PROTOCOLON INSPECTION, QUARANTINE AND SANITARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EXPORT OF DRIED PLUMS FROM SERBIA TO CHINA BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGEMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA("Off. Herald of RS - Treaties", No. 3/2024) |
In order to ensure the safety of dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China, protect the health of consumers and guarantee the safety of agricultural production and ecological environment in China, following the principles of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), based on the assessment of the food safety management system and the pest risk analysis the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter referred to as "the Serbian side") and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "the Chinese side") have, through amiable consultations, reached the following agreements on the inspection, quarantine and sanitary requirements for the export of dried plums from Serbia to China.
Article 1
In this Protocol, dried plums refers to plums, which is processed by dehydration and drying, rehydration, pitting, antiseptic, etc., within Serbia for human consumption, by using Prunus domestica L. grown within the territory of Serbia as the raw materials.
Article 2
Dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China shall comply with Chinese laws and regulations on food safety and plant phytosanitary, Chinese national food safety standards and the provisions of this Protocol.
Dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China shall not contain the following quarantine pests concerned by China: Carpophilus sexpustulatus Fabricius, Ptinus tectus Boieldieu, Tribolium destructor Uyttenboogaart, Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey.
Dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China shall be free of live insects, insect eggs, soil and impurities such as weed seeds, plant debris, metal foreign body and gravel.
Article 3
The Serbian side shall oversee and regulate the raw materials cultivation, production, processing, storage, transportation and exportation processes of dried plums intended for export to China, ensuring compliance with the relevant food safety and plant phytosanitary requirements of both Serbia and China to prevent contamination by pathogenic microorganisms or toxic or hazardous substances.
The Serbian side shall employ intenationally recognized methods such as the International Food Standard "Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification" (CAC/GL 20-1995) to conduct an annual food safety risk monitoring plan for dried plums to be exported to China.
The Serbian side shall oversee and regulate enterprises to take comprehensive management measures to control pests and diseases. This includes conducting epidemic surveillance, comprehensive control, post-harvest treatment and record keeping.
Upon request from the Chinese side, the Serbian side shall provide the Chinese side with all the annual monitoring results mentioned above.
Article 4
The raw materials for dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China must come from plums cultivation and production enterprises that have been verified by the Serbian side to meet relevant plant phytosanitary and food safety requirements.
Article 5
The Serbian side shall inspect the production, processing and storage facilities of dried plums for export to China, in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese side for the registration of overseas enterprises in terms of imported food, and recommend qualified enterprises to the Chinese side. Only after the enterprise has been granted registration in China may its products be exported to China.
Article 6
Dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China shall be packed in new clean and hygienic and breathable materials that meet the food safety and phytosanitary requirements. Each package shall be marked with "this product is exported to the People’s Republic of China", as well as the name of product, place of origin, name of the production and processing enterprise and registration number in China, name and address of exporter and other traceable information in Chinese or English. The above information may be affixed to any package in the form of a label.
Article 7
Prior to the shipment of dried plums to be exported from Serbia to China, the means of transportation shall be inspected by the Serbian side. It shall meet the requirements of hygiene and epidemic prevention, be free from any quarantine pest or other regulated articles, such as weed seeds, live insects, plant residues, soil and other impurities.
Article 8
During the quarantine process conducted by the Serbian side, if any pest listed in Article 2 of this Protocol is found in dried plums to be exported to China, the Serbian side shall suspend the export of dried plums produced from the relevant production, processing, and storage facilities, implement comprehensive control measures, and notify the Chinese side. Dried plums exports from the affected regions or facilities can resume after the Chinese side evaluates and confirms compliance with the requirements.
During the inspection process conducted by the Serbian side, if any non-compliance with the national food safety standards of China is found in dried plums to be exported to China, the concerned products shall be prohibited from export to China.
Article 9
Before exporting, the Serbian side must provide a phytosanitary certificate for dried plums that has been inspected and quarantined and meet the requirements of this Protocol. The "Additional Declaration" box of the certificate should specify the name of the production and processing enterprise it’s registration number in China, and state that "The batch of dried plums certified by this phytosanitary certificate complies with the provisions of this Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for dried plums exported from Serbia to China, which was signed on XXXX (date), 20XX in (location) by Serbia and China. This batch is free from Carpophilus sexpustulatus Fabricius, Ptinus tectus Boieldieu, Tribolium destructor Uyttenboogaart, Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey, and other quarantine pests concerned by the Chinese side."
The particulars and format of the phytosanitary certificate shall be mutually confirmed by both sides in advance.
Article 10
After dried plums exported from Serbia to China arrives at the Chinese port of entry, China Customs will implement inspection and quarantine measures. Only qualified dried plums shall be released into China.
Article 11
In the event that the Chinese side discovers that any imported dried plums from Serbia violates the Chinese laws and regulations on food safety and plant quarantine, national food safety standards, and the provisions of this Protocol, the Chinese side will take appropriate actions for inspection and quarantine purposes in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. The Chinese side shall notify the Serbian side of the violations and the actions taken.
Based on the information provided by the Serbian side in accordance with Article 3 and Article 8 of this Protocol and the violations intercepted by local Customs, the Chinese side may reassess the risk and will, if necessary, dispatch experts to Serbia for on-site inspections. The Serbian side shall be responsible for expenses related to the on-site inspections as well as issuing invitations, assisting with travel arrangements, and accompanying the experts during the inspections.
Article 12
Both sides agree that this Protocol shall not prevent or affect the implementation of their respective laws and regulations.
Article 13
Any disagreement in the interpretation and implementation of this Protocol shall be resolved through friendly consultation between both sides.
Article 14
This Protocol may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of both sides.
Article 15
This Protocol shall be effective as of its date of signature and shall remain valid for five years. Thereafter, this Protocol shall be automatically extended for five years, unless either side terminates this Protocol by notifying the other side in writing. Where either side terminates the Protocol by written notice to the other side, this Protocol shall expire 6 months after the date of receipt of such written notice by the other side.
This Protocol is signed at Belgrade (place) on May 8/2024 (date) in duplicate, each in Serbian, Chinese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence between the texts of this Protocol, the English text shall prevail.
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