By Lin Jiahui, Zhu Fangzhou
Aquatic animals for export primarily include live fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates, along with their reproductive materials such as semen, eggs, and fertilized eggs. Given the rapid growth in China's aquatic animal export trade in recent years, strict adherence to standardized customs clearance procedures is essential. This guide provides an overview of the customs clearance requirements for exporting aquatic animals.
I. Qualifications Required for Aquatic Animal Export Enterprises
For importing countries or regions that mandate China's registration of production, processing, and storage establishments supplying aquatic animals for export, the General Administration of Customs operates a registration system for outbound aquatic animal farms and transit facilities.
(A) Basic Conditions for Registration
1. A good sanitary environment in and around the premises, free from pollution sources such as industrial/domestic waste and aquatic product processing plants; the site layout must be reasonable with scientific zoning and clear identification;
2. Aquaculture water must national fishery water quality standards, supported by valid water quality monitoring or testing reports issued by competent government authorities or customs;
3. Possession of facilities, equipment, and materials for aquaculture, packaging, disease prevention, feed/drug storage that meet inspection and quarantine requirements;
4. Establishment of specialized management systems for aquaculture, packaging, disease prevention, epidemic reporting, feed/drug storage and use, waste/wastewater treatment, personnel management, and introduction of aquatic animals, all compliant with inspection and quarantine requirements;
5. Equipped with professional technical personnel in aquaculture and disease prevention, with comprehensive staff training plans and health certificates for employees;
6. The site area and transit capacity of transit facilities must be commensurate with the projected export volumes.
(B) Documents Required for Registration
1. Registration application form;
2. Aquaculture license or marine area use certificate (not applicable to transit facilities);
3. Site floor plan, accompanied by photographs or video recordings of key areas;
4. Water quality testing report;
5. Waste/wastewater treatment procedures;
6. Relevant testing reports, if specific testing for aquatic animal diseases is mandated by importing countries or regions.
(C) Application Process
Enterprises may access the "Internet + Customs" integrated platform to submit an application to customs and upload the requisite materials. Upon receipt of a registration application, customs will establish an assessment team to evaluate the outbound production enterprise applying for registration. Customs should render a decision on whether to grant registration within 20 days from the date of accepting the application. If registration is approved, customs will issue the "Inspection and Quarantine Registration Certificate for Outbound Aquatic Animal Farms/Transit Facilities." The certificate becomes effective on the date of issuance and remains valid for five years. The registration number assigned to a registered farm or transit facility is exclusively designated for that specific facility.
(D) Registration Changes and Renewals
For changes to enterprise name, legal representative, aquaculture species, or aquaculture capacity, a written application must be submitted to the local customs authority within 30 days. This application should include the competed "Export Aquatic Animal Farm/Transit Packaging Facility Inspection and Quarantine Registration Application Form" and all relevant supporting documents. Applications for the renewal of registration validity must be submitted at least 30 days before its expiration date.
II. Requirements for the Export of Aquatic Animals
(A) Application for Inspection and Quarantine
For wild-caught aquatic animals, the consignor or their agent shall apply to the customs at the port of export three days prior to departure. They must provide supply agreements between the fishing vessels and the export enterprises, including the signature of the fishing vessel captain. If importing countries or regions have specific requirements concerning the fishing area, this area shall be declared when submitting the application. For farmed aquatic animals, the consignor or their agent shall apply for inspection to the customs at the location of the registered farm or transit facility seven days prior to departure.
(B) Scope of Inspection and Quarantine
Customs performs inspection and quarantine for aquatic animals intended for export based on the following criteria:
1. Inspection and quarantine requirements and mandatory standards stipulated by Chinese laws and regulations;
2. Bilateral inspection and quarantine agreements, protocols, and memorandums;
3. Inspection and quarantine requirements of importing countries or regions;
4. Inspection and quarantine requirements specified in trade contracts or letters of credit.
Upon acceptance of the inspection application, customs at the place of origin reviews the "Certificate of Supply for Export Aquatic Animals" and conducts inspection and quarantine on farmed aquatic animals destined for export, taking into account the results of disease and toxic substance monitoring, daily supervision records, and enterprise classification management.
For consignments successfully passing inspection and quarantine, customs affixes seals to the loading containers or transport vehicles and issues an "Animal Health Certificate" in accordance with the requirements of importing countries or regions.
(C) Packaging and Transportation Requirements
The outer packaging or loading containers for exported farmed aquatic animals shall be marked with the full name of the exporting enterprise, the name and registration number of the registered farm and transit facility, and the product name, quantity (weight), specifications, And other relevant details of the aquatic animals for export. Aquatic animals originating from different registered farms shall be packaged separately.
For exported aquatic animals that have passed inspection and quarantine, if they are exported from a different location without changing the original packaging, they shall be subject to on-site inspection by the customs at the port of departure. Release will be granted if the goods conform to the certificates and the seals are intact. If water changes, ice addition, oxygen replenishment, or transfer to another means of transport are required at the port of departure, these operations shall be conducted at customs-designated locations under the supervision of customs at the port of departure, and release shall be granted after seals are affixed. Water changes, ice addition, or oxygen replenishment required during the transportation of exported aquatic animals shall be conducted at customs-designated locations.
(Author Unit: Qingdao Customs)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
