Administrative Measures for the Inspection and Quarantine of Edible Terrestrial Animals Supplied to Hong Kong and Macao

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Measures are developed in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Quarantine of Entry and Exit Animals and Plants and the regulation on its implementation, the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the regulation on its implementation, the Biological Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China, and other applicable laws and administrative regulations for the purposes of effectively conducting the inspection and quarantine of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao, preventing the spread of animal epidemics, and guaranteeing the health and food safety of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao.

Article 2 The General Administration of Customs (“GAC”) shall uniformly administer the inspection and quarantine of edible terrestrial animals supplied by the Mainland to Hong Kong and Macao and the supervision and administration thereof.

Customs at all levels shall be responsible for the inspection and quarantine of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao and the supervision and administration thereof within their respective jurisdictions.

Article 3 Any entity or individual engaged in activities such as the breeding, transport, transit, and trading of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao shall abide by these Measures, accept the supervision and administration of the Customs in accordance with the law, fulfill their primary responsibilities for animal epidemic prevention and product quality safety, undertake social responsibilities, and ensure the health and food safety of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao.

Article 4 The Customs shall improve the level of inspection and quarantine of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao and the supervision and administration thereof through risk management and information technology-based means.

Chapter II Registration

Article 5 The Customs shall implement the registration-based management system for breeding farms of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao (“breeding farms”).

Registration shall be carried out on a farm-by-farm basis, with one certificate for each farm, and the registration number shall be used exclusively for a specific farm.

Edible terrestrial animals raised by any unregistered breeding farm shall not be supplied to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Article 6 To register a breeding farm, the following requirements shall be met:

(1) Having the qualification of a business entity.

(2) Having obtained the certificate of compliance with animal epidemic prevention conditions issued by the department of agriculture and rural affairs.

(3) The site selection, breeding scale, breeding mode, partition layout, facilities and equipment, management rules, and animal epidemic prevention conditions, among others, of the breeding farm comply with the rules of the Customs, and the specific requirements thereof shall be separately developed by the General Administration of Customs.

If the breeding farm does not have the qualifications of a business entity, the application for registration shall be filed by the business entity operating the farm.

Article 7 A breeding farm shall file an application for registration with the local Customs by submitting an application form for registration and the farm plan.

The Customs directly under the General Administration of Customs at the place where the breeding farm is located shall examine materials and conduct on-site examination. If registration conditions are met, it shall decide to grant administrative licensing in accordance with the law and issue the registration certificate of the breeding farm; or if registration conditions are not met, it shall make a decision not to grant the administrative licensing in accordance with the law.

Article 8 In the case of a change in the address (excluding relocation), the type of business entity, the name, legal representative, or person in charge of a registered breeding farm, or in the case of a change in the registration requirements as a result of reconstruction or expansion, the breeding farm shall apply to the local Customs for undergoing modification formalities and submit the relevant materials within 30 days after the occurrence of such a change.

When a registered breeding farm is relocated, the farm shall reapply to the Customs at the new address for undergoing registration formalities. The Customs shall cancel the registration at the original location and withdraw the original registration certificate.

Article 9 The registration of breeding farms shall be valid for five years.

If the validity period of the registration of a breeding farm expires and needs to be extended, an application for extension shall be filed with the local Customs 30 days before the expiration of the validity period.

Article 10 Where the registration of a breeding farm should be withdrawn, revoked, or canceled in accordance with the law, the Customs shall handle the case in accordance with the provisions on administrative licensing.

Article 11 The General Administration of Customs shall uniformly publish a list of registered breeding farms.

Chapter III Inspection and Quarantine

Article 12 A registered breeding farm shall submit its plan for supplying edible terrestrial animals to Hong Kong and Macao to the local Customs seven days before the shipment of such edible terrestrial animals.

Article 13 Edible terrestrial animals to be supplied to Hong Kong and Macao shall be subject to isolated quarantine before shipment. The period of isolated quarantine for live cattle, live sheep, and live pigs to be supplied to Hong Kong and Macao shall not be less than seven days. The period of isolated quarantine for live poultry to be supplied to Hong Kong and Macao shall not be less than five days.

