Plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials refer to the medicinal parts of medicinal plants, which are raw materials formed by primary processing after harvesting. The "Administrative Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Quarantine of Inbound and Outbound Chinese Medicinal Materials" establish customs supervision requirements for plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials. China implements designated port management for the import of plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials, requiring such imports to enter through drug import ports or medicinal material border import ports approved by the State Council.
I. Quarantine Access
China enforces a quarantine access system for the import of plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials. The General Administration of Customs (GACC), in accordance with the "Administrative Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Quarantine of Inbound and Outbound Chinese Medicinal Materials", conducts product risk analysis and regulatory system assessments for countries or regions exporting plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials to China for the first time. Upon approval, the GACC website publishes a list of approved countries or regions and the respective types of products eligible for import.
Currently, nearly one hundred countries or regions globally hold admittance approval and have established traditional trade records for importing plant-derived Chinese Medicinal Materials into our nation, encompassing hundreds of product varieties. Specific details about these authorized countries, regions, and their respective varieties can be referenced in the "Catalogue of Animal and Plant-derived Medicinal Material Categories and Exporting Countries or Regions Approved for Our Country's Quarantine Access" curated by the Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine under the General Administration of Customs.
II. Registration
Based on risk analysis outcomes, the General Administration of Customs establishes and dynamically adjusts the catalogue of Chinese medicinal materials that require overseas registration. The General Administration of Customs mandates registration for overseas manufacturers exporting varieties of Chinese medicinal materials to China that require overseas registration. The List of Registered Enterprises Authorized to Import Plant-derived Chinese Medicinal Materials from Abroad can be located under the "Enterprise Information" section of the Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine of the General Administration of Customs (GACC), or by accessing the "Quarantine Registration System for Overseas Enterprises Importing Animals, Plants, and Their Products."
III. Declaration Requirements
Consignees of imported plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials, or their entrusted customs declaration enterprises, must truthfully declare to the customs in compliance with the "Administrative Regulations of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Goods Declaration." Furthermore, they must provide accompanying documents and certificates as prescribed, such as quarantine certificates, certificates of origin, or corresponding document numbers, including the import drug customs clearance form (regulatory certificate code Q) and the endangered species import permit certificate (regulatory certificate code F), among others.
The Customs accepts declarations from enterprises and evaluates whether the materials submitted by the enterprises comply with the requirements of laws, administrative regulations, and the management regulations for customs import goods declarations.
IV. Quarantine Requirements
In accordance with the "Administrative Measures for the Supervision and Quarantine of Inbound and Outbound Chinese Medicinal Materials", the customs perform quarantine inspections following Chinese laws and regulations, national mandatory standards, and quarantine requirements agreed upon through consultation with the competent authorities of the exporting country or region for exporting Chinese medicinal materials to China. If pests, symptoms of pest damage, or the necessity for laboratory quarantine as dictated by relevant procedures are identified during on-site quarantine, the customs shall sample the imported plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials and submit them for testing.
V. Determination of Quarantine Results
Imported plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials deemed qualified will be granted clearance. For those judged to be unqualified, the customs shall issue a Notice of Quarantine Treatment, and the owner or its agent shall carry out disinfection and disinfestation, return or destruction under the supervision of the customs. Those that have passed the disinfection and disinfestation treatment are allowed to enter China. Before obtaining the quarantine certificate, no organization or individual is permitted to transfer, sell, or process plant-derived Chinese medicinal materials without authorization from the customs.
(Author Affiliation: Qingdao Customs)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
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