F15/21: China Covid-19 import measures - Animal, plant, and food products - Ministry for Primary ...
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F15/21: China Covid-19 import
measures
Animal, plant, and food products
26 February 2021
1 Coronavirus-related measures on imports into China
(1) This FYI cancels and replaces F73/20 China Covid-19 import measures, issued 22 December 2020,
with updates highlighted.
(2) MPI is aware that a number of measures are being developed or applied in China on imports from all
countries following developments with the incidence of Covid-19 in China. This FYI sets out MPI
understanding of some of the impacts and New Zealand reaction. Much of the content has already been
For Your Information
conveyed by MPI to industry contacts for distribution to members of their sector groups.
(3) As the situation develops further, MPI will endeavour to keep export industry sectors informed.
1.1 Chinese importers request Covid-19 declarations
(1) MPI is aware that Chinese importers are requesting that food exporters sign the Covid-19 declaration
referred to in a China Customs (GACC) document titled “Annex 1”, with some exporters experiencing
significant pressure to do so. (A copy is attached, for ease of reference.) MPI has determined that this
is a voluntary statement and that China Customs has asked Chinese importers and industry
associations to encourage exporters to provide the signed statement as a means of providing
additional commercial confidence.
(2) To assist exporters, the New Zealand Seafood Standards Council, the Meat Industry Association, and
the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand have circulated assurance-type letters for their
members, that companies could supply or append to their own letters to their importers.
(3) MPI has engaged with China Customs, highlighting New Zealand’s Covid-19 status, and the measures
in place to ensure the continued health and safety of the work force. Correspondence has noted that
New Zealand food processing operations have implemented appropriate protocols to ensure the
continued health and safety of their work force, in accordance with guidance applicable to the alert
level in place in New Zealand. MPI’s specific guidelines for food industries were developed based on
the most up to date information from New Zealand’s Ministry of Health and guidance provided by the
WHO/FAO, including the document “Covid-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses”.
1.2 Covid-19 testing at the Chinese border
(1) MPI understands that China Customs continues to test for Covid-19 on food, packaging and the
environment at the border and the number of positive detections are statistically negligible. Testing has
been occurring since February 2020, though recently the intensity has increased in some ports.
(2) MPI is not aware of Covid-19-related trade bans or restrictions applied on a China-wide basis,
though the resulting uncertainty continues to have commercial impacts, and the testing has
Issued by the Ministry for Primary IndustriesFor Your Information: F15/21: China Covid-19 import measures 26/02/2021
caused delays at the border as imports are held pending the test result. However there is
some evidence of quick turnaround of test results for perishable imports.
(3) GACC announced on 11 September, with immediate effect, emergency measures for overseas
manufacturers of imported food and its packaging in the cold chain that tests positive with nucleic acid
for Covid-19 on entry to China. A manufacturer can incur up to two positive tests, with their imports
suspended for 7 days for each occurrence, after which suspension will automatically be lifted. For
subsequent positive tests of the same manufacturer’s products, the suspension will be for a period of
28 days for each occurrence before being automatically lifted.
(4) Authorities in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province announced on 18 August that all imported frozen
meat and aquatic products must go through package disinfection and nucleic acid tests at a centralised
supervision warehouse before they are distributed for storage, sales and processing. The Shenzhen
government has indicated it will bear the costs of tests and disinfection. The warehouse is located at
Youxin Food City in Nanwan Subdistrict, Longgang District. Details of the requirements are available
on-line from the Shenzhen COVID Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters Office website.
(5) Further guidance from the National Health Commission published 26 October requires packaging of
imported cold chain products to be disinfected as well as subject to nucleic acid testing on entry to
China prior to storage and distribution. MPI understands that these measures have led to significant
logistical challenges at certain ports and recommends that exporters work with their importers and
agents to minimise commercial impacts. Costs of implementing sanitation and testing may fall on the
exporter.
(6) The Notice of Beijing Municipal Market Regulation Administration and Beijing Commerce Bureau on
Promoting the use of Beijing Cold Chain Food Traceability Platform requires imported cold-chain food
production and operation units that have their own traceability system to upload this data through an
interface. Customers will be able to scan a QR code to find out whether the product they are buying
has been COVID tested or other relevant information:
http://scjgj.beijing.gov.cn/zwxx/gs/202010/t20201026_2120684.html
(7) It would appear that shared warehousing facilities with potentially contaminated product may pose an
additional risk for New Zealand products even with the current level of confidence that product leaving
New Zealand is COVID-free.
(8) MPI understands that some exporters may choose to perform pre-export testing of packaging and/or
products in order to mitigate commercial and logistical challenges at the border. Nevertheless, MPI has
provided an opinion on current scientific evidence: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/41614-new-
zealand-food-safety-scientific-opinion-on-covid-19-transmission-through-food-packaging.
1.3 China’s expectations of cold chain food production businesses
(1) In October 2020, China’s State Council issued their ‘Technical Guideline of COVID-19 Virus
Prevention and Control for Cold Chain Food Production and Operation’.
