GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
ANNOUNCEMENT
No. 73 of 2026
In accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and the provisions agreed between GACC (the “Chinese side”) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries of the Republic of Mozambique (the “Mozambican side”) concerning sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for alfalfa exported from Mozambique to China, imports of Mozambican alfalfa meeting the following requirements are permitted as of the date of this Announcement.
I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis
(1) Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China;
(2) Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations;
(3) Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives;
(4) Protocol between GACC and the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries of Mozambique on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements for Alfalfa Exported from Mozambique to China.
II. Commodity Permitted for Entry
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) means alfalfa pellets or bales grown in Mozambique and processed by high-temperature dehydration and compression.
III. Establishment Registration
Alfalfa exported to China shall originate from processing establishments assessed and approved by the Mozambican side. Establishments shall be recommended to China and registered after on-site inspection or document review by the Chinese side. The list shall be published and dynamically updated on the GACC website.
IV. Pests of Concern
1. Bruchidius atrolineatus
2. Spodoptera littoralis
3. Tuta absoluta
4. Ditylenchus africanus
5. Meloidogyne ethiopica
6. Rotylenchulus parvus
7. Orobanche minor
V. Production and Export Requirements
(1) Planting, processing, storage and transportation. Farms shall implement effective IPM measures to prevent and control pests of concern to China. Approved processing establishments shall establish and effectively operate HACCP and traceability systems or manage production according to equivalent principles. Processing and storage premises shall be separated from animal farms and pastures to prevent contamination by excreta, secretions or other materials from cloven-hoofed animals. Foreign roots, soil and other foreign matter shall be prevented during harvesting, drying, storage and transportation.
The drying process shall maintain 170°C for at least 15 minutes. Establishments shall maintain an effective quality control system covering raw material procurement, high-temperature dehydration and product testing, keep processing areas and equipment clean, and remove foreign matter before compression/baling. Metal materials shall not be used for baling.
Products shall be free from pests of concern and other live pests; grass roots, plant seeds, other plant residues and foreign matter; animal feces, carcasses and bird feathers; soil; and genetically modified components not approved by China. Products shall comply with China's Feed Hygiene Standard (GB 13078).
Pre-shipment storage facilities shall be relatively enclosed and independent and shall have effective rodent, insect and bird control measures.
Clean containers shall be used. Where necessary, inspection, quarantine and treatment shall be performed. Each container shall contain at least one package mark stating the processing establishment name, Chinese registration number and the Chinese/English wording “Alfalfa from Mozambique export to the People's Republic of China.” Product labels shall comply with China's Feed Label Standard (GB 10648).
(2) Pre-departure quarantine and certificates. The Mozambican side shall inspect and quarantine the alfalfa and issue an internationally compliant phytosanitary certificate and health certificate. Both shall state the processing establishment name and registration number, consignor and consignee names and addresses, container number and other relevant information. The phytosanitary certificate shall include: “This consignment complies with the Protocol on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of alfalfa from Mozambique to China, and is free of any pest of concern for China.” The health certificate shall state: “Does not contain any hazardous substances that pose a risk to public or animal health and complies with China's safety and hygiene standards, does not contain GMOs that are not authorized by China.”
VI. Entry Inspection and Quarantine
Customs shall verify registration status and the authenticity and validity of the phytosanitary and health certificates and inspect and quarantine the goods.
Goods not meeting package-marking requirements may be corrected, returned or destroyed. Goods without valid certificates, from an unregistered processing establishment, or containing soil or unapproved GM components shall be returned or destroyed. Products failing the requirements in Section V(1) item 4 shall be treated, returned or destroyed; consignments successfully treated may be permitted entry. Other violations of Chinese phytosanitary laws or feed hygiene standards shall be handled according to applicable provisions.
China shall notify Mozambique of violations and may, according to severity, suspend the relevant processing establishment or production area, or even suspend alfalfa trade, until China confirms effective rectification.
It is hereby announced.
General Administration of Customs
May 27, 2026
Unofficial Translation. For reference only. Please kindly understand.
非官方翻译，请理解。
