Announcement of the General Administration of Customs on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Import of Fresh Bananas from Myanmar

In accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations as well as the provisions of the phytosanitary requirements protocol for fresh bananas from Myanmar exported to China reached 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, Livestock and Irrigation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (hereinafter referred to as the Myanmar‑side), fresh bananas from Myanmar that meet the relevant requirements below are permitted to be imported.

I. Phytosanitary Basis

(1) The Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China; (2) The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry‑Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations; (3) The Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations; (4) The Measures for the Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Aquatic Products; (5) Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Fresh Bananas Exported from Myanmar to China between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

II. Name of Permitted Import Commodity

Fresh bananas from Myanmar (Scientific name: Musa sapientum, English name: Banana) (hereinafter referred to as bananas). They are unripe green bananas harvested 10‑11 weeks after flowering. Any over‑ripe yellow bananas shall not be exported to China.

III. Approved Origin

Banana‑producing areas in Myanmar.

IV. Approved Orchards and Packing Houses

Orchards and packing houses exporting bananas to China shall be audited by the Myanmar‑side and jointly approved by the Myanmar‑side and the Chinese‑side. The registration information shall include name, address and registration number, so that goods can be accurately traced when they fail to comply with the provisions of this Announcement. Prior to each annual export season, the Myanmar‑side shall submit the list of registered orchards and packing houses to the Chinese‑side. After being reviewed and approved by the Chinese‑side, the list will be published and regularly updated on the website of the General Administration of Customs. (The enterprise list can be queried through General Administration of Customs ‑ Government Services ‑ I Want to Enquire ‑ Animal and Plant Quarantine Information Query. Query link:https://online.customs.gov.cn/ociswebserver/pages/dzjxxcx/index.html)

V. List of Quarantine Pests of Concern to China

1. Achatina fulica ‑ Giant African Snail 2. Aleurodicus dispersus ‑ Spiralling Whitefly 3. Bactrocera latifrons ‑ Solanum Fruit Fly 4. Dysmicoccus neobrevipes ‑ New‑pineapple Mealybug 5. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 4 ‑ Fusarium Wilt of Banana (Tropical Race 4, TR4) 6. Planococcus lilacinus ‑ Cocoa Mealybug 7. Planococcus minor ‑ Pumpkin Mealybug

VI. Pre‑export Management

(1) Orchard Management

1. Orchards exporting bananas to China shall establish a sound quality management system and traceability system under the supervision of the Myanmar‑side, implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain orchard sanitation, such as keeping the surrounding area free of pollution sources affecting fruit production, promptly removing fallen and rotten fruits, and carry out Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including regular pest monitoring surveys, physical, chemical or biological prevention and control, and agricultural operation control measures. 2. In accordance with the requirements of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 6 (ISPM 6), the Myanmar‑side shall formulate management plans for quarantine pests of concern to China and organize orchard monitoring. If pests or relevant symptoms are detected during monitoring, comprehensive management measures including chemical, physical or biological prevention and control shall be adopted to ensure that Myanmar bananas are free from quarantine pests of concern to China. 3. Orchards exporting bananas to China shall carry out monitoring and integrated prevention and control against quarantine pests of concern to China under the supervision and guidance of the Myanmar‑side. Pest monitoring and prevention shall be implemented under the guidance of technical personnel trained by the Myanmar‑side or its authorized institutions. 4. Orchards shall keep records of pest monitoring and prevention, which shall be provided to the Chinese‑side upon request by the Myanmar‑side. Chemical pest‑control records shall specify detailed information including the name, active ingredient, dosage and application date of chemicals used during the growing season. 5. For mealybugs such as Planococcus minor, Planococcus lilacinus and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes, orchards shall conduct pest monitoring every 15 days from the flowering stage to harvest, checking fruits, stems, branches and leaves for the presence of scale insects. In addition to visual inspection, multiple physical or chemical methods shall be used on branches and stems for pest monitoring, and effective prevention and control shall be carried out immediately once pests are detected. 6. For Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 4 (hereinafter referred to as TR4), orchards shall establish TR4‑free production sites in accordance with the guiding principles of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 10 (ISPM 10), whose status shall be approved by both sides. If TR4 is detected at a production site, the Myanmar‑side shall immediately suspend banana exports to China from that site and notify the Chinese‑side. Exports may be resumed only if no TR4 is detected for 3 consecutive months and the site remains under Myanmar‑side supervision. Orchards shall retain pest monitoring and prevention records for at least two years and provide them to the Chinese‑side upon request. Records shall include inspection date, names of detected pests, name, active ingredient, dosage and application date of agricultural chemicals used.

