Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products from New Zealand to China

According to the regulations of China Customs and New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries on the inspection, quarantine and sanitation requirements for wild aquatic products exported from New Zealand to China, from now on, wild aquatic products from New Zealand that meet the following relevant requirements are allowed to be imported:

I. Inspection and quarantine basis

(1) "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, "Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations;

(2) "Administrative Measures for Import and Export Food Safety of the People's Republic of China" and "Registration and Administration Regulations for Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food of the People's Republic of China";

(3) "Working Arrangements of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitation Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products Exported from New Zealand to China".

II. Scope of imported products

Wild aquatic products refer to wild aquatic animal products and their products for human consumption, excluding species listed in the Appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the List of Key Protected Wildlife in China (LSKPWA), live aquatic animals and aquatic animal breeding materials.

III. Requirements for manufacturers

Manufacturers (fishing vessels and transport vessels with freezing functions, processing vessels and independent cold storage) that export wild aquatic products to China should be approved by New Zealand officials and be effectively supervised by them. The food safety and sanitation conditions of the manufacturers should comply with the requirements of the relevant food safety laws and regulations of the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand and the requirements of the Chinese Customs based on Chinese laws and regulations.

According to the relevant provisions of the "Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations and the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine" and its implementing regulations, manufacturers of wild aquatic products that export to China should be recommended by the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand to the Chinese Customs for registration. Without registration, they are not allowed to export to China.

IV. Requirements for imported products

The Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand should ensure that wild aquatic products exported to China meet the following conditions:

(i) Legally caught in domestic or international waters. If the raw materials used come from a third country (region), the raw materials must come from a country (region) that has obtained Chinese inspection and quarantine access qualifications and a manufacturer that has obtained Chinese registration qualifications.

(ii) The raw materials and products do not have the following problems:

1. Aquatic animal diseases listed in the List of Animal Quarantine Diseases for Import into the People's Republic of China and related to the products of the Working Arrangement that must be reported by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) occur in New Zealand, causing or potentially infecting wild aquatic products exported to China;

2. Any major food safety incident occurs in New Zealand, which has affected or may affect the food safety of wild aquatic products exported to China;

3. Wild aquatic products exported or to be exported to China by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries seriously violate the provisions of New Zealand laws and regulations, the requirements of Chinese customs based on Chinese laws and regulations, and the provisions of the Working Arrangement;

4. Pollution incidents occur in fishing waters, such as radioactive pollution, causing wild aquatic products exported to China to be contaminated and thus fail to comply with the relevant regulations of New Zealand and China.

(iii) Drugs or additives prohibited by both parties shall not be used in the production or processing of wild aquatic products.

(iv) Through relevant monitoring and control measures, the maximum allowable levels of pathogenic microorganisms, toxic and harmful substances and foreign matter stipulated in the laws and regulations of China and New Zealand and the national food safety standards shall be achieved.

(v) Based on New Zealand's health control system, wild aquatic products should be hygienic, safe, suitable for human consumption, and without any pathological signs of relevant diseases.

(vi) During processing, transportation and storage, the relevant laws and regulations of New Zealand and the requirements of China Customs for product traceability based on Chinese laws and regulations should be observed.

V. Packaging and labeling requirements

Wild aquatic products exported to China should have outer packaging, which may include internal independent packaging or carton lining. The packaging should be new materials that meet international hygiene and anti-pollution standards.

Inner and outer packaging should have firm, clear and easily identifiable Chinese and English labels indicating the following: product name and scientific name, specifications, production date, batch number, shelf life and storage conditions, production method (marine fishing, freshwater fishing), production area (marine fishing area, freshwater fishing country or region), all production companies involved, registration number and address (specific to state/province/city), destination (must be marked as the People's Republic of China). Labeling requirements do not apply to carton linings of deeply processed products.

For wild aquatic products exported to China in pre-packaged form, the Chinese labels on the pre-packaged products shall comply with the requirements for labels of pre-packaged foods imported into China.

VI. Certificate requirements

Each batch or container of wild aquatic products exported to China shall be accompanied by at least one original health certificate to prove that the batch of products complies with New Zealand's food safety laws and regulations under the New Zealand system, the requirements of China's customs jointly determined based on Chinese laws and regulations, and the relevant provisions of the "Working Arrangement". The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries shall complete the information of the production enterprise involved in fishing, production and processing, packaging and final refrigeration of the products on the health certificate.

The certificate shall be printed in Chinese and English, and the content of the certificate shall be filled in English. The format and content of the certificate shall be approved by both parties in advance. The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries shall promptly provide the certificate sample to the Chinese Customs for filing. If the content and format of the certificate sample are changed, the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries shall file it with the Chinese Customs at least one month before it takes effect. The above requirements may change according to the need to promote paperless certificates.

VII. Other requirements

China Customs implements inspection and quarantine on wild aquatic products exported to China.

For unqualified products, they will be returned, destroyed or otherwise handled in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. For manufacturers whose products are found to be seriously or repeatedly non-compliant, China Customs will take measures such as strengthening inspection and quarantine or suspending imports.

GACC

July 21, 2025