A Guide to Understanding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Importing Alfalfa Grass

In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of China and the provisions of the Protocol on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Alfalfa from France to China signed by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Chinese side) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the French Republic (hereinafter referred to as the French side), from now on, the import of French alfalfa that meets the following requirements is permitted: 

I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis

(1) The Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China; 

(2) The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine of Animals and Plants and its implementing regulations; 

(3) The Measures for the Inspection and Quarantine Supervision and Administration of Imported and Exported Feed and Feed Additives; 

(4) The Protocol on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Alfalfa from France to China signed by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the French Republic.

II. Permitted Imported Commodities

The alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) referred to in this announcement means alfalfa pellets or bales that are grown in France and processed through high-temperature dehydration and compression.

III. Enterprise Registration

Alfalfa exported to China should come from processing enterprises approved by the French side. The processing enterprises are recommended by the French side and registered after on-site inspection or document review by the Chinese side. The registered enterprises will be published on the website of the General Administration of Customs and updated dynamically.

IV. Quarantine Pests of Concern

The alfalfa exported to China must not carry the following quarantine pests of concern to China:

1. Verticillium albo-atrum

2. Lolium temulentum

3. Cuscuta australis

4. Cuscuta campestris

5. Cuscuta epilinum

6. Cuscuta epithymum

7. Centaurea diffusa

8. Solanum carolinense

9. Solanum elaeagnifolium

10. Sorghum halepense

11. Centaurea solstitialis

12. Centaurea stoebe subsp. australis

13. Elymus repens

14. Fumaria officinalis

15. Orobanche minor

16. Amaranthus blitoides

17. Chenopodiastrum murale

18. Pennisetum macrourum

V. Production and Export Requirements

(1) Cultivation, Processing, Storage and Transportation

1. The French side should strengthen official control over the alfalfa farms and processing enterprises and implement daily supervision. The alfalfa farms must implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) measures to prevent and control the quarantine pests of concern to China. The processing enterprises should establish and effectively operate a good hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system and traceability management system, or manage in accordance with their principles.

2. The processing enterprises and the places where the alfalfa is grown, processed and stored should be isolated from animal farms, pastures, etc., to avoid contamination by the excreta, secretions and other substances of ruminants. During the harvesting, drying and storage and transportation of alfalfa, the roots, soil and other foreign substances should be avoided from being mixed in. Processing enterprises should be equipped with mechanical drying facilities, and the drying process should be maintained at 170℃ for more than 15 minutes. 4. Processing enterprises should effectively manage the raw material procurement, high-temperature dehydration, product inspection and other links, keep the processing area and equipment clean, and take effective measures to remove impurities and dirt before compression and baling. Metal materials should not be used for baling and packaging to ensure that the alfalfa grass exported to China meets the following requirements: (1) Free from pests of concern to China and other live pests; (2) Free from roots, plant seeds and other plant residues and foreign matter; (3) Free from animal manure, animal carcasses and poultry feathers; (4) Free from soil; (5) Free from genetically modified components not approved by China; (6) Comply with the relevant requirements of the Chinese national standard "Feed Hygiene Standard" (GB 13078). 5. The storage facilities before shipment should meet the following requirements: (1) Have a relatively closed and independent space; (2) Take effective measures to prevent rodents, insects and birds to prevent contamination by pests. 6. Clean containers should be used for transportation. If necessary, inspection and quarantine and quarantine treatment should be carried out. At least one packaging label should be placed in each container, indicating the name and registration number of the processing enterprise, as well as the Chinese and English words "French alfalfa grass exported to the People's Republic of China / Alfalfa from France export to the People's Republic of China". The product label should comply with the requirements of the Chinese national standard "Feed Label" (GB 10648). (2) Pre-departure quarantine and certificate requirements. Before export, the French side should carry out inspection and quarantine on the alfalfa grass exported to China, and issue a phytosanitary certificate and a health certificate in accordance with international standards for those that meet the requirements. The phytosanitary certificate and health certificate should indicate the name and registration number of the processing enterprise, the name and address of the consignor and consignee, the container number, etc. The additional declaration of the phytosanitary certificate should state "This consignment complies with the Protocol on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of alfalfa from France to China, and is free of any pest of concern for China." (This consignment complies with the Protocol on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of alfalfa from France to China and is free from any pests of concern to China), and the health certificate should state "Does not contain any hazardous substances that pose a risk to public or animal health and complies with China's safety and hygiene standards, does not contain GMOs that are not authorized by China." (Does not contain any hazardous substances that pose a risk to public or animal health and complies with China's feed safety and hygiene standards, does not contain genetically modified components not approved by China). VI. Inspection and quarantine upon entry (1) Verification of documents. 1. Verify whether it is from a registered enterprise. 2. Verify whether the attached phytosanitary certificate and health certificate are genuine and valid. (II) Inspection of Goods. In accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules, and in combination with the provisions of Article 4 and Article 5 of this announcement, inspection and quarantine shall be carried out on alfalfa grass for export to China. Only those that pass the inspection and quarantine will be allowed to enter the country.

(III) Handling of Non-compliance. 

1. If there is no valid phytosanitary certificate or health certificate, the goods will be returned or destroyed.

2. If the goods come from an unregistered enterprise, they will be returned or destroyed.

3. If soil or genetically modified components not approved by the Chinese authorities are found, the goods will be returned or destroyed.

4. If the goods do not meet the requirements of Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of this announcement, they will be treated in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and only those that pass the treatment will be allowed to enter the country.

5. If the goods do not meet the requirements of Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 6 of this announcement, they will be corrected, returned or destroyed.

6. If other non-compliance with the requirements of China's entry-exit animal and plant quarantine or China's feed safety and hygiene standards is found, they will be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

If any of the above non-compliance situations are discovered, the Chinese side will notify the French side and, depending on the severity of the violation, may suspend the export qualifications of the relevant processing enterprises or production areas, or even suspend the trade of alfalfa grass until the Chinese side confirms that the problems have been effectively rectified.

This announcement is hereby made.

General Administration of Customs

January 4, 2026