China Inspection and Quarantine: Importation of Dutch Pears to China Approved

1. The importation of pears from the Netherland to China has been approved. 2. The specific shipment and entry requirements have been listed in detail as well as the disposal methods that will be used for non-conforming items.

On 24 Oct, 2014, AQSIQ announced that pears conforming to the Requirements of Plant Inspection and Quarantine of Pears Imported from Netherland are allowed to be imported to China after a field investigation and pest risk analysis of pears is conducted in the Netherland by Chinese experts.

Legal basis

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementation rules
Food Safety Law and its implementation rules
Measures for the Administration of Inspection, Quarantine, and Supervision on the Fruit Entering China;
Protocol on Requirements of Plant Inspection and Quarantine for the Dutch Pear Entry into China signed between AQSIQ and the Netherlands

Requirements before shipment

1. Management of orchards

All orchards producing pears for Chinese markets shall be certified by Global GAP. Pest control and detection data shall be recorded and provided to Chinese authorities as required.

2. Management of packing plants
Economic Affairs of the Netherlands (EA) will be responsible for the quarantine and inspection on the packing, storage and shipment of pears exported to China. All the products must be picked, classified and processed well before packing in a plant.

3. Packing requirements
Packing materials must conform to related requirements on plant quarantine. Each box shall be indicated with information such as the name, place of origin, orchard and packing plant in English. Each pallet shall be indicated with “export to People’s Republic of China” in either Chinese or English.

4. Inspection and quarantine before exports
Sampling will be conducted by EA on 2% of the total number of boxes to be exported.

5. Requirements on the plant quarantine certificate
A batch of Dutch pears will be issued a plant quarantine certificate by EA once it passes the quarantine and will be affixed with the label “The batch of pears conforms to Protocol on Requirements of Plant Inspection and Quarantine for the Dutch Pear Entry into China, and was found free of quarantine pest concerned by China”.

Requirements for entry into China

Dutch pears must enter into China through designated ports. Quarantine and inspection shall be performed in accordance with requirements below:

1. Verification of certificates and labels

It should be verified that the License for Quarantine of Entry Animals and Plants is attached to the batch of pears.

It should be verified that the plant quarantine certificate conforms to Item 5 of “Requirements before Shipment”.

It should be verified that the contents indicated on the box are consistent with the requirements in Item 3 of “Requirements before Shipment”.

2. Inspection and quarantine upon entry

Inspection and quarantine on pears shall be performed according to the requirements specified in Manual of Inspection and Quarantine.

Disposal of non-conforming items

Pears will be processed, returned or destroyed at port in one of the following conditions:

1. Erwinia amylovora is detected;

2. Cydia pomonella is detected;

3. Phytophthora syringae is detected;

4. Other pests not permitted under China’s quarantine laws are detected;

Pears not conforming with national food standards will be subject to measures as prescribed in Food Safety Law and its implementation rules.

Dynamic Amendment of Measures

AQSIQ will conduct further risk assessment according to actual pest control data and port records, and will adjust the list as well as the quarantine measures.