Warning fake "Certificate of Agricultural Product Export to China"

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The form "Certificate of Registration of the General Administration of Customs of China - Certificate of GACC Registration" is forged. Photo: SPS Vietnam

Forging "Certificate of Agricultural Product Export to China"

Recently on social networks, the image of "Certificate of Registration of the General Administration of Customs of China - Certificate of GACC Registration" with a QR code with a link to https://www.aqsiq.net has been circulated with the content certifying the registration number of enterprises exporting agricultural products and food to China.

According to the SPS Vietnam Office, the SPS Vietnam Office has not yet received a notice from the General Administration of Customs of China about the form "Certificate of registration of the General Administration of Customs of China - Certificate of GACC Registration" with QR code with a link to the address www.aqsiq.net.

Under Order 248 of the General Administration of Customs of China (effective from January 1, 2022) and Official Note 353 dated September 27, 2021, of GACC, GACC is the agency responsible for the import and export management of goods and services into China. Therefore, all information related to the certification and registration of agricultural products and food exports to China must be passed through GACC; after GACC approves it, it will be officially announced.

Specifically, for foreign production, processing and preservation enterprises that export food to China, register on the system https://app.singlewindow.cn/ (including registration directly or through the recommendation of the competent authority); the registration results are published on the website: https://ciferquery.singlewindow.cn/ and the written notices of the competent authorities of Vietnam for codes introduced by competent authorities.

For enterprises registering products under the approval authority of the Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine, GACC, the registration results are published on the website: http://dzs.customs.gov.cn/ and the written notices of the competent authorities of Vietnam. The registration results are published for commercial enterprises on the website: http://ire.customs.gov.cn/.

The implementation of VietGAP standards

To further tighten the conditions for importing agricultural products, many imported food safety management measures have been implemented by China. Accordingly, China has issued Order 249 on measures to manage food safety for import and export and Order 248 on regulations on registering foreign food production enterprises imported into China. This means Vietnamese enterprises must comply with several regulations to continue exporting agricultural products to China. However, although China has reopened since the beginning of this year, exporting to this market still faces many difficulties. On the one hand, competitive pressure will increase because exporters and traders from many countries are also focusing on the Chinese market after opening; on the other hand, China's export goods are very similar to Vietnam's; Vietnamese goods also face competition, which creates both advantages and challenges for Vietnamese goods.

Sharing some notes on growing area codes and packing facilities for passion fruit, durian, sweet potato, and banana products exported to the Chinese market, Dr Phan Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Post-Import Plant Quarantine Center 2 (Plant Protection Department), said that currently, Vietnam has 7 traditional export fruits including mango, dragon fruit, longan, litchi, watermelon, rambutan, jackfruit and 5 types of exports under the form of signing the Protocol, namely mangosteen, black jelly, durian, banana and sweet potato, are allowed to be exported to the Chinese market. In addition, Vietnam is temporarily exporting passion fruit and fresh chilli. The items that continue to be negotiated to open the market are pomelo, custard apple, coconut, whip, lemon. Export shipments must have a phytosanitary certificate and not be infected with Chinese plant quarantine subjects.

Currently, China has five requirements for export growing areas. That is to apply good agricultural practices (GAP); the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development monitors the plant quarantine objects that GACC is interested in; there are no phytosanitary objects of interest to GACC; must be monitored and supervised for harmful organisms by technical staff; must keep records of surveillance and control of harmful organisms.

As for packing facilities, a Post-Import Plant Quarantine Center 2 representative said it is necessary to establish a quality management system and traceability. After packing, it must be stored in a separate area, not combined with goods exported to other markets. At the same time, pest control measures must be applied. Each box of goods exported to China must be printed in English or Chinese with the name of the growing area, the name of the packing establishment, and the registration code "The packing area must be clean and have a hard background. Packaging materials must be clean, hygienic, unused and comply with phytosanitary requirements. Wooden packing materials comply with ISPM 15. Containers containing sweet potatoes must be clean, hygienic and disinfected", Ms. Hien added.

Notably, the Chinese side also issued a warning on measures to handle violations. Specifically, the shipment without a valid Phytosanitary Certificate will be returned or destroyed. In addition, if a plant quarantine object of interest to China is detected, other living plant quarantine subjects or the Chinese side detects plant residues, the shipment will be returned or destroyed. If non-compliance with China's other import inspection and quarantine requirements is found, the shipment will be handled following relevant laws and regulations.