Article 14 A registered breeding farm shall apply to the local Customs for inspection and quarantine at the place of departure three days before shipment. Under special circumstances, a temporary application for inspection and quarantine at the place of departure may be filed with the consent of the Customs.

Article 15 When necessary, the Customs may collect samples from edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao for testing.

Article 16 The quarantine marks of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao and the management of their use shall satisfy the requirements of the Customs, and the specific requirements shall be separately formulated by the General Administration of Customs.

Article 17 The local Customs shall conduct pre-shipment inspection and supervise the loading of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao that have passed isolation quarantine and affix seals to the means of transport.

The pre-shipment inspection shall include, but not be limited to, confirming whether the edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao come from the registered breeding farms, verifying the quantity of such terrestrial animals, inspecting the affixing of quarantine marks to such terrestrial animals, confirming whether there are any animal epidemic symptoms or injuries or disabilities of animals, and confirming whether the means of transport and loading equipment satisfy animal health requirements.

Article 18 For edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao that have passed the inspection and quarantine conducted by the local Customs, veterinarians authorized by the General Administration of Customs shall sign and issue animal health certificates.

An animal health certificate shall take effect from the date of issuance and be valid for not more than 14 days, and the specific requirements for the time limit shall be separately formulated by the General Administration of Customs.

Article 19 When edible terrestrial animals to be supplied to Hong Kong and Macao are transported to the exit port or docking site, the Customs shall conduct exit inspection and quarantine.

The Customs shall examine the documents such as animal quarantine marks and the animal health certificate submitted by the owner of goods or the agent thereof, conduct a clinical examination of the animals, and permit the exit of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao that satisfy the regulatory requirements of the Customs. Customs officers shall endorse on the animal health certificate such information as the number of edible terrestrial animals actually supplied to Hong Kong and Macao and the date of exit of such animals, sign the certificate for confirmation, and affix the seal of the Customs thereto.

Edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao that do not have compliant animal quarantine marks or valid animal health certificates or fail to pass the clinical examination shall not be permitted to exit from the territory.

Article 20 When exporting edible terrestrial animals to Hong Kong and Macao, the owner of goods or the agent thereof shall truthfully declare to the Customs in accordance with the law.

Article 21 Where edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao need to be picked up by the means of transport from Hong Kong or Macao at the departure place, it shall be carried out at a place satisfying the regulatory requirements of the Customs.

Article 22 The registered breeding farms, the owners of goods or their agents shall effectively clean and disinfect the means of transport and loading equipment.

The means of transport returning empty after transporting edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao shall be thoroughly cleaned upon entry and disinfected for epidemic prevention under the supervision of the Customs.

Chapter IV Supervision and Administration

Article 23 Registered breeding farms shall carry out animal breeding activities in accordance with the law, carry out animal epidemic prevention rules, truthfully record animal breeding conditions, and ensure that edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao comply with the relevant laws, regulations, and compulsory standards of the state, and the specific requirements shall be formulated separately by the General Administration of Customs.

Article 24 Where a registered breeding farm is to be rebuilt or expanded, the reconstruction or expansion plan and animal epidemic prevention measures shall be reported to the Customs in advance.

During the reconstruction or expansion period, the raised edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao shall not be supplied to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region, unless it does not affect the conditions for animal epidemic prevention and has been approved by the Customs.

Article 25 The Customs shall monitor animal epidemics and monitor and control drug residues and other toxic and harmful substances in registered breeding farms.

The Customs may collect samples for monitoring and control when necessary.

Article 26 The Customs shall supervise and inspect the breeding management, animal epidemic prevention, and animal health conditions, among others, of registered breeding farms.

Supervision and inspection shall include routine supervision and inspection and annual supervision and inspection.

Article 27 The Customs shall carry out classified management of registered breeding farms in light of the management of registered breeding farms and their level of application of information technologies.

Article 28 Where any entity or individual engaged in activities such as the raising, transport, transit, or trading of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao finds that animals are infected with an epidemic or are suspected of being infected with an epidemic, the entity or individual shall immediately report to the Customs as required, and promptly take isolation and other control measures to prevent the spread of animal epidemics.

