China to Optimize the Approval Procedures of Quarantine Permits for Forbidden Imported Animals and Plants for Special Purposes

On May 27, 2024, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) issued a notification, proposing to optimize the approval procedures of quarantine permits for forbidden imported animals and plants for special purposes such as scientific research. Public comments can be sent to [email protected] before June 26.

Due to special purposes, prior to the import of prohibited articles, the unit using the prohibited articles or its agent shall submit a special quarantine application for approval from the customs having direct jurisdiction over the unit or its agent. After obtaining the approval from GACC, the unit shall further obtain the "Quarantine Permit for the Entry of Animal and Plant into China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Quarantine Permit").

Required documents for the application  

• Application Form for Special Quarantine Approval (see Annex 1);

• Approval or project initiation documents issued by relevant competent authorities at the provincial level or above, or equivalent-level scientific research project reports or sample testing certificates;

• Self-assessment report on ecological and biosafety risks (see the outline in Annex 2);

• The unit's biosafety management system and the safety precautions to be taken;

• Commitment letter for fulfilling biosafety responsibilities (see Annex 3).

If the application is entrusted to a third party, an authorization letter should also be submitted.

Application assessment 

After receiving the application, the local customs office will review the applicant's facilities and safety measures within 5 working days and assess the risks. If the research activities meet biosafety requirements and pose no ecological threat, the customs will issue the Quarantine Permit within 20 days. If the application does not meet the requirements, the application will be denied with written reasons.

Other noteworthy matters 

The Quarantine Permit is valid for one-time use for all batches of target products within the valid period, and cannot be used dividedly for different batches of target products. If the research, quarantine or other facilities change during the valid period, the applicant must reapply for special quarantine approval. In addition, after importing the prohibited items, the unit shall strictly conform to the customs supervision regulations, and carry out scientific research activities in accordance with relevant regulations. It is forbidden to transfer or change the purpose of the items without the approval of customs.