A Guide to Understanding the Plant Quarantine Requirements for Importing Fresh Melons

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China and the regulations on phytosanitary requirements for the import of Costa Rican fresh-cut melons from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica (hereinafter referred to as the "Costa Rican side") and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Chinese side"), starting from August 22, 2025, fresh-cut melons from Costa Rica that meet the following requirements will be allowed for import. 

1. What is the scope of allowing the import of fresh-cut cantaloupe from Costa Rica? 

Fresh-cut melons (hereinafter referred to as "melons"), with the scientific name Cucumis melo L. and the English name "Melon". The melons exported from Costa Rica to China are limited to thick-skinned melons, including commercial-grade fruits of the following varieties: 

1. Hami melon (Cantaloupe) 

2. Yellow Honey Dew Melon 

3. Harper Melon (Harper) 

4. Sweet Spark (Sweet spark) 

5. MAG Melon (MAG) 

6. Galia Melon 

7. Piel de Sapo Melon (Piel de Sapo) 

II. What are the basis for inspection and 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) The "Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementing regulations; 

(4) "Measures for Inspection and Quarantine Supervision of Imported Fruits" 

(V) "Agreement between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Costa Rican Melons to China." 

III. What are the requirements for the approved orchards and packaging plants? 

The orchards and packaging plants for exporting melons to China must be inspected by the Colombian side and approved for registration by the Chinese side. The registration information should include the name, address and identification code, so as to enable accurate traceability in case the exported goods do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement. Before each export season, the Colombian side should provide the registration list to the Chinese side, which will be reviewed and approved by the Chinese side and then published on the website of the General Administration of Customs. 

IV. What are the quarantine pests of concern to our country? 

1. Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata 

2. Oceanic dorsal spot scale insect Planococcus minor 

3. Sweet melon aphid moth Diaphania hyalinata 

4. Cucumber webworm Diaphania nitidalis 

5. Jack Bell's scale insect Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi 

6. Three-leaf spot fly Liriomyza trifolii 

7. Bacterial fruit spot pathogen of melons - Acidovorax citrulli 

8. Cucumber black spot fungus - Cladosporium cucumerinum 

V. What are the pre-export management procedures? 

Fruit Orchard Management

1. Orchards for exporting melons to China should establish a complete quality management system and traceability system under Guinean supervision, implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintain orchard hygiene conditions, promptly remove diseased fruits, remove dead leaves and weeds, etc.; and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including pest monitoring and investigation, chemical or biological control measures, and agricultural operations, etc. 

2. The orchards exporting melons to China should be under the supervision of the Colombian authorities and conduct monitoring and comprehensive management of quarantine pests of concern to China. Pest monitoring and control should be carried out under the guidance of professional technicians. The technicians should receive training from the Colombian authorities or their authorized institutions. 

3. The orchards exporting to China for melons should keep records of pest monitoring, investigation and control measures, and should be required to provide these to the Chinese side. The chemical control records should include detailed information such as the names, active ingredients, application dates, and concentrations of all chemical agents used during the growing season. 

4. Regarding the Mediterranean fruit fly, the Greek side should establish a monitoring system. During the growth and harvest seasons of melons, the use of Mediterranean fruit fly sex attractants, combined with systematic control measures such as fruit dissection, should be employed to effectively reduce the population density of the Mediterranean fruit fly. Before the export season, the Greek side should provide monitoring records and reports to the Chinese side. 

5. Before planting melons, seed health inspection should be conducted to ensure that the melon seeds do not carry the bacterial fruit spot disease bacteria of melons and the cucumber black spot disease bacteria. Regarding the bacterial fruit spot disease bacteria of melons, during the melon growing season, one should investigate whether there are near-circular dark green depressed spots or brown dry, yellowish-brown spots, white mucous-like bacterial pus secreted on the back of the spots, white gelatinous substances, etc. on the leaves, as well as whether there are small water-soaked spots or fruit rot on the fruits, indicating the infection symptoms of the bacterial fruit spot disease bacteria of melons. Regarding the cucumber black spot disease bacteria, one should investigate whether there are chlorotic near-circular small spots on the leaves, whether the holes are perforated, whether the edges of the holes are star-shaped or whether there are dark green depressed spots on the fruits, whether there is a gray-black mold layer and scab-like disease spots. If any of the above symptoms are found, the samples should be sent to the relevant plant pathology laboratory for testing and identification. If it is determined to be the bacterial fruit spot disease bacteria of melons or the cucumber black spot disease bacteria, the export of melons from the relevant orchards for China should be suspended for this export season. The Colombian side should notify the Chinese side of the relevant situation. 

6. For other harmful organisms such as the oceanic dorsal-line scale insect, melon aphid, cucumber aphid, Jack Bell's scale insect and three-leaf spot fly, field monitoring and investigation should be conducted during the sweet瓜 growth season. From the germination stage to the harvest stage， at least one monitoring and investigation should be carried out every 15 days and specimens of pests and diseases with suspicious symptoms should be collected and sent to the laboratory for testing and identification. The orchard should take necessary control measures to ensure that these harmful organisms are controlled during the sweet瓜 growth process and that the fruits are not damaged. 

