Announcement No. 98 of 2025 by the General Administration of Customs on Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Imported Madagascar Sea Catfish and Ornamental Fish

Announcement No. 98 of 2025 by the General Administration of Customs (Announcement on Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Imported Madagascar Sea Catfish and Ornamental Fish)

The following is the announcement content:

Announcement No. 98 of 2025 by the General Administration of Customs

According to relevant laws and regulations in our country and the Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of the Republic of Madagascar on Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Madagascar Sea Catfish and Ornamental Fish Exported to China, it is allowed to import Madagascar Sea Catfish and Ornamental Fish that meet the following requirements from today on.

1、 Inspection and quarantine basis

（1） Biosafety Law of the People's Republic of China;

（2） The Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations;

（3） Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection, Quarantine and Quarantine of Imported Aquatic Animals;

（4） The Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of the Republic of Madagascar on Quarantine and Hygiene Requirements for Madagascar Sea Fishing Ornamental Fish Exported to China (hereinafter referred to as the "Protocol").

2、 Scope of imported products

The marine ornamental fish referred to in this announcement refers to marine ornamental fish that have been approved for export by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of the Republic of Madagascar (hereinafter referred to as the Malaysian side), caught from natural waters, and have obtained quarantine access from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Chinese side). Freshwater ornamental fish are not within the scope of this announcement.

3、 Requirements for transit packaging yard

The transfer packaging site for Madagascar's imported ornamental fish to China should meet the following requirements:

（1） After approval by the Malaysian side, it will be recommended to the Chinese side, reviewed and approved by the Chinese side, and registered.

（2） Having corresponding biosafety conditions, located in a biosafety isolation zone for infectious hematopoietic organ necrosis disease, red snapper rainbow virus disease, viral hemorrhagic sepsis, and viral neuronecrosis disease.

（3） Under the quarantine supervision of the Malaysian side, and in accordance with the methods and standards recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health, susceptible species are continuously monitored for infectious hematopoietic organ necrosis disease, red snapper rainbow virus disease, viral hemorrhagic sepsis, and viral nerve necrosis disease for more than 12 months, and the monitoring results are negative.

4、 Requirements for imported products

The Malaysian side should ensure that the ornamental fish exported to China meet the following conditions:

（1） Marine ornamental fish imported to China must come from healthy populations and undergo at least 48 hours of quarantine at an approved and regulated quarantine site in Malaysia before export. During the quarantine period, no clinical symptoms of aquatic animal diseases were found.

（2） Sea fishing in China

Before exporting ornamental fish, it is recommended to use drugs recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health or approved by the Malaysian side for bathing, disinfection, and parasite removal.

（3） Fresh or disinfected packaging containers should be used for transporting ornamental fish to China. The containers used for loading water, ice, bedding materials, and all utensils and items in contact with them should meet hygiene requirements.

（4） The fishing area and transit packaging site have not experienced any infectious hematopoietic organ necrosis disease, rainbow virus disease, viral hemorrhagic sepsis, or viral nerve necrosis disease in the 24 months prior to the export of sea caught ornamental fish in the area.

5、 Label requirements

Export to China

Chinese or English labels should be affixed to the packaging containers of marine ornamental fish, which should include at least the name and scientific name of the ornamental fish, the quantity (weight), the fishing area, and the approval number of the transit packaging site.

6、 Pre export inspection and certificate requirements

（1） The Malaysian side is responsible for implementing quarantine and issuing mutually recognized quarantine certificates for the ornamental fish exported to China, proving that the ornamental fish comply with relevant laws and regulations of China and the Republic of Madagascar, as well as the relevant provisions of the Protocol.

（2） Each batch of ornamental fish caught at sea should be accompanied by at least one original quarantine certificate issued by the Malaysian side. The language of the quarantine certificate should include at least English, and the content should include the contents of Articles 3 to 4 of this announcement.

7、 Other requirements

Chinese customs implement inspection and quarantine on imported ornamental fish caught at sea.

For non-conforming products, they will be returned, destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. If necessary, China will suspend the import of Madagascar's marine ornamental fish.

This is to announce.

General Administration of Customs

May 26, 2025

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