Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Shelled Peanuts from Republic of the Congo to China

According to the provisions of the Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for Shelled Peanuts Exported to China between China Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo, peanuts that meet the following relevant requirements are allowed to be imported 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) "Administrative Measures for Import and Export Food Safety of the People's Republic of China";

(5) "Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for Shelled Peanuts Exported to China between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo".

II. Names of Commodities Allowed for Import

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) refer to shelled peanuts produced in the Republic of Congo, which are exported to China for processing and not for planting.

III. Permitted Origin

The entire territory of the Republic of Congo.

IV. Enterprise Registration

Peanut exporters and storage enterprises exporting peanuts to China shall be registered with the Chinese Customs to ensure that they meet the requirements of China's inspection and quarantine. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo shall submit a list of exporters and storage enterprises to the Chinese Customs in advance, and register them after inspection or review by the Chinese Customs, and publish the list of enterprises on the website of the Chinese Customs.

V. Pests of concern to the Chinese Customs

Peanuts exported to China shall not carry the following pests:

1. Caryedon serratus

2. Radopholus similis

3. Tomato spotted wilt virus

VI. Pre-shipment requirements

(1) Production requirements.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo shall supervise enterprises to establish an integrated pest management system (IPM) to reduce the occurrence of pests of concern to the Chinese Customs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo shall supervise enterprises to take cleaning measures such as screening during the peanut storage period and during transportation or before shipment to ensure that peanuts exported to China do not carry plant residues, impurities and dangerous and toxic weed seeds.

Each batch of peanuts exported to China should be tested for aflatoxin limits to ensure that they meet the requirements of China's national food safety standards (GB2761).

(2) Packaging and transportation requirements.

Peanuts exported to China should be transported in packaging that is clean, unused, and free of toxic and hazardous substances. Each package should have at least one label indicating the name and registration number of the exporter, storage company, and "从刚果共和国出口到中华人民共和国的脱壳花生/SHELLED PEANUT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO BE EXPORTED TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" in Chinese and English. The container loaded with peanuts must be clean.

(3) Pre-export inspection and quarantine and certificate requirements.

Before export, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo should issue a plant quarantine certificate for peanuts that have passed inspection and quarantine and whose aflatoxin test results meet China's national food safety standards, and indicate in the additional statement: "The consignment is meets the phytosanitary requirements described in the Peanut Protocol from The Republic of Congo to China and is free from the quarantine pests concerned by China", and indicate the name and registration number of the exporter, storage company, and container number of the batch of goods. Goods with live insects should be fumigated before export, and the treatment index should be indicated on the certificate.

VII. Entry Inspection and Quarantine

(I) Certificate Verification.

1. Verify whether it comes from a registered enterprise;

2. Verify whether the plant quarantine certificate is authentic and valid.

(II) Goods Inspection.

In accordance with relevant laws, regulations, administrative regulations, rules and other provisions, combined with this announcement, peanuts will be inspected and quarantined, and will be allowed to enter the country after passing the inspection.

(III) Disqualified treatment.

1. If there is no valid plant quarantine certificate, it shall be returned or destroyed;

2. If it comes from an unregistered enterprise, it shall be returned or destroyed;

3. If genetically modified ingredients not approved by the Chinese government are found, it shall be returned or destroyed;

4. If aflatoxin and other safety and sanitation items exceed the limit of China's national food safety standards, it shall be returned or destroyed;

5. If harmful organisms of concern to the Chinese Customs are found, they shall be allowed to enter the country after passing the pest control treatment; if there is no effective pest control method, it shall be returned or destroyed. If other quarantine harmful organisms are found, they shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine" and its implementing regulations.

If the above non-compliance is found, the Chinese Customs will notify the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo, and take measures such as suspending the relevant enterprises' qualifications to export to China according to the severity, until the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of the Republic of Congo takes effective improvement measures.

GACC

July 21, 2025