*Country-level import protocols have been established; however, overseas manufacturers must obtain GACC registration before exporting to China.
Announcement on the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for the Import of Wild Aquatic Products from African Countries Having Diplomatic Relations with China
General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 98 of 2026
In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of China, and based on risk assessment, the importation of wild aquatic products from African countries having diplomatic relations with China is permitted, provided that the following requirements are met.
I. Legal Basis
Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and its Implementing Regulations;
Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its Implementing Regulations;
Law of the People’s Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection and its Implementing Regulations;
Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety of the People’s Republic of China;
Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food.
II. Scope of Products
For the purpose of this Announcement, wild aquatic products refer to wild aquatic animal products and their processed products intended for human consumption, as well as marine plants such as algae and their processed products.
The following are not included within the scope of this Announcement:
Amphibians;
Reptiles;
Aquatic mammals;
Live aquatic animals;
Breeding materials of aquatic animals and plants.
III. Requirements for Manufacturing Establishments
Manufacturers exporting wild aquatic products to China (including production, processing, and storage establishments) shall:
Be approved by the competent authority of the exporting country (hereinafter referred to as the “Competent Authority”) and be subject to its effective supervision;
Establish food safety, hygiene management, and biosecurity systems that comply with the relevant Chinese food safety laws and regulations;
Be officially recommended by the Competent Authority to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) for registration.
Unregistered establishments shall not export wild aquatic products to China.
IV. Requirements for Imported Products
The Competent Authority of the exporting country shall ensure that wild aquatic products exported to China meet the following requirements:
(1) Legal Harvest
The products shall be legally harvested within the exporting country’s waters or in international waters.
(2) Raw Materials and Products
Neither the raw materials nor the finished products shall involve any of the following circumstances:
Exported or intended-for-export products have seriously violated Chinese food safety laws, regulations, national standards, or the requirements of this Announcement, thereby affecting food safety;
Outbreaks of aquatic animal diseases listed in the Catalogue of Animal Diseases Subject to Quarantine upon Entry into the People’s Republic of China, or diseases notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), have occurred in the exporting country and seriously affected the safety of products exported to China;
Major food safety incidents, major public health incidents affecting manufacturing establishments, or pollution of harvesting waters have seriously affected the safety of exported wild aquatic products.
(3) Veterinary Drugs and Additives
No drugs or additives prohibited by China shall be used, directly or indirectly. Restricted or permitted substances shall be used strictly in accordance with Chinese regulations.
(4) Inspection and Quarantine
Following inspection and quarantine by the Competent Authority, the products shall be free from:
Pathogenic microorganisms;
Toxic or hazardous substances;
Foreign contaminants specified under Chinese laws and regulations;
Aquatic animal diseases listed in the Chinese Catalogue;
Aquatic animal diseases required to be reported by the WOAH.
(5) Production Process
The entire production chain — including harvesting, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, transshipment, and export — shall comply with China’s food safety, hygiene, and traceability requirements.
(6) Packaging and Labeling
Packaging and labeling shall comply with the relevant Chinese National Food Safety Standards and regulations governing imported food.
V. Health Certificate Requirements
The Competent Authority shall conduct inspection and quarantine of wild aquatic products exported to China in accordance with Chinese requirements and issue an officially approved Health Certificate for each shipment.
The certificate shall certify that the products comply with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, and national standards.
The Health Certificate shall:
Be printed in at least Chinese and English;
Use English as a mandatory language when completed;
Include complete information on the registered manufacturing establishment exporting to China.
The Competent Authority shall submit specimen certificates and official seal impressions to GACC for record-filing. Any changes shall be notified to GACC at least one month before taking effect.
VI. Import Inspection, Quarantine, and Non-compliance Measures
Chinese Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine of imported wild aquatic products in accordance with Chinese food safety laws, regulations, national standards, and the requirements of this Announcement.
Products failing to comply with the relevant requirements shall be destroyed, returned, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with Chinese regulations.
Where serious problems or repeated non-compliance occur, GACC may strengthen inspection and quarantine measures or suspend imports from the relevant establishment.
VII. Other Requirements
The inspection and quarantine requirements applicable to wild aquatic products from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Djibouti, and Mozambique shall continue to be implemented in accordance with:
GACC Announcement No. 34 of 2022;
GACC Announcement No. 121 of 2022;
GACC Announcement No. 146 of 2024;
GACC Announcement No. 147 of 2024;
GACC Announcement No. 148 of 2024;
GACC Announcement No. 46 of 2026;
GACC Announcement No. 58 of 2026.
General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China
10 July 2026
