Seeds are the starting point of the crop industry chain. Although China has a very rich seed resource, a few varieties still need to be imported in order to meet diversified needs. This article provides instructions for the quarantine process of importing plant seeds.
I. Definition of Plant Seeds
According to the SeedLaw of the People's Republic of China, seeds refer to planting materials or propagation materials for crops and trees, including grains, fruits, roots, stems, seedlings, buds, leaves, flowers, etc. However, imported plant seeds only include seeds and fruits in the botanical sense for propagation, and do not include "seeds" in the agronomic sense such as root tubers, tubers, phosphorus bulbs, scions, buds, etc. that can be reproduced.
II. Procedures to be completed before Importing Plant Seeds
According to Article X of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine, an application must be submitted in advance for the quarantine approval procedures concerning importing plant seeds. Article XI of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine stipulates that quarantine approval procedures shall be completed before a trade contract or agreement is signed. The introduction units or the import agent must specify the quarantine requirements proposed during quarantine approval in the trade contract, and apply for the relevant department’s quarantine approval procedures based on the various scenarios of seeds imported from abroad.
(I) Circumstances requiring the submission of a special quarantine approval application to the General Administration of Customs (GACC)
Due to special reasons such as scientific research and teaching, when it is necessary to import plant seeds from countries and regions with prevalent plant epidemics or those prohibited under the Catalogue of Plants Prohibited for Quarantine Entry into the People's Republic of China, the introduction organization or its agent must apply for special quarantine approval to the local direct customs via the China International Trade Single Window, national government service platform, and other channels. Upon approval from GACC, they will obtain the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit of the People's Republic of China".
It should be noted that according to the Announcement of GACC on Matters Concerning Optimizing Special Quarantine Approval for Imported Animals and Plants (Announcement No. 209 [2024] of GACC), from April 1, 2025, when an introduction organization or its agent submits an application for special quarantine approval, it shall attach the following materials: "Application Form for Special Quarantine Approval", Ecological Safety and Biosecurity Risk Self-Assessment Report, Biosecurity Management System of the Introduction Organization and the Safety Precautions to be Taken, Commitment Letter for Fulfilling Biosecurity Responsibilities; If plant seeds are introduced from countries and regions where plant epidemics are prevalent, in principle, approval documents or scientific research project reports issued by relevant competent departments at the provincial and ministerial levels or above or at the same level must be provided; If entrusted, a letter of authorization should also be submitted.
(II) Circumstances requiring the application for overseas introduction and quarantine approval from the agricultural (forestry) department.
For the introduction of agricultural and forestry seeds that are not prohibited from entering China, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MOA), the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the plant quarantine agencies of the agricultural, rural, and forestry departments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government shall be responsible for quarantine approval in accordance with the division of responsibilities.
The introduction organization or its agent can apply to the responsible department for quarantine approval procedures through channels such as the national government service platform, the administrative licensing hall of MOA at or above the provincial level, or the government service platform. For agricultural seeds, the "Quarantine Approval Form for Introduced Agricultural Seedlings (From Overseas)" shall be handled, and for forest seeds, the "Quarantine Approval Form for Introduced Forest Seeds and Seedlings".
III. Customs Clearance Process for the Introduction of Plant Seeds
The port quarantine of imported plant seeds should be carried out in the designated supervision site for imported plant seedlings approved by GACC. GACC implements dynamic management on the "List of Designated Supervision Sites for Imported Plant Seedlings", and introduction organizations or agents can inquire through the official website of GACC.
(I) Customs acceptance and declaration
Before the entry of plant seeds, the introduction organization or agent can submit the following documents to the customs at the port of entry for declaration through the China International Trade Single Window or the national integrated online government service platform "Internet+Customs":
(1) Phytosanitary certificate issued by the official plant quarantine department of the exporting country or region;
(2) Certificate of origin;
(3) If declared as genetically modified, an "Agricultural Genetically Modified Biosecurity Certificate" must be provided;
(4) If the introduction is entrusted by the introduction unit, relevant entrustment agreements must be provided.
The customs at the entry port shall review the documents in terms of completeness, validity and consistency at the entry port. After review, those that meet the requirements will be accepted by the customs; those that do not meet the requirements will not be accepted.
The Customs shall carry out online verification on the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit of the People's Republic of China", "Quarantine Approval Form for Introduced Agricultural Seedlings (From Overseas)", and "Quarantine Approval Form for Introduced Forest Seeds and Seedlings". Except in special circumstances, the introduction unit is not required to submit a paper quarantine approval form. Instead, they only need to provide the name and number during the declaration of imported goods. The consignee on the bill of lading should match both the applicant for quarantine approval and the consignee on the phytosanitary certificate issued by the foreign official plant quarantine authority. The port of entry must be consistent with the port approved for quarantine.
(II) Customs port quarantine
The introduced plant seeds are highly reproductive, and there are risks such as plant epidemics and the introduction of alien species. When the imported plant seeds arrive at Chinese ports, the port customs quarantine personnel must check whether the goods and certificates are consistent, go through the cancellation procedures according to the variety, quantity (weight) and origin, and strictly implement on-site quarantine in accordance with relevant national standards, industry standards and relevant regulations. Upon completion of the quarantine for imported seeds, they will be treated in accordance with the quarantine results as follows:
(1) If the certificate is inconsistent with the declared product name, variety, batch number, quantity, mark, etc., and cannot be changed or corrected, and a valid "Phytosanitary Certificate" and "Quarantine Approval Form for Introduced Forest Seeds and Seedlings", or "Quarantine Approval Form for Introduced Agricultural Seedlings (From Overseas)" or "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit of the People's Republic of China" cannot be provided, the goods shall be returned or destroyed;
(2) If soil is detected, the goods shall be returned or destroyed;
(3) In the event that quarantine pests are detected, or other pests listed in bilateral agreements (protocols, memoranda), quarantine approval documents, or warning notices, or other pests deemed to have significant quarantine importance based on risk assessment, if there is no effective treatment available, the goods shall be returned or destroyed. If an effective treatment is available, disinfestation shall be carried out;
(4) If the above-mentioned harmful organisms are not detected or pass the pest control treatment, they shall be handled in accordance with the following methods: If the customs does not need to implement isolation quarantine or isolation planting, the port customs will release it and transport it to the designated area for planting; if the customs needs to implement isolation quarantine or isolation planting, it will be transported to the designated isolation nursery for isolation quarantine;
(5) If it is necessary to make external claims, a "Phytosanitary Certificate" shall be issued upon application by the owner or its agent.
It should be particularly noted that for plant seeds approved by MOA and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, once port quarantine is completed, the customs will then carry out quarantine oversight of the plant seed batch. Subsequent supervision will adhere to the regulations set by the relevant quarantine approval department.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.