Announcement on Phytosanitary Requirements for Imported Coffee Beans from African Countries

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China and upon completion of risk assessment, imports of coffee beans originating from African countries with diplomatic relations with China that satisfy the relevant requirements below are permitted.

I. Legal Basis for Inspection and Quarantine

1. Biosecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China

2. Animal and Plant Entry-Exit Quarantine Law of the People’s Republic of China and its Implementation Regulations

3. Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and its Implementation Regulations

II. Definition of Permitted Import Commodities

Coffee Beans referred to in this Announcement mean unroasted, dehulled grains of Coffea L. cultivated and processed within the exporting country. The outer skin, pulp, endocarp and silver skin are removed, and the grains are produced via drying, screening and other processing procedures.

III. Origin

African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China.

IV. Enterprise Registration

Production and processing enterprises exporting coffee beans to China shall be reviewed by the competent authority of the exporting country (hereinafter referred to as the Exporting Country Authority) and approved and registered by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Chinese Side). Registration information includes enterprise name, address, registration number and other particulars to enable accurate traceability should exported coffee beans fail to comply with the provisions of this Announcement.Prior to the commencement of trade, the Exporting Country Authority shall submit the list of registered enterprises to the Chinese Side. Upon review and approval by the Chinese Side, the list will be published on the official website of the General Administration of Customs.

V. Quarantine Pests of Concern to China

1. Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei)

2. Larger Grain Borer (Prostephanus truncatus)

3. Pink Disease Fungus (Nectria rigidiuscula)

4. Coffee Berry Anthracnose (Colletotrichum kahawae)

VI. Pre-Export Administration

(I) Cultivation Management

1. All growing bases shall establish sound quality management and traceability systems under the supervision of the Exporting Country Authority, implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and maintain hygienic growing conditions, such as keeping the surroundings free of pollution sources and timely removing diseased plant residues. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) shall be implemented, including pest monitoring and surveys, physical, chemical or biological control measures, and agronomic operations.

2. Under supervision of the Exporting Country Authority, growing bases shall carry out pest monitoring and integrated control targeting the quarantine pests of concern to China. All monitoring and control activities shall be conducted under the guidance of professional technicians trained by the Exporting Country Authority or its authorized bodies.Growing bases shall retain pest monitoring and control records for a minimum of two years and provide such records to the Chinese Side upon request. Records shall at least cover monitoring dates, identified pest species, control measures adopted, as well as the application date, active ingredients and concentrations of all chemicals used. Pesticides prohibited by China shall not be applied during pest control activities.

(II) Processing Management

1. Production and processing enterprises shall establish a traceability system to ensure coffee beans exported to China can be traced back to their growing bases.

2. Processing, packaging, storage and loading operations shall be carried out under phytosanitary supervision by the Exporting Country Authority or its authorized inspectors. Relevant work zones shall be relatively independent with rational layouts, kept clean and sanitized, fitted with hardened floors, separated from living quarters and maintained at an appropriate distance from residential areas.

3. Processing shall include manual sorting, screening, cleaning and impurity removal to eliminate moldy beans, insect-damaged beans, live insects, insect eggs, soil, weed seeds, plant residues, grit and other foreign matter.

(III) Packaging Requirements

1. Raw coffee beans and finished coffee beans shall be stored separately to avoid cross-contamination. Coffee beans shall be packed with new, clean and hygienic materials complying with China’s phytosanitary requirements. Where wooden packaging is used, it shall meet the provisions of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15).

2. Each package shall bear traceable information in Chinese or English, including product name, country of origin, place of origin, enterprise name and registration number of the processor. All cartons and pallets shall be marked in Chinese or English with “Exported to the People’s Republic of China”.

3. Transport vehicles or containers loaded with coffee beans for export to China shall be inspected for satisfactory sanitary conditions prior to loading. Seals shall be affixed to all vehicles or containers, and such seals must remain intact upon arrival at Chinese entry ports.

(IV) Pre-Export Inspection and Quarantine

1. Prior to export, the Exporting Country Authority shall conduct inspection and quarantine on coffee beans destined for China. Only coffee beans that pass official inspection and quarantine and fully satisfy the requirements of this Announcement are eligible for export to China.

2. During the first two years of trade, the Exporting Country Authority shall sample and inspect no less than 2% of each consignment of coffee beans bound for China. If no phytosanitary non-compliance incidents occur within the two-year period, the sampling ratio may be adjusted to no less than 1%.

