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

On August 13, 2014, AQSIQ announced that the potatoes conforming to the Requirements of Plant Inspection and Quarantine of Potato Mini-tuber Imported from Netherland are allowed to be imported to China after the field investigation and pest risk analysis of potato mini-tubers 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

• Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection

• Regulations on Administration of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Safety

• Protocol on Requirements of Plant Inspection and Quarantine for the Holland Potato Mini-tuber Entry into China signed between AQSIQ and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands (signed on May 22, 2014)

Requirements before shipment:

1. Management of production areas

The potato mini-tuber imported to China should be produced in Netherland and be free from pests. The potato mini-tuber should not be exposed to soil during cultivation and should be cultivated in an insect free greenhouse. Surface water should not be used during cultivation.

2. Requirements for registration

The manufacturers and facilities of potato mini-tuber producers exporting to China should be registered in the Netherlands. The list of registered enterprises should be provided to AQSIQ before exportation begins each year, including enterprise name, address and registration number. The registered enterprises and facilities will be published and updated on the website of Animal and Plant Department of AQSIQ after on-site examination and approval by AQSIQ.

3. Requirements for storage and transportation before exportation

The potato mini-tuber should be selected and graded before being exported to China and should be free from insects, the plant’s root, stem and leaf, and all cultivation medium. The packaging, storing and transporting process should be conducted under the supervision of NAK personnel. The packaging materials should be clean and soft, which have not been used before in accordance with relevant requirements of plant quarantine in China.

The place of origin, planter, product grade, product variety, etc. of potato mini-tuber should be marked on the packaging materials with the words of “exporting to P.R.C.” in English.

4. Requirements for plant quarantine and relevant certificates

The sampling proportion of potato mini-tuber should be at least 5% for every batch and every variety before shipment. Plant quarantine certificate will be issued by the authority of the Netherland if the inspection and quarantine is up to standard. It should also be marked in an additional statement that “the consignment complies with the requirements described in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Potato Mini Tubers from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China and is free from the quarantine pests of concern of China”.

Requirements for entry into China

1. Quarantine Examination and Approval

The importers should apply for the “Permit of the People’s Republic of China on Quarantine of Entry Animals and Plants” from AQSIQ before signing the potato mini-tuber trading contract. The potato mini-tuber should be imported from the designated ports of entry of AQSIQ.

2. Certificate verification

It should be verified that the plant quarantine certificate conforms to Item 4 of “Requirements before Shipment” and if there is “Permit of the People’s Republic of China on Quarantine of Entry Animals and Plants” issued by AQSIQ for the imported potato mini-tuber.

3. Entry inspection, quarantine and supervision

When potato mini-tubers arrive at the designated port of entry in China, Chinese authority will verify relevant documents and labels. 15% of the potato mini-tuber of every batch and every variety will be sampled for inspection at the entry port and isolated in quarantine at a plant quarantine nursery, and the remaining will be transported to the sites approved by Chinese authority for isolated planting. There should not be soil, pests or weed seeds left on the packages, bedding materials and containers.

Disposal of non-conforming items

The potato mini-tuber will be returned or destroyed at port in one of the following conditions:

1. Pests of not permitted under China’s quarantine laws are detected;

2. Contamination with soil;

3. Produced by manufacturers and facilities that have not been registered or approved;

4. Plant quarantine certificate, package or label not conforming to relevant requirements