China’s Customs has announced that it will allow imports of aquatic products from Cuba, lemons from Uzbekistan, and frozen fruits from Central and Eastern European Countries.

Under the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) No. 92 Notice (link in Chinese) and No. 93 Notice (link in Chinese) of 2021, China will allow imports of farmed aquatic products and wild aquatic products from Cuba. According to the SPS requirements issued along with the notices, all exported aquatic products shall be traceable and not directly or indirectly use drugs or additives in a way that is not in compliance with Chinese requirements. In addition, products should not come from manufacturers that have had major public health events such as COVID outbreaks.

China will return, destroy or process imports that fail to conform with Chinese laws, administrative regulations and national food safety standards. For enterprises that have serious problems or have repeated non-conforming problems, China can take measures to strengthen inspection and quarantine or to suspend imports.

The new rules took effect on November 22.

On the same day, the GACC issued No. 95 Notice (link in Chinese) of 2021, which allows lemon imports from Uzbekistan. This is based on the "Protocol of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Phytosanitary Requirements for Uzbekistan Lemons Exported to China," which was signed (link in Chinese) in August.

The notice also attached a document detailing phytosanitary requirements for imported lemons, including the registration and management of orchards and packaging factories that are involved in lemon exports, requirements for packaging, quarantine before exports and quarantine certificates.

It also listed five types of pests of concern to China that should not be found in lemon imports. If one of the pests, ectomyelois ceratoniae, is found in imported lemons, the exports from the same region or the whole nation may be suspended.

The new rules took effect on November 22.

Finally, the No. 96 Notice (link in Chinese) of 2021 allows frozen fruits from Central and Eastern European countries that meet the inspection and quarantine requirements (which are set out in an attached document).

The new rules took effect on February 1, 2022.

China has issued regulations to require all overseas manufacturers of foods that export to China to register with the GACC. The registration requirement will take effect on January 1, 2022.