iv) Apples must be pre-cooled in a cold storage room until the flesh temperature reaches 4°C or below before being packed.

V. Container Sealing

(a) The Belgian Food Chain Safety Authority or its authorized officials shall affix numbered seals to the doors of the shipping containers, and the seal number shall be noted on the phytosanitary certificate .

(ii) The seal can only be opened by Chinese customs at the port of entry.

VI. Verification of Processing Results

(a) The probe must be calibrated before the apples are removed from the container.

(ii) If the processing records show that all processing parameters have met the requirements, China Customs may approve the termination of processing ; if the probe calibration and insertion position meet the requirements of Articles 3 and 4, the processing shall be considered valid .

VII. Temperature Recording and Confirmation

(a) Cold treatment during transport can begin before the apples leave the Belgian port and end before or after they arrive at the first port of entry in China.

(ii) Recording can be started at any time, however, the processing time will only be calculated when all fruit temperature probes have reached the specified temperature.

(iii) The cold treatment temperature record downloaded by the shipping company must be submitted to Chinese Customs. If the cold treatment is completed before the ship arrives at the port of entry, the cold treatment record downloaded on board may be transmitted to Chinese Customs en route.

(iv) Chinese Customs will review whether the cold treatment records meet the relevant treatment requirements and determine whether the cold treatment is effective based on the probe calibration results .

8. Plant Quarantine Certificate

(a) The cold treatment temperature and start date must be noted in the treatment column of the phytosanitary certificate and marked with "运输途中". The name or registration number of the packing plant, container number and seal number must also be listed .

(ii) When apples are imported into China, the Chinese customs shall provide a phytosanitary certificate, a cold treatment report ( with a record of the cold treatment temperature) and a fruit temperature probe calibration record.