[Customs Release] Customs Clearance Guidelines for Imported Bee Products

As the autumn wind blows, bees become busier. They no longer chase the bustling lightness of spring, but instead absorb the richness and depth of autumn flowers to brew bee products with unique flavors. So, today we will talk about the regulations on the import of bee products, let’s take a look!

What are bee products?

Bee products refer to honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen and other edible substances produced during the life and reproduction of bees for human consumption, as well as products processed from the above products as raw materials, except for products that have been artificially added with other substances that have destroyed their unique natural properties.

Honey : Refers to the natural sweet substance that bees collect nectar, secretions or honeydew from plants, mix it with their own secretions, and fully brew it.

Royal jelly (royal jelly) : refers to the milky white, light yellow or light orange pulpy substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal glands and palate glands of worker bees, mainly used to feed the queen bee and bee larvae.

Preparation before importing

1. Product access requirements

The customs implements access management for imported bee products. Bee products that have been admitted are listed in the 'Catalogue of Food Products Exported to China from Countries or Regions that Meet Assessment and Review Requirements and Have Traditional Trade', which can be found on the website of the General Administration of Customs (URL: http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/xxfw39/cpjgzyxx/lsdwyxsp/fhpgscyqdgjhdqshywcpmd/index.html).

2. Enterprise qualification requirements

1. Overseas manufacturing enterprises should be recommended for registration by the competent authorities of the country (region) where they are located to the General Administration of Customs. The list of overseas manufacturing enterprises registered in China and their registered products and other information can be found on the website of the General Administration of Customs (URL: http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/xxfw39/jkspjwscqyzcmd/4650504/index.html).

2. Overseas exporters, agents, and importers only need to obtain customs import and export consignee and consignor registration. The registered information can be queried through the 'China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Disclosure Platform' - 'Directory of Administrative Counterparts with Specific Qualifications'.

(Website: http://credit.customs.gov.cn/ccppwebserver/pages/ccpp/html/tradeTypeList.html).

Requirements when importing

Imported bee products should comply with my country's laws, regulations, national food safety standards, as well as protocols, memorandums and other requirements signed between my country and the governments of exporting countries or regions. Relevant requirements can be checked through the 'Official Website of the General Administration of Customs' - 'Government Affairs Disclosure' - 'Customs Regulations' (website: http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/302266/index.html).

What materials are required for application?

Documents required for customs declaration (mainly including but not limited to):

1. An electronic version or electronic scan of the official veterinary (health) certificate of the exporting country or region confirmed by the General Administration of Customs (the original shall be retained for future reference);

2. Electronic scanned copies of trade contracts, invoices, packing lists, full bills of lading and other documents;

3. A product list listing the variety, corresponding factory number, production batch number, and production date;

4. Letter of commitment from the importer or overseas manufacturer or exporter on the accuracy of the production batch numbers provided and the safety and health quality of the products;

5. Proof of production area and test report issued by the official or third-party testing agency of the exporting country (region) (if necessary).

Notice

1. Imported propolis should provide certification materials that the product is a registered imported health food or used to produce registered or filed health food; imported bee products that do not have national food safety standards should provide standards or relevant certification materials licensed by the health administration department of the State Council; imported bee products using new food raw materials should provide certification materials approved by the health administration department of the State Council.

2. Honey exported from New Zealand to China is accompanied by an official certificate issued by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries, which should prove that the honey is natural and does not contain any added 'dihydroxyacetone (DHA)' and 'methylglyoxal (MG)'.

How does customs supervise it?

The customs document review department conducts online verification of health certificates issued by New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, Chile and other countries through the inspection and quarantine electronic certificate information exchange verification system. The customs inspection department carries out on-site inspections in accordance with the requirements of the control instructions, and carries out sampling and inspection work in accordance with the supervisory sampling and risk monitoring plans, warning notifications and risk early warning requirements. The main contents are:

1. Loading container inspection: Check whether the box/car body information is consistent with the declared information, including whether the container and seal are intact and consistent with the official health certificate. Check whether the interior of the box/car body is clean and hygienic, whether there is any odor, whether there are traces of pesticides, fumigants and other toxic and harmful substances and vector insects, and whether there are no harmful organisms, soil and other prohibited imports. For cold chain transportation, check whether the cold chain transportation and storage temperature of the transportation vehicle meets the product requirements.

2. Packaging inspection: Whether it is clean, dry, mold-free, odor-free, and not easily damaged. There should be no statements indicating that it is not for human consumption, such as 'not suitable for human consumption,' 'industrial use only,' or 'for feed use only.' Verify whether the manufacturer, product variety, specification batch number, production date, shelf life, etc. marked on the packaging are consistent with the actual condition of the goods and the declaration information (including official health certificates and other accompanying materials). Overseas manufacturing enterprises should be registered in China, and the imported products should be within the scope of their registered product categories and produced within the validity period of registration. The inner and outer packaging of the products should be clearly marked with the registration number in China or the registration number approved by the competent authority of the country (region) where it is located. At the same time, check whether there is any exaggerated propaganda or misleading consumers on the pre-packaged labels.

3. Sensory inspection: Whether the color, smell, and condition of the bee products are normal, and whether there are obvious spoilage, fermentation, rancidity smell, bee limbs, larvae, wax debris, and malignant impurities visible with normal vision (except honey containing wax debris) and other abnormalities.

If the goods pass the customs assessment, an 'Inbound Goods Inspection and Quarantine Certificate' will be issued upon application. If the items related to safety, health, and environmental protection are unqualified, the enterprise will be ordered to return or destroy them, and an 'Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice' will be issued; if other items are unqualified, the import will be allowed only after technical treatment meets the requirements.

Tips

The details of the import trade of bee products are introduced above. So how should ordinary consumers choose qualified imported bee products? Here we take Manuka honey as an example.

First of all , be sure to choose a merchant that imports formally through general trade methods, has complete procedures, and can provide clear Chinese labels and 'Inspection and Quarantine Certificate for Entry Goods' (the merchant can also be required to provide customs declaration forms, copies of quarantine certificates, etc.). The second step is to identify whether there is only one ingredient 'honey, Manuka honey or mixed Manuka honey' in the ingredient list. If there are other ingredients, the product attribute is not honey. Finally , you can compare the UMF and MGO logos on the label, which are specific logos that reflect the quality grade of Manuka honey. The higher the content value, the higher the effective antibacterial ingredients and the better the effect. Consumers can choose according to their own needs.

Source: Shanghai Customs Brokerage Association | If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.