Imports are no longer subject to quarantine approval management

According to the recently released Announcement No. 158 of the General Administration of Customs in 2024, quarantine approval management will no longer be implemented for aquatic products.

According to the "Administrative Measures for the Approval of Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine", for entry animals (including transit animals), animal and plant products, and prohibited entry items that require special approval and approval under the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law and its Implementing Regulations and relevant national regulations, the applicant shall apply to the approval agency and obtain the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine License of the People's Republic of China" before signing a trade contract or agreement or transiting animals.

However, the cancellation of quarantine approval management for aquatic products does not mean that these products will no longer be subject to any form of quarantine, but that they no longer need to go through the previous form of pre-approval process. At the same time, they must come from countries (regions) that meet the evaluation and review requirements and overseas food production enterprises that have been registered with the General Administration of Customs, and the products must meet the relevant inspection and quarantine requirements. The adjustment is more about simplifying some administrative procedures and reducing some complex steps in the early stages of the import stage.

In 2023, China's aquatic product imports amounted to US$19.778 billion, down 0.3%; the import volume was 5.015 million tons, up 10.6%. Among them, the top three countries in terms of import volume were Ecuador, Russia and Canada, with US$3.562 billion, US$2.891 billion and US$1.341 billion, respectively, accounting for 18.0%, 14.6% and 6.8% of the total imports, with year-on-year changes of 0.0%, 4.8% and 9.3%, respectively.

The top three countries in terms of import volume were Russia, Ecuador and Indonesia, with 1.276 million tons, 703,000 tons and 420,000 tons, respectively, accounting for 25.4%, 14.0% and 8.4% of the total imports, with year-on-year changes of 36.1%, 22.3% and 3.5%, respectively.

This adjustment is expected to further stimulate import potential, promote the continuous growth of my country's aquatic product trade volume, and provide more high-quality choices for the domestic market.