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GACC Announcement No. 124 of 2026

(Announcement on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Import of Peanuts from Laos)

In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of China and the provisions of the Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Chinese side”) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Lao side”) on phytosanitary requirements for the export of peanuts from Laos to China, the import of peanuts from Laos that meet the following requirements is permitted with immediate effect:

I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis

(I) Biosecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China;

(II) Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its Implementing Regulations;

(III) Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and its Implementing Regulations;

(IV) Measures of the People’s Republic of China for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety;

(V) Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Peanuts from Laos to China.

II. Name of Commodity Permitted for Import

The peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) referred to in this Announcement are non-seed shelled peanut kernels grown and processed in Laos and intended for human consumption or food processing.

III. Permitted Areas of Origin

The entire territory of Laos.

IV. Enterprise Registration

The Lao side shall ensure that enterprises engaged in the production, processing and storage of peanuts for export to China comply with China’s inspection and quarantine requirements.

The Lao side shall recommend qualified enterprises to the Chinese side. Enterprises shall be registered upon review and approval by the Chinese side. The list of registered enterprises shall be published on the website of the General Administration of Customs of China and updated dynamically.

V. Pests of Concern to the Chinese Side

Peanuts exported to China shall be free from the following pests:

1. Trogoderma granarium

2. Cenchrus echinatus

3. Eupatorium odoratum L.

4. Mikania micrantha

VI. Pre-shipment Requirements

(I) Production Requirements

1. The Lao side shall supervise peanut growers and enterprises engaged in production, processing and storage to establish an integrated pest management system to reduce the occurrence of pests of concern to the Chinese side.

2. The Lao side shall supervise enterprises exporting peanuts to China to ensure that cleaning measures, such as screening, are taken during peanut collection, storage, processing and transportation, or prior to shipment, to ensure that peanuts exported to China are free from plant residues, impurities, and seeds of dangerous, toxic or harmful weeds.

(II) Packaging and Transportation Requirements

Peanuts exported to China shall be properly packaged to prevent spillage and contamination during transportation.

Packaging materials shall be clean, hygienic, used for the first time, and free from toxic or harmful substances.

Each package shall be marked in both Chinese and English with:

“本产品输往中华人民共和国 / This consignment is exported to the People’s Republic of China”

as well as the product name, place of origin, name of the production, processing and storage enterprise, and its Chinese registration number.

(III) Pre-export Inspection, Quarantine and Certificate Requirements

Prior to export, the Lao side shall conduct inspection and quarantine of peanuts intended for export to China.

For consignments that meet the requirements, a Phytosanitary Certificate shall be issued with the following additional declaration:

“This consignment complies with the phytosanitary requirements described in the Protocol for Peanut from Laos to China, and is free from pests of concern to China.”

The certificate shall also indicate the name of the production, processing and storage enterprise and its Chinese registration number.

If live insects are detected, fumigation treatment shall be carried out prior to export. The name of the fumigant, dosage, temperature, treatment duration and other relevant information shall be specified on the Phytosanitary Certificate.

VII. Entry Inspection and Quarantine

(I) Document Verification

1. Verify whether the consignment comes from a registered enterprise;

2. Verify whether the Phytosanitary Certificate is authentic and valid.

(II) Cargo Inspection

Peanuts shall be subject to inspection and quarantine in accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations and rules, as well as the requirements of this Announcement. Consignments that pass inspection and quarantine shall be permitted to enter China.

(III) Treatment of Non-compliant Consignments

1. Consignments without a valid Phytosanitary Certificate shall be returned or destroyed;

2. Consignments from enterprises that have not been registered shall be returned or destroyed;

3. Where safety and hygiene indicators, such as aflatoxin levels, exceed the limits specified in China’s national food safety standards, the consignment shall be returned or destroyed;

4. Where pests of concern to the Chinese side are detected, the consignment may be permitted to enter China after effective pest treatment. If no effective treatment method is available, the consignment shall be returned or destroyed;

5. Other cases of non-compliance with China’s laws, regulations and standards concerning entry animal and plant quarantine and food safety shall be handled in accordance with relevant provisions.

Where any of the above violations are identified, the Chinese side shall notify the Lao side and, depending on the severity of the violation, may suspend the relevant enterprise’s qualification to export to China until the Lao side has taken effective corrective measures.

This Announcement is hereby issued.