(2) Packing‑house Management

1. Processing, packing, storage and loading of bananas exported to China shall be carried out under Myanmar‑side supervision. 2. Banana processing and packing shall be completed in registered packing houses. During processing, bananas shall go through water soaking, manual sorting and grading to ensure they are free from insects, mites, snails, rotten fruits, plant debris, soil and other contaminants. 3. If packed bananas need to be stored before export, they shall be put into warehouse immediately and stored separately to avoid re‑infestation by pests. 4. Packing houses shall establish traceability systems to ensure bananas exported to China can be traced back to the registered orchard. Records shall include packing date, orchard name or registration number, banana quantity, export date, export volume, destination country, truck or container number, seal number and other information. If chemicals are used during processing, records of chemical name, active ingredient, dosage and application date shall also be kept. All records shall be retained for no less than two years.

(3) Packing Requirements

1. Packaging materials shall be clean, unused and compliant with China’s phytosanitary requirements. If wooden packaging is used, it shall meet the requirements of International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15). 2. Each carton shall be marked in Chinese or English with the fruit name, country of origin, orchard name or registration number, packing‑house name or registration number. Each carton and pallet shall be marked in Chinese or English: “Exported to the People’s Republic of China”. 3. Containers or closed vehicles loaded with bananas shall be clean and disinfected, and sealed. The seal shall remain intact upon arrival at China’s port of entry.

(4) Pre‑export Inspection and Quarantine

1. The Myanmar‑side shall conduct random sampling inspection on each consignment at a sampling rate of 1 %. 2. If quarantine pests of concern to China or soil are detected, the whole consignment shall not be exported to China. The Myanmar‑side shall immediately suspend banana exports to China from the relevant orchard or packing‑house until root causes are identified and effective corrective actions are taken. Relevant records shall be kept and provided to the Chinese‑side upon request.

(5) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements

For bananas that pass inspection, the Myanmar‑side shall issue a phytosanitary certificate in accordance with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12). The certificate shall state the consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Banana Fruits from Myanmar to China, and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China.

VII. Entry Inspection, Quarantine and Non‑conformity Handling

Upon arrival of bananas exported to China at China’s port of entry, Chinese Customs shall carry out inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) Verification of Certificates and Marks

1. Verify whether imported bananas hold the Plant Quarantine Import Permit. 2. Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate complies with the provisions in Item (5), Section VI of this Announcement. 3. Verify whether marks on each carton comply with the provisions in Item (2), Section VI of this Announcement.

(2) Entry Inspection and Quarantine

1. Bananas exported to China shall enter China through fruit import ports approved by the Chinese‑side. 2. Upon arrival at China’s port of entry, Chinese Customs shall verify relevant certificates and marks, and conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with Chinese laws, national standards and this Announcement. Consignments that pass inspection and quarantine shall be granted entry.

(3) Non‑conformity Handling

1. If bananas are found to originate from unregistered orchards/packing‑houses or are over‑ripe, the consignment shall be denied entry. 2. If quarantine pests of concern to China, newly‑detected quarantine pests or soil are found, the consignment shall be returned or destroyed. 3. If the bananas fail to meet China’s food‑safety‑related laws, regulations and national standards, the consignment shall be returned or destroyed.

This Announcement shall come into force on 1 September 2026. 

Announcement No. 49 of 2022 issued by the General Administration of Customs shall be repealed simultaneously.

General Administration of Customs People’s Republic of China