Announcement on Quarantine Requirements for Imported Plant-Based Chinese Medicines from Pakistan

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations of our country and the provisions of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Chinese side") and the Ministry of Food Security and Research of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (hereinafter referred to as the "Pakistani side") regarding the phytosanitary requirements for the import of plant-derived Chinese medicinal products from Pakistan, starting from now on, the import of plant-derived Chinese medicinal products from Pakistan that meet the following requirements is permitted. 

I. Basis for Quarantine 

(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; 

(3) "Measures for the Supervision and Management of Quarantine of Import and Export Chinese Medicines" 

(4) "Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Food Security and Research of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Plant Quarantine Requirements for the Export of Plant-Derived Chinese Medicinal Materials to China." 

II. Permitted Names of Imported Goods 

Plant-derived traditional Chinese medicinal materials (hereinafter referred to as "medicinal herbs") refer to the products made from 29 types of medicinal plants that are wild or cultivated in Pakistan (please refer to the attachment for details). 

III. Enterprise Registration 

Enterprises engaged in the production, processing and packaging of Chinese medicinal products for export (collectively referred to as "enterprises") shall be reviewed by the Pakistani side and approved and registered by the Chinese side. The registration information should include the name, address and registration number, so as to enable accurate traceability in case the exported goods do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. Before the trade commences, the Pakistani side shall provide the list of registered enterprises to the Chinese side, which will be reviewed and approved by the Chinese side and then published on the official website. 

IV. List of Quarantine-Preventive Pests of Concern to China 

The Pakistani side should ensure that the Chinese medicinal products imported from Pakistan do not carry any quarantine pests of concern to China. The list of quarantine pests can be found in the attachment. 

V. Pre-export Management 

(1) Integrated Pest Management. 

Chinese medicinal product enterprises exporting to Pakistan should, under the supervision and guidance of the Pakistani side, adopt comprehensive measures for systematic pest control management, including epidemic monitoring, comprehensive prevention and control, and post-harvest processing, and keep relevant records. 

2. Pest monitoring and control should be carried out under the guidance of professional technicians. These technicians should receive training from the Pakistani side or its authorized institutions. 

3. Once quarantine pests of concern to China are detected during the monitoring process, enterprises should promptly take corresponding control measures to ensure that the Chinese medicinal materials exported to China do not carry the quarantine pests of concern to China. 

(2) Processing and Packaging Requirements. 

The Chinese medicinal herbs exported to China should be decontaminated of soil and impurities and then dried. 

2. The packaging materials should be clean, hygienic and unused, and should comply with the relevant plant quarantine requirements of China. If wooden packaging is used, it should meet the requirements of International Plant Quarantine Standard No. 15 (ISPM 15). 

3. Each packaging box should be marked with the product name, country, place of origin (province, city or region), planting base and packaging factory name or its registration number (for traceability) in either Chinese or English. Each packaging box and pallet should be marked with "Exported to the People's Republic of China" or "输往中华人民共和国" in Chinese or English. 

4. The transportation vehicles or containers should be inspected for good sanitary conditions at the time of loading. The transportation vehicles or containers should be affixed with seals, and the seals should remain intact upon arrival at the Chinese entry port. 

(3) Pre-export inspection and quarantine. 

The Chinese medicinal herbs exported to China are subject to inspection and quarantine supervision by the Pakistani side. Once it is confirmed that they meet the requirements of this announcement, they will be allowed to be exported to China. 

If any quarantine pests, soil or plant residues of concern to the Chinese side are found in the goods, the entire batch of goods shall not be exported to China. The Pakistani side should immediately suspend the export of Chinese medicinal materials from this enterprise until the cause is identified and effective improvement measures are taken. At the same time, relevant records should be kept and the Chinese side should be provided with them upon request. 

(4) Requirements for Plant Quarantine Certificates. 

For the Chinese-registered medicinal materials that have passed quarantine inspection, the Pakistani side should issue a phytosanitary certificate in accordance with International Plant Quarantine Standard No. 12 (ISPM 12), indicating the name of the enterprise or its registration number. The additional statement of the phytosanitary certificate should state: "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Plant-derived Medicinal Materials from Pakistan to China, and is free from quarantine pests of concern to China." (This batch of goods complies with the requirements stipulated in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Plant-derived Medicinal Materials from Pakistan to China and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China.) 

Before the trade commences, the Pakistani side should provide the Chinese side with sample certificates of plant quarantine to confirm and file them. If there are any changes in the content or format of the certificate samples, the Pakistani side should file them with the Chinese side at least one month before the effective date. 

VI. Entry Quarantine and Handling of Non-conformities 

When Chinese medicinal products for export arrive at the entry port, the Chinese side will implement quarantine in accordance with the following requirements: 

(1) Verification of certificates and labels. 

Verify whether the phytosanitary certificate complies with the provisions of Article 5, Paragraph (4). 

2. Verify whether the packaging complies with the provisions of Article 5, Paragraph (2). 

3. Verify whether the goods and the documents match. 

(2) Import quarantine. 

In accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules, and based on the provisions of Article 4 and Article 5 of this announcement, quarantine will be conducted for imported medicinal materials. Those that pass the quarantine will be permitted to enter the country. 

(3) Handling of Nonconformities. 

1. If any goods are found to be from unregistered enterprises, they will not be allowed to enter the country. 

2. If an effective phytosanitary certificate is not provided, the batch of goods will be returned or destroyed. 

3. If any quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese side (as listed in the attachment), or other quarantine pests in live form, or soil, plant residues, etc. are found, the goods of this batch shall be returned, destroyed or subject to pest control treatment. 

4. If any other situation that violates the relevant Chinese laws and regulations is discovered, it will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant regulations. 

This is to make the following announcement.

General Administration of Customs 

September 22nd, 2025