China (People's Republic of) - Export requirements for fish and seafood

On this page

• Eligible/ineligible product
• Pre-export approvals by competent authority of importing country
• Product specifications
• Documentation requirements
• Other information
• Appendix A - Request for addition to the list of eligible countries (areas) and aquatic products approved for exporting to China
• Appendix B - Request for addition to the list of Canadian establishments approved for export to the People's Republic of China

Eligible/ineligible product

Eligible

• All fish and seafood products except edible seal products

Ineligible

• Edible seal products

Pre-export approvals by competent authority of importing country

Products

• The names and processing methods of products must be on the List of Eligible Countries (Areas) and Aquatic Products Approved for Exporting to China.
• This list is implemented by the General Administrations of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and their China Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) branches at ports of entry.
• To add a product to this list, establishments are asked to provide the following information to their local CFIA office: product name (scientific, common), processing method (live, fresh / chilled, frozen, fish roe, fish oil, etc.), production method, territorial waters, country of origin, estimated annual production in Canada and estimated annual shipment to China.
• See Appendix A for more details.
• Exporters are encouraged to confirm with Chinese importers that products are on this list prior to shipment.

Establishments

• In order to export non-live fish and seafood products to the People's Republic of China, establishments who process fish, and cold storage warehouses who store and handle these products as part of the supply chain for export to that country, are required to appear on the List of Canadian Establishments Approved for Export to the People's Republic of China - XLSX (72 kb).
• Establishments that ship live product only do not need to appear on the establishment list.
• Establishments wishing to be added to the list must be in compliance with all aspects of the Safe Food for Canadians Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Cold storage warehouses are subject to Preventive control plan (PCP) requirements.
• To request inclusion on this list, processing establishments or cold storage warehouses must submit the following information to the local CFIA office:
  • unique establishment identifier
  • Safe Food for Canadians licence number
  • full legal name as it appears on the Safe Food for Canadians licence
  • establishment or vessel name (if applicable)
  • physical site address associated with the unique establishment identifier
  • type(s) of products the establishment plans to export to China:
    • fish
    • crustacean
    • mollusca
    • echinoderm
    • fish oil
    • shrimp oil
    • other (specify)
  • processing method(s) of each product type:
    • frozen
    • chilled
    • dried
    • salted
    • smoked
    • other (specify)
  • type of establishment:
    • processing plant (PP)
    • factory vessel (FV)
    • freezing vessel or transportation vessel (ZV)
    • cold store (CS)
  • if the products to be exported include bivalve molluscs, then include "BMS" in the Remarks column of the submission table
  • if the products to be exported include the use of any aquacultured material, then include "A" in the Remarks column of the submission table
• See Appendix B for more details.
• Please note that all additions, amendments and deletions will be forwarded to the GACC for approval. Please submit a request for such changes to your local CFIA office by providing the necessary details.
• When an establishment already on the list undergoes a name change and/or a registration number change, the documentation and labelling must identify the old registration or licence number and legal name, as recorded on the list, until such time as the list is officially amended.

Product specifications

Maximum levels for chemical contaminants

• Lead: 0.5 ppm
• Inorganic arsenic: 0.1 ppm for finfish / 0.5 ppm for all other fish
• Cadmium: 0.1 ppm (finfish only)
• Total PCB: 2.0 ppm (sum of PCB congeners #28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180)
• PCB 138: 0.5 ppm
• PCB 153: 0.5 ppm

Maximum levels for therapeutants and antibiotics

Documentation requirements

Certificate

1. For fresh and frozen products including bivalve molluscan shellfish:

   Health Certificate for Fishery products intended for export from Canada to the People's Republic of China (CFIA/ACIA 5328)

   The following information must be included on the certificate:

   • the appropriate CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) operational area, that is to say, Atlantic Canada, Quebec Canada, Ontario Canada, or Western Canada, under Section 11(2). Origin of fishery products, "Production Place"
   • for all caught fish, the name and registration or licence number^Footnote 1 of one of the fishing vessels used to harvest the fish as well as the FAO fishing area
   • for all aquacultured fish, the name and address of one of the fish farms where the fish were raised
   • under Section II(2): Origin of the fishery products, "Name(s), registration/licence number(s) and address(es) of all producing and processing enterprise(s), factory vessel(s), cold store(s) or freezer vessel(s) registered by the CFIA for export to the People's Republic of China".
     • For example, if a product was processed at one establishment and then stored at a cold store, both facilities would need to be identified on the certificate.

2. For live product, including live bivalve molluscan shellfish:

   Origin and Hygiene Certificate for live fish intended for export for human consumption from Canada to the People's Republic of China (CFIA/ACIA 5584)

   The following information must be included on the certificate:

   • for all live bivalve molluscs, the fishing area and the harvest area under Section 11(2). "Origin of the fishery products, in the space under the heading "Fishing Region". For Canadian harvest areas, the harvest areas as they appear on the List of Canadian commercial bivalve harvest areas must be indicated.
   • for live crab harvested in FAO Area 67, the sub-area under Section 11(2). "Origin of the fishery products", in the space under the heading "Fishing Region". For example, instead of FAO Area 67, indicate FAO Area 67 (British Columbia, Oregon, Washington or Alaska).
   • under Section II(2): Origin of the fishery products "Name(s), registration/licence number(s) and address(es) of all applicable producing and processing enterprise(s), factory vessel(s), cold store(s) or freezer vessel(s) registered by the CFIA for export to the People's Republic of China".
     • For example, if a product was processed at one establishment and then stored at a cold store, then both facilities would need to be identified on the certificate.

Other information

Further information on import requirements can be obtained from the General Administrations of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC).

Appendix A - Request for addition to the list of eligible countries (areas) and aquatic products approved for exporting to China

Appendix B - Request for addition to the list of Canadian establishments approved for export to the People's Republic of China