The Customs shall handle the matter in accordance with laws, regulations, and relevant provisions issued by the state.

Article 29 Where a registered breeding farm falls under any of the following circumstances, the Customs shall order it to take corrective action, and the animals raised at the farm during the period of corrective action shall not be supplied to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region:

(1) The raised animals are infected with a Class I or Class II infectious disease or any other epidemic seriously harmful to animals.

(2) The raised animals are found to be infected with a Class I or Class II infectious disease or any other epidemic seriously harmful to animals.

(3) The raised animals are found to be unqualified in any item of drug residue or any item of other toxic or harmful substances.

(4) Using or storing drugs prohibited by the state or other inputs prohibited by the state.

(5) Failing to use, according to the relevant provisions issued by the state, the drugs or other inputs permitted by the state.

(6) Forging animal breeding records.

(7) Otherwise failing to satisfy the requirements for breeding management or animal epidemic prevention.

A registered breeding farm shall cooperate with the Customs or other relevant department in finding out the cause, and make rectification in accordance with the relevant provisions. The supply of animals to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region may not be resumed unless the rectification result is recognized by the Customs.

Chapter V Supplemental Provisions

Article 30 Whoever commits any of the following acts may be warned and fined not more than 30,000 yuan by the Customs:

(1) Obtaining registration through deception, bribery, or other improper means.

(2) Supplying edible terrestrial animals to Hong Kong and Macao from any unregistered breeding farm.

(3) Failing to cooperate with the Customs in lawful supervision, refusing to answer inquiries or provide materials, or providing false information or materials.

(4) Falsifying animal breeding records.

(5) Failing to report to the Customs as required upon discovering that animals are infected with an epidemic or are suspected of being infected with an epidemic, or failing to take isolation and other control measures.

Article 31 For the purposes of these Measures, “edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao” means animals such as live cattle, live sheep, live pigs, and live poultry supplied from the mainland to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region for slaughter and consumption, and live poultry includes chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, quails, partridges, and other farmed poultry.

For the purposes of these Measures, “animal epidemics” means the epidemic diseases specified in the list of Class I, II, and III animal epidemics published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the epidemic diseases subject to quarantine as required by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region.

For the purposes of these Measures, “inputs” means substances used or added in activities such as the breeding, transport, transit, and trading of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao, including, but not limited to, drugs, vaccines, animal growth promoters, feeds, and feed additives.

Article 32 These Measures shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the inspection and quarantine of terrestrial animals for breeding supplied to Hong Kong and Macao and the supervision and administration thereof.

Article 33 Where there are separate agreements between the mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region on the requirements for the inspection and quarantine of edible terrestrial animals supplied to Hong Kong and Macao, such agreements shall prevail.

Article 34 These Measures shall be subject to interpretation by the General Administration of Customs.

Article 35 These Measures shall come into force on March 1, 2024, upon which the Measures for the Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Live Cattle Supplied to Hong Kong and Macao issued by Order No. 4 of the former State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine on November 24, 1999 and amended in accordance with Order No. 238 of the General Administration of Customs on April 28, 2018 and Order No. 240 of the General Administration of Customs on May 29, 2018, the Measures for the Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Live Sheep Supplied to Hong Kong and Macao issued by Order No. 3 of the former State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine on November 24, 1999 and amended in accordance with Order No. 238 of the General Administration of Customs on April 28, 2018 and Order No. 240 of the General Administration of Customs on May 29, 2018, the Measures for the Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Live Pigs Supplied to Hong Kong and Macao issued by Order No. 27 of the former State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine on November 14, 2000 and amended in accordance with Order No. 238 of the General Administration of Customs on April 28, 2018 and Order No. 240 of the General Administration of Customs on May 29, 2018, and the Measures for the Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Live Poultry Supplied to Hong Kong and Macao issued by Order No. 26 of the former State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine on November 14, 2000 and amended in accordance with Order No. 238 of the General Administration of Customs on April 28, 2018 and Order No. 240 of the General Administration of Customs on May 29, 2018 shall be repealed.