3. If any quarantine pests of concern to China, plant residues or soil are detected, the entire consignment shall be prohibited from export to China. The Exporting Country Authority shall investigate the root causes and implement corrective actions, preserve inspection records and submit them to the Chinese Side upon request.

(V) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements

1. For coffee beans passing quarantine inspection, the Exporting Country Authority shall issue an official phytosanitary certificate stating the processor’s name or registration number, together with the following additional declaration:“This consignment complies with Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Coffee Beans from Africa to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China.”Consignments found with live pests shall undergo fumigation or other disinfection treatments before export. The phytosanitary certificate shall specify treatment method, chemical name, dosage, treatment duration and temperature.

2. Prior to the launch of trade, the Exporting Country Authority shall submit a specimen of the phytosanitary certificate to the Chinese Side for verification and filing.

VII. Entry Inspection, Quarantine and Disposal of Non-Conforming Consignments

Upon arrival at Chinese entry ports, coffee beans exported to China shall be subject to inspection and quarantine by Chinese Customs in accordance with the provisions below.

(I) Verification of Certificates and Markings

1. Verify the authenticity and validity of the accompanying phytosanitary certificate.

2. Verify whether markings on cartons and pallets comply with the provisions set forth in Clause (III) of Section VI of this Announcement.

(II) Cargo Inspection

In accordance with applicable laws, administrative regulations and rules, Chinese Customs shall conduct inspection and quarantine on imported coffee beans. Consignments passing inspection and quarantine shall be granted entry clearance.

(III) Disposal of Non-Conforming Goods

1. Where coffee beans are sourced from unregistered production and processing enterprises, the entire consignment shall be returned or destroyed.

2. Where no valid phytosanitary certificate is attached, the entire consignment shall be returned or destroyed.

3. Where live quarantine pests (including quarantine pests of concern to China), plant residues or soil are detected, the entire consignment shall be returned, destroyed or subjected to quarantine disinfection treatment.

4. Where goods fail to comply with China’s food safety laws, regulations and national standards, the entire consignment shall be returned or destroyed.

5. For other violations against China’s entry quarantine requirements, disposal shall be carried out in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Upon detection of any of the above non-compliance situations, the Chinese Side shall immediately notify the Exporting Country Authority and may suspend import clearance for coffee beans from the relevant processing enterprises depending on the severity of the violation. The Exporting Country Authority shall conduct root-cause analysis and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence. The Chinese Side will decide whether to lift the suspension based on the effectiveness of rectification actions submitted by the Exporting Country Authority.

VIII. Miscellaneous Provisions

Coffee beans from Ethiopia and Burundi have already obtained China’s phytosanitary market access. Relevant import phytosanitary requirements shall be implemented in line with General Administration of Customs Announcement No.142 of 2023 and Announcement No.117 of 2024.

This Announcement shall take effect on July 20, 2026.

This Announcement is hereby issued.

General Administration of Customs

May 20, 2026

Differences in Registration of Overseas Manufacturers for Imported Coffee Beans

Core Distinction: Green Coffee Beans vs. Roasted Coffee Beans & Coffee Products

1. Green Coffee Beans (Unroasted)

• Nature: Primary agricultural products, naturally dried coffee kernels.

• Regulating Authority: Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine, General Administration of Customs (GACC).

• Market Access Requirements: Dual eligibility thresholds

1. The country of origin must be included in the Approved Import Country List published by GACC (e.g., Ethiopia).

2. Overseas manufacturers shall complete GACC registration. Registration number format: Q + country code + 13 digits (Example: Kenya QKEN1234567890123). The bilateral agreement-based access specified in this document falls under this official recommended registration channel.

• Important Reminder: Coffee beans originating from unlisted countries are prohibited from importation.

2. Roasted Coffee Beans & Roasted Coffee Products

• Nature: Commercially processed food; physical properties altered via high-temperature roasting and other processing procedures.

• Regulating Authority: Food Import and Export Safety Bureau, General Administration of Customs (GACC).

• Market Access Requirements: No country-level access approval required. Overseas manufacturers may submit GACC registration applications by themselves or through domestic agents. Registration number format: C + country code + 14 digits (Example: Uganda CUGA12345678901234).

Key Summary

Import of green coffee beans requires both country market access AND manufacturer registration with a Q-prefixed number.Import of roasted coffee beans only requires manufacturer registration with a C-prefixed number, with no separate country access approval needed.Please verify consistency between the registration number format and CIQ codes prior to import clearance.