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Export Requirements for People's Republic of China

CH-67 (Jul 25, 2008)

Asterisks (*) indicate the most recent revision to these requirements. To search, click on your browser's "Edit" menu, then click on "Find (on this page)". Enter "*" in the "Find What" field, then click "Find" or "Find Next" until all asterisks have been identified.


Eligible/Ineligible Products
  1. Eligible
    1. Fresh/frozen meat and meat products except beef and beef products (subject to the exceptions listed below).
    2. Poultry and poultry products.
    3. Sheep/lamb casings intended for processing (selection for size and quality) in China and subsequent re-export.

    Note: Exporters are advised that importers must have a valid import license to allow entry of meat and poultry and meat and poultry products. Exporters should work closely with their importer to assure that the proper licenses have been obtained.
  2. Ineligible
    1. Beef and beef products and tallow.
    2. Sheep/lamb meat.
    3. Sheep/lamb casings other than those described in A.
    4. Poultry feet produced according to the "Hong Kong" standard.
    5. Specific State restrictions for poultry and poultry products:

      Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Nebraska - Effective July 1, 2008, all poultry and poultry products from these states are eligible.*

      Virginia -       Effective June 20, 2007, all poultry and poultry products originating from Virginia are ineligible.

      Arkansas - Effective May 9 2008, all poultry and poultry products originating from Arkansas are ineligible. Poultry product shipped before May 9, 2008 may be allowed to enter China after avian influenza tests show that they are qualified.*

      Poultry from eligible States may not transit the above restricted States even if the truck, container, or railcar is sealed.

Labeling Requirements
  1. Edible poultry feet - poultry feet from only inspected and passed birds. Containers must bear inspection legend.
  2. A tamper-resistant, bilingual label should be on the outside of each carton. The label should have the following information in Chinese:
    1. Product name
    2. Country of origin
    3. Establishment number
    4. Production date (can indicate "Please see English label")
    5. Expiration date (a specific date or a phrase such as "Two years from production date" can be used. Up to two years is acceptable for frozen product.)
    6. Storage temperature (A specific temperature should be indicated.)
    7. Country of destination
    8. Net weight (can indicate "Please see English label")

    The establishment number should be printed on the inner poly liner, poly bag, or vacuum bag. If the carton contains product that has inner poly bags with a master liner, only the inner bags are required to have the printed establishment number. Inner bags closed with a metal clip bearing the establishment number meet the inner bag labeling requirement. In any case, the establishment number must be legible and easily readable when the carton is opened.

    Product intended for further processing in China does not require the establishment number on the inner packaging material. These products can be packaged in wax-lined cartons.

    Exporters should work closely with importers and with industry organizations such as USMEF and USAPEEC for assistance in determining that the labeling of their specific product is appropriate.
  3. Preliminary information indicates that additional labeling requirements will go into effect for all meat and poultry and meat and poultry products departing the United States on or after December 1, 2004. The information is provided here, but is subject to change. Any additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
    1. An additional label should be placed inside the meat or poultry carton or packaging. The label should indicate the commercial name of the product.
    2. The label may be English-only, or multilingual including English, and should be placed either on the inside packaging (adhered to vacuum packaging or the poly bag), or placed inside the inner packaging.  The inner product label should not be placed loosely in the carton or in a location that is not easily viewed by inspectors.
    3. Any format of the bilingual inner product label is acceptable to China as long as the label clearly states the product name.  There are no restrictions on the label size, color, size of the wording, or any other format characteristics as long as the label is legible and easy to read.  For example, a label on which a checklist of different meat and poultry items appears is acceptable, as long as the correct product contained in the packaging is clearly identified on the checklist.
    4. There is no change in the existing labeling requirement that the establishment number must appear on the inner packaging.
    5. Product intended for further processing in China does not require the establishment number and product name on the inner packaging material. These products can be packaged in wax-lined cartons.

Certification Requirements
  1. Fresh/frozen meat and poultry and meat and poultry products. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness and FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004), Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness for Export to the People's Republic of China.

    FSIS Form 9295-1 is a watermarked form and must be ordered from the FSIS Field Supply Center. Photocopies of this form must not be used to certify product intended for China.

    China’s Administration for Quality Standards, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will require advance e-mail notification of all scheduled shipments. This information will be provided by the exporting establishment. Please refer to Export Notice 2006-5 (Pre-Notification of Export Shipment to China) for details. Also, please note AQSIQ has extended the effective date to March 1, 2007. The pre-notification requirement does not apply to natural casings.
  2. Fresh/frozen poultry and poultry products, including poultry feet. The following statement must be included in the Remarks section of FSIS Form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1:

    "The poultry meat/poultry meat product was produced on or after November 9, 2004."
  3. Poultry Feet
    1. Poultry feet bearing the mark of inspection - Obtain FSIS 9060-5 - Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness, and FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004), Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness for Export to the People's Republic of China.
  4. Pork or poultry exported to the Peoples Republic of China for further processing and subsequently exported to Japan - Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness and FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004), Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness for Export to the People's Republic of China. Upon the request of the exporter, the following information must be provided either in the "Remarks" section of FSIS Form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004) or on an FSIS letterhead certificate (which is signed by the same FSIS veterinarian signing the export certificate):
    1. All products - Statements for products intended for re-export to Japan:

      "The meat and/or meat products described herein were processed under sanitary conditions in accordance with laws and regulations of the United States. The laws and regulations of the United States have been deemed to be equivalent to the inspection laws of Japan."
    2. For pork only, also include the following statement:

      "The USA is free of hog cholera; vaccination against hog cholera is prohibited; and importation of pigs vaccinated against hog cholera is prohibited."