Packaging Plant Management

1. The processing, packaging, storage and transportation of sweet melons for export to China must be carried out under the quarantine supervision of the Colombian side or its authorized personnel. The packaging plant for sweet melons for export to China should have good hygiene conditions and measures to prevent the re-infection of harmful organisms (such as insect-proof nets, etc.). 

2. During the processing and packaging of sweet melons for export to China, the melons must undergo procedures such as manual selection, soaking in fungicides, air gun blowing to clean the fruit surface, and removal of insects, mites, branches, leaves, roots and soil. At the same time, rotten and deformed fruits must be eliminated. 

Packaging Requirements 

The packaging materials for sweet melons exported to China should be clean, hygienic and unused, and should comply with the relevant plant quarantine and safety hygiene requirements of China. If wooden packaging is used, it must meet the requirements of International Plant Quarantine Standard No. 15 (ISPM 15). 

2. If there are ventilation holes on the outer packaging of the sweet melons exported to China, they should be covered with insect-proof nets (with mesh size less than 1.6 mm). The packaged sweet melons should be given appropriate preservation measures and stored separately to avoid being infected by harmful organisms. If the sweet melons are vacuum-packed in plastic bags, the packaging boxes do not need to be covered with insect-proof nets. 

3. Each packaging box should be marked with the name of the fruit, the exporting country, the place of origin, the name of the orchard and the packaging factory (or registration number), in both Chinese and English. And on each packaging box and pallet, the words "Exported to the People's Republic of China" should be marked in Chinese or English. 

Export inspection and quarantine requirements 

The Colombian side should conduct random sampling inspections on each batch of sweet melons exported to China at a rate of 2% for each batch, and conduct fruit-opening inspections on 0.5% of the melons to ensure that they do not carry larvae of the Mediterranean fruit fly. 

2. If the Mediterranean fruit fly is detected, the import of Costa Rican melons to China will be suspended. The Costa Rican side will negotiate with the Chinese side regarding the revision of plant quarantine requirements. 

3. If any other quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese side are found, the goods of this batch shall not be exported to China. The export of melons from the relevant orchards and packaging factories to China shall be suspended until the Congolese side or its authorized personnel have identified the cause and taken improvement measures. At the same time, the seizure records shall be kept and should be provided to the Chinese side upon request. 

Phytosanitary Certificate

1. For the sweet melons that have passed quarantine inspection, Costa Rica should issue a phytosanitary certificate in accordance with International Plant Quarantine Standard No. 12 (ISPM12), indicating the name or registration number of the orchard and packaging plant. Additionally, in the supplementary statement, it should be noted: "This consignment of melons complies with the Phytosanitary Requirements Protocol for the Export of Costa Rican Melons to China, and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to China." (This batch of melons complies with the phytosanitary requirements stipulated in the Protocol for the Export of Costa Rican Melons to China and is free from any pests of concern to China.) 。

2. Before the formal start of trade, the Colombian side should provide the Chinese side with a sample of the phytosanitary certificate for record-keeping and verification purposes. 

6. What inspections and quarantines need to be conducted upon entry? 

When sweet melons exported to China arrive at the Chinese entry ports, the Chinese customs will conduct inspection and quarantine in accordance with the following requirements.

Verification of relevant certificates and labels:

1. Verify whether the imported sweet melons have obtained the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit". 2. Verify whether the phytosanitary certificates comply with relevant regulations. 3. Verify whether the labels on the packaging boxes and pallets comply with relevant regulations.

Entry inspection and quarantine:

1. The sweet melons exported to China should enter from the ports where China allows the import of fruits. 2. According to relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules, implement inspection and quarantine on the sweet melons exported to China. Those that pass the inspection and quarantine will be allowed to enter. 

7. Handling of Non-Conforming Goods 

If any melons are found to be from unapproved orchards or packaging plants, the entire batch of goods will not be allowed to enter the country. 

2. If live Mediterranean fruit flies are found, the entire batch of goods will be returned, destroyed or undergo quarantine and pest control treatment. At the same time, China will immediately notify Costa Rica and suspend the import of Costa Rican melons into China. It will also negotiate with Costa Rica on the revision of plant quarantine requirements. 

3. If bacterial fruit spot disease of melons is detected, the entire batch of goods will be returned, destroyed or undergo quarantine and pest control treatment. At the same time, China will immediately notify the Colombian side and suspend the export of melons from relevant orchards or packaging plants to China. Depending on the situation, the entire project may also be suspended. The Colombian side should conduct an investigation to identify the cause and implement corresponding improvement measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. China will evaluate the improvement measures taken by the Colombian side and decide whether to lift the suspension measures based on the evaluation results. 

4. If other quarantine pests of concern to the Chinese side are discovered, or if new quarantine pests are found in Costa Rica, the goods will be returned, destroyed or subject to quarantine treatment. The Chinese side should notify the Costa Rican side and conduct joint investigations. Depending on the situation, the import of Costa Rican honeydew melons to China will be suspended until both sides complete the risk analysis of the pests or reach an agreement on the revision of plant quarantine requirements. 

5. If any goods are found to be in violation of China's food safety laws and regulations or national standards, they will be returned or destroyed.