General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 185 of 2025 | Notice on Plant Quarantine Requirements for Imported Plant-Based Fertilizers

To prevent the introduction of plant diseases and invasive species, and to protect China's agricultural production and ecological security, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations and international plant quarantine standards, the General Administration of Customs has revised the plant quarantine requirements for imported plant-based fertilizers, and has formulated the "Plant Quarantine Requirements for Imported Plant-Based Fertilizers (Revised in 2025)". It is hereby announced. 

This announcement will come into effect on March 30, 2026. The original "Entry Plant Quarantine Requirements for Plant-Based Fertilizers" (issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine under the State Council in Document No. 674 of 2011) is hereby abolished. 

This is to make the following announcement.

General Administration of Customs 

September 22nd, 2025

Quarantine Requirements for Imported Plant-Based Fertilizers 

(Revised in 2025) 

I. Legal and Regulatory Basis 

(1) "The Law of the People's Republic of China on Biosecurity" 

(2) The "Regulations on the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine of Animals and Plants of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations. 

II. Definition of Plant-Based Fertilizers 

The plant-based fertilizers referred to in this requirement are those that originate from plants, have undergone processing but still have the potential to spread diseases and pests, and do not contain animal-derived components. For example, fertilizers made from processed agricultural residues. 

III. Applicable Countries or Regions 

All countries and regions. 

IV. Requirements for Enterprise Registration 

Plant-based fertilizers should be produced and stored under conditions that can prevent contamination or infection. Enterprises engaged in the production, processing and storage of plant-based fertilizers must be registered by the plant quarantine authorities of the country or region where they are located, and recommended to the General Administration of Customs. The recommended information should include the enterprise name and the registration number of the relevant authority in the country or region, the address, product name and composition, production and processing techniques and handling technical indicators, epidemic prevention management measures, packaging labels (in Chinese and English). If fertilizer product registration is required by law, registration information issued by the relevant Chinese authorities must also be provided. For those exempt from registration, relevant proof materials must be provided. 

The General Administration of Customs will conduct an examination. Once the examination is passed, the registration will be granted and announced on the website. The registration is valid for 5 years. Three months before the expiration of the validity period, the plant quarantine authority of the country or region where the enterprise is located will re-recommend to the General Administration of Customs. After the General Administration of Customs approves the re-recommendation, the validity period will be extended for another 5 years. 

V. Product Requirements 

Fertilizers derived from plant sources for export to China should comply with relevant laws, regulations and standards concerning fertilizer safety, hygiene and environmental protection in China, and should also meet the following requirements: 

(1) No harmful organisms listed in the "Catalogue of Quarantine-Listed Plant Pests of the People's Republic of China", nor any other harmful organisms or invasive species that pose a serious threat to agricultural and forestry production and the ecological environment. 

(2) Without soil, animal carcasses, or any other prohibited entry items stipulated by laws and regulations, as well as other biological safety-risk substances. 

(3) Without animal feces, feathers or any other animal-derived components; 

(4) All materials in plant-based fertilizers should have no reproductive ability. 

VI. Requirements for Product Packaging, Storage and Transportation 

(1) If packaging is used for transportation, the packaging materials should be new and clean. The products should be sealed in packages. Each package should be marked in both Chinese and English with the name of the plant-based fertilizer, the place of origin, the names of the enterprises that produced, processed and stored the product, as well as their registration numbers in China, etc. 

(2) The storage areas for plant-based fertilizers before export should be relatively independent, clean and hygienic, and effective measures should be taken to prevent the invasion of harmful organisms. 

(3) The transportation equipment should be clean and hygienic, free from harmful organisms and other debris. During transportation, the packaging must not be opened or replaced. 

(4) If there is wooden packaging, it must comply with the 15th International Plant Quarantine Measures Standard. 

VII. Quarantine Requirements Before Export 

The plant quarantine authorities of the exporting countries or regions should conduct quarantine on plant-derived fertilizers before their entry into China. For plant-derived fertilizers that meet these requirements, a plant quarantine certificate in accordance with the 12th International Plant Quarantine Measures Standard should be issued, and it should be noted in the additional statement that "This batch of goods complies with the plant quarantine requirements for imported plant-derived fertilizers in China", along with the names of the production, processing, and storage enterprises and their registration numbers in China. For plant-derived fertilizers that have undergone pest control treatment, the treatment technical indicators, including temperature, humidity, pesticides, concentration, etc., should be indicated in the plant quarantine certificate. 

VIII. Import Declaration Requirements 

The domestic consignee or their agent shall declare to the customs in accordance with the law. In the "Purpose" column of the customs declaration form, they should fill in "fertilizer", and provide the required documents such as the phytosanitary certificate as per the requirements. 

IX. Entry Quarantine and Handling of Non-conformities 

(1) Document verification. 

Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate is genuine and valid, and whether it is consistent with the declared information and the cargo information. 

(2) Goods Inspection. 

Quarantine inspections shall be conducted on plant-based fertilizers and their packaging and transportation tools. If necessary, samples shall be taken and sent to laboratories for quarantine. Those that pass the quarantine inspection shall be permitted to enter the country. 

(III) Handling of Non-conformities. 

If there is no valid quarantine certificate issued by the plant quarantine authority of the exporting country or region, the goods will be returned or destroyed. 

2. If any prohibited entry items such as soil or animal carcasses are found in violation of relevant laws and regulations, they will be returned or destroyed. 

3. If live infectious harmful organisms or other live harmful organisms that pose serious harm to agricultural and forestry production and the ecological environment are discovered, they will be permitted to enter the country after undergoing effective pest control treatment. If there is no effective pest control method available, they will be returned or destroyed. 

4. If any other items are found that do not comply with China's import plant quarantine laws and regulations or national standards, they will be dealt with in accordance with relevant provisions. 

In response to the identified violations, the General Administration of Customs will notify the plant quarantine authorities of the exporting countries or regions, and depending on the circumstances, take measures such as suspending the export of relevant enterprises and related types of plant-based fertilizers to China in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. 

X. Other Requirements 

The General Administration of Customs will conduct further risk assessments on imported plant-based fertilizers based on factors such as the interception of harmful organisms. It will also make dynamic adjustments to the types of plant-based fertilizers allowed for import and the list of exporting countries or regions. 

For the imported plant-based fertilizer samples used for fertilizer registration, with relevant proof materials, the requirements of enterprise registration for production, processing and storage can be waived. The registration number of the enterprise in China need not be indicated in the product packaging and the phytosanitary certificate.