      The following are also required for pork products:
      • Name, address, and establishment number of the slaughter (If product is quarter, half, or whole carcass) or processing plant (if packaged product).
      • "Date (Month/Year) of Slaughter and Inspection," if product is quarter, half, or whole carcass or "Date (Month/Year) of Manufacture," if cuts or processed products, i.e., pack date

      Note: Listing of dates in the "Remarks" section of FSIS Form 9060-5 must be identified as shown above to be consistent with the term used on FSIS Form 9290-1 (3/25/2003)
    3. Poultry products
      1. For poultry only, also include the following statement:

        "There have been no outbreaks of fowl pest (fowl plague) for at least 90 days in the United States. Further, in the area where birds for export (meat) were produced (such an area being within a minimum radius of 50 kilometers from the production farm), Newcastle disease, fowl cholera, and other serious infectious fowl diseases, as recognized by the United States, have not occurred for at least 90 days."
      2. Poultry is restricted for export to Japan from certain States for specific periods. Certification must be provided that poultry did not originate from or transit unsealed through these States during the restricted periods relative to each affected State. Obtain the appropriate statements from the Japan requirements.
  5. The number of the ocean vessel container and the number of the shipper's commercial seal (Not a USDA seal) applied to the container must be indicated in the "Ocean/Air Cargo Container Number(s)" and "Seal Number" blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004).
    1. If the container and seal numbers are known at the time that the product is certified for export, the exporter should indicate the numbers in block 14 on FSIS 9060-6, Application for Export Certificate. Also, the numbers should be included in the appropriate blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004).
    2. If the container and seal numbers are NOT known at the time that the product is certified for export:
      1. The applicant completes FSIS form 9060-6, Application for Export to include all required information, and in block 14, enters the company name, contact person, address, and phone number of the company that will load and seal the container. FSIS will then provide the FSIS Form 9060-5, allow product to be stamped with the export stamp, perform export inspection, and allow shipment of the product without signing FSIS Form 9060-6 FSIS Form 9060-5 and the corresponding FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004).
      2. The unsigned certificates are to be held by the original applicant. When the container and seal numbers are obtained, they are to be entered in block 14 of FSIS Form 9060-6 and in the appropriate blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004).
      3. The applicant then requests signature of the completed FSIS Form 9060-6 by the inspector who provided export inspection. FSIS Form 9060-5 and the corresponding FSIS Form 9295-1 (1/12/2004) can then be signed by an FSIS veterinarian.
    3. If additional space is needed in the "Ocean/Air Cargo Container Number(s)" block in the case of multiple containers certified with a single certificate, an FSIS letterhead certificate indicating the container and seal numbers should be issued. The letterhead certificate should also indicate the certificate number, the date of the certificate, and the signature of the same veterinarian signing the FSIS 9060-5 and FSIS 9295-1 (1/12/2004) certificates.
  6. All FSIS export certificates and additional certification statements must be dated and have the signature and title of an FSIS veterinarian.
  7. For poultry products only, FSIS export certificates may indicate a Hong Kong importer as the consignee for product destined to the Peoples Republic of China.

Other Requirements

Chemical Residue and Microbiological Limits. U.S. meat and poultry products may be rejected due to inconsistencies between U.S. and Chinese residue and microbiological standards for these products.  Specific information regarding China's residue and microbiological limits can be obtained from the Import Export Policy Staff at importexport@fsis.usda.gov or(202) 720-0082.

PRC requires heat treatment of all packing material made of conifer materials as a preventive measure against pinewood parasites. This includes wood pallets. USDA, APHIS has established a certification procedure. More information is available at the following web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/ppq553.pdf

Plants Eligible to Export

All Federally inspected establishments are eligible for export to the Peoples Republic of China except for the plants identified in the Plants Not Eligible to Export section below.

The following establishment is eligible to export product produced on or after February 3, 2008:

Est. P-6519, Crider Poultry Inc., Stillmore, GA.

Plants Not Eligible to Export

Meat and poultry and meat and poultry products produced or stored at the establishments listed below are not eligible for export to China until further notice. Meat and poultry products produced at other establishments from raw materials originating from these establishments are also not eligible for export to China.

Est. 85B, Cargill Meat Solutions, Beardstown, IL
Est. 85O, Cargill Meat Solutions, Ottumwa, IA, effective August 7, 2007 (includes hog casings).
Est. 244W, Tyson Fresh Meats, Waterloo, IA, effective June 1, 2007.
Est. 791, Hatfield Quality Meats, Hatfield, PA, effective August 15, 2007.
Est. 995, Swift Pork Company, Louisville, KY, effective May 7, 2008.
Est. 1019, Kralis Bros. Foods, Inc., Mentone, IN, effective February 3, 2008.
Est. 1620, Quality Pork Processors Inc., Austin, MN, effective January 8, 2008.
Est. P-6510, Peco Foods, Bay Springs, MS, effective July 13, 2007.
Est. P-7100, Tyson Foods Inc, Nashville, AR, effective June 6, 2007.
Est. P-7264, Sanderson Farms, Hammond, LA, effective June 11, 2007.
Est. P-7470, Mountaire Farms Inc., Lumber Bridge, NC, effective May 7, 2008.
Est. P-7927, Allen Family Foods Inc., Hurlock, MD, effective January 8, 2008.
Est. P-17500, Pilgrims Pride Corporation, Russellville, AL, effective January 8, 2008.
Est. 17564, Indiana Packers Corp., Delphi, IN, effective August 15, 2007.
Est. 31559, Meadowbrook Farms Cooperative, Rantoul, IL, effective May 7, 2008.
Est. P-32182, Sanderson Farms, Moultrie, GA, effective June 1, 2007.

Unless specifically identified as restricted in the list, hog casings are not affected by the Chinese delistment actions and remain eligible for export from the applicable establishments listed above.


CH-67 (Jul 25, 2008)