(2) China Customs has since written to MPI to request MPI notify industry of the Technical Guidelines, and
require, in reference to the guidelines, that risks associated with COVID-19 on packaging are
managed. MPI understands the written communication has gone to all trading partners.
(3) Preventative controls mentioned by China Customs include daily temperature checking of staff, testing
of staff and disinfection.
(4) MPI has informally received communication that Tianjin Customs recommends cold chain food
importers to have commercial contracts with exporters that include COVID protection measures from
1 March 2021.
(5) The COVID protection measures include nucleic acid testing of food and outer packaging before
product leaves the factory, with export only after the test is negative; coverage of possible
contamination pathways such as ventilation systems, across production and transportation, and
Ministry for Primary Industries Page 2 of 5For Your Information: F15/21: China Covid-19 import measures 26/02/2021
environmental disinfection; daily health checks of personnel, personal protection of employees during
production processes, encouraging employees to be vaccinated, and regular nucleic acid testing.
(6) There are some parallels with the China’s State Council Technical Guidance. New Zealand exporters
may experience requests from their importers in line with the above.
1.4 Detections of Covid-19 in staff in food processing facilities
(1) As a result of staff in various foreign meat processing establishments returning positive tests for
Covid-19, China Customs has suspended exports from those manufacturers.
(2) It is China Customs’ expectation that establishment operators will, if they have staff return a positive
Covid-19 test, immediately recall any affected at-risk exports to China, and suspend all exports to
China until the risk has been successfully managed.
(3) China Customs has also recently made it clear that it expects MPI to “voluntarily” suspend exports
from any establishment that has a staff member return a positive Covid-19 test.
(4) MPI has instituted requirements at New Zealand meat and seafood processing establishments
exporting to China, including cold stores, to mitigate any impact of a “voluntary” suspension of their
exports to China when a worker returns a positive test for Covid-19. (Those industries should refer to
OMAR notification 21/01 China: COVID-19 measures for exports issued 15 January 2021). Operators
at other New Zealand food export processing establishments where workers test positive for Covid-19
should contact MPI immediately at market.access@mpi.govt.nz
1.5 Port congestion and urgent replacement certificates
(1) Exporters are reporting congestion at ports in China caused by China Customs implementation of
Covid-19 measures such as testing and disinfection of packaging.
(2) Some exporters report having to divert to different ports at short notice because of this, resulting in
replacement certificates being requested with urgency.
(3) Where there is an urgent replacement, the original certificate can be surrendered to the New Zealand
embassy in Beijing in lieu of being returned to New Zealand.
(4) An urgent replacement is considered to be a situation where the consignment contains highly
perishable food facing clearance delays. Non-urgent certificates should be returned to New Zealand as
is usual practice.
(5) Where the need for a replacement certificate is a port change due to congestion, and within available
resourcing, the MPI team in Beijing will be available to receive certificates.
(6) Certificates should be delivered or mailed to the embassy at the following address:
MPI Team Beijing
New Zealand Embassy Beijing | 新西兰驻华大使馆
No.1 Ritan Dongerjie Chaoyang District Beijing 100600 |北京市朝阳区日坛东二街一号
Contact for further information
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Policy and Trade Branch
Market Access Directorate
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
Email: market.access@mpi.govt.nz
Ministry for Primary Industries Page 3 of 5For Your Information: F15/21: China Covid-19 import measures 26/02/2021 Disclaimer This “For Your Information” is intended for use as a guideline only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) endeavours to keep this information current and accurate. However, it may be subject to change without notice. MPI will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on this information. Ministry for Primary Industries Page 4 of 5
For Your Information: F15/21: China Covid-19 import measures 26/02/2021 Annex 1: Importer requested COVID-19 declaration, (China’s suggested language) 说明：如下为参考内容，可根据实际情况适当调整。 当前新冠肺炎疫情情况下，为了防止病毒污染食品，避免影响食品安全， XXXX承诺： 愿遵守中国法律法规标准和联合国粮农组织与世界卫生组织发布的《新冠 肺炎和食品安全：对食品企业指南》，保障输华食品未被新冠病毒污染， 保障输华食品安全。 一旦输华食品企业发现新冠肺炎病例/疑似病例，或输华食品存在被污染风 险，愿采取一切必要的措施，消除食品安全风险，保护消费者健康。 特此声明。 英文参考译文附后 Translation for reference In order to prevent the contamination of food with the virus and to avoid compromising food safety in the current COVID-19 epidemic situation, XXXX commits to: Willing to comply with Chinese laws, regulations and standards and the "COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses" published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to ensure that food imported into China is not contaminated with the COVID-19 virus and to ensure the safety of food imported into China. In the event that a new case/suspected case of COVID-19 is detected in a food enterprise, or if there is a risk of contamination of food products exported to China, we are willing to take all necessary measures to eliminate food safety risks and protect consumer health. Hereby declared. Ministry for Primary Industries Page 5 of 5
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