FAQs on Animal and Plant Quarantine

 

 

To gain a comprehensive understanding of animal and plant quarantine treatment, this guide will provide essential information.

Q1: What constitutes entry-exit quarantine treatment?

A1: "Entry-exit quarantine treatment" refers to the application of biological, physical, or chemical methods to inbound and outbound goods, conveyances, containers, and other objects subject to quarantine. Its purpose is to eliminate or mitigate risks of epidemic disease and potential hazards, thereby preventing the transmission of human infectious diseases and the introduction or spread of animal and plant diseases and pests.

Q2: Under what circumstances is animal and plant quarantine treatment required?

A2: Animal and plant quarantine treatment shall be implemented under any of the following conditions:

- Where laws and regulations explicitly mandate quarantine treatment;

- Where normative documents, such as announcements and warning notices issued by the General Administration of Customs or jointly with other competent authorities, explicitly stipulate quarantine treatment;

- Where bilateral agreements, protocols, memorandums, and other relevant international accords require the implementation of quarantine treatment;

- Where the consignor or agent applies to customs for the issue of "Fumigation/Disinfection Certificates" due to official requirements of importing countries or regions.

Q3: How are quarantine treatment technical measures determined?

A3: For objects subject to quarantine treatment, the following principles shall be followed to determine technical measures:

- Where explicit national technical standards, specifications, or indicators for treatment exist, the corresponding requirements shall be implemented;

- Where no explicit national technical standards, specifications, or indicators for treatment exist, technical measures assessed and approved by the competent authorities of the General Administration of Customs shall be applied;

- Where importing countries or regions have specific quarantine treatment requirements, those requirements shall be followed.

Q4: Do units and personnel conducting entry-exit quarantine treatment need customs approval and certification?

A4: Pursuant to operational procedures and technical standards, customs undertakes the approval of the following quarantine treatment units:

- Category A: Fumigation treatment for animal and plant disease and pests (ship fumigation of bulk animal and plant products);

- Category B: Fumigation treatment for animal and plant disease and pests (excluding Category A fumigation);

- Category C: Disinfection treatment for animal and plant disease and pests (excluding epidemic prevention disinfection).

In accordance with the Decision of the State Council on the Cancellation and Delegation of a Batch of Administrative Licensing Items[1]  (Guo Fa [2020] No. 13), the item concerning "Qualification Approval for Personnel Engaged in Entry-Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Treatment Services" has been revoked. Consequently, customs no longer conducts qualification accreditation for personnel engaged in entry-exit animal and plant quarantine treatment services.

Q5: How to apply for approval of quarantine treatment units?

A5: Online Application: Utilize the Customs Administrative Approval Online Processing platform (http://pre.chinaport.gov.cn/car), or access the "Internet + Customs" section on the official website of the General Administration of Customs official(http://www.customs.gov.cn/).

On-site Application: Proceed via the Fuzhou Customs Administrative Approval "Single Window."

Inquires: For assistance, please contact the Fuzhou Customs "12360" service hotline.

Q6: Is the "Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice" directly issued to quarantine treatment units by customs?

A6: The "Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice" shall not be directly provided to quarantine treatment units. Responsible parties for transport vehicles, consignors, or their authorized agents shall commission quarantine treatment units to implement the required quarantine treatment in accordance with the provisions of the "Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice."

Q7: What does a quarantine treatment plan include?

A7: Before implementing quarantine treatment, the quarantine treatment provider must develop a Quarantine Treatment Plan and submit it to customs for record-keeping. The plan should clearly specify the basis for quarantine treatment, the treatment location, facilities and equipment, personnel involved, the treatment methods and technical specifications to be employed, safety protection measures, types of chemicals, dosage, total quantity of chemicals, treatment temperature, treatment duration, and operational procedures, among other details. For ship, container, or tarpaulin fumigation, the plan must also include airtightness inspection requirements.

Q8: What actions are required upon completion of quarantine treatment?

A8: Upon completion of quarantine treatment, the quarantine treatment provider shall complete the quarantine treatment operational records, issue the quarantine treatment result report as required, and submit it to both the commissioning party and customs. The quarantine treatment provider must properly retain all relevant documents, including quarantine treatment operational records, result reports, treatment plans, and effectiveness evaluations, for a period of three years.

Q9: What does customs' comprehensive supervision of quarantine treatment entail?

A9: Comprehensive supervision includes the following aspects:

- Quarantine treatment plan review. This involves reviewing the qualifications of quarantine treatment units and personnel, treatment locations, facilities and equipment, treatment methods, agents used, technical specifications, and safety protection measures.

- On-site operation inspection. This includes checking the compliance of items subject to quarantine treatment and on-site conditions with technical specifications for quarantine treatment, as well as verifying the standardization of quarantine treatment operation processes. For case with data monitoring, the focus is on identifying abnormal process data.

- Safety prevention supervision. This involves inspecting the availability of safety protection facilities and equipment at quarantine treatment sites, personal protective measures for treatment staff, and the proper placement of warning signs. Quarantine treatment operation sites must maintain a safe distance from or be effectively isolated from work and living areas.

 

 

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