On Jul 2, 0213, China AQSIQ released the Announcement 83 of 2013 to control the use of fumigant in overseas grain carriers. The measures were formulated to protect the field staff of the entry port and prevent food contaminations caused by the uses of fumigant during the transportation. The overseas cargo vessel which transport the grains into China are required to clear the fumigant residue in the ship and notify the handling of fumigant in written form, otherwise, the grain carrier will be forbidden from entering the port or the entry inspection.
The measures were adopted under the law on import and export commodity inspection, the law on the entry and exit animal and plant quarantine and the Food Safety Law, etc. The details are as follow:
The overseas quarantine agencies and enterprises handling pest control should choose proper fumigation method for the grain carrier entering into China. The fumigation should be performed under the safety specifications and necessary safety and operation specification for follow-up fumigation should be provided to the shipper. If aluminum phosphide was applied, it should be fixed into the special bags for fumigation and precautions from water, fire, moisture should be taken;
Before the entry of the grains, effective measures should be taken to minimize the residues and remove the contaminated grains resulted by fumigants. Otherwise, the carriers are forbidden from entering the port;
Before the on-site inspection by the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ), the carrier or the agent should fill the declaration form regarding the handling of fumigant residues and submit the form to the CIQ. CIQ will not conduct the on-site inspection without being notified in such written form;
The inspectors of the CIQ will check whether the residue or contamination has been removed, and detect the content of the residue in the gas. If the residue or the contamination was not properly removed or excess levels of the residue were identified, the inspection will be suspended;
CIQ will promote and implement the safety control on the fumigant residue of imported grains. In case of any information concealment in the declaration or repeatedly violation of the fumigant residues, CIQ will order rectification;
AQSIQ provided a unified template for the declaration form and these measures will be formally implemented since Sep 2, 2013.
