People's Daily (Overseas Edition): What should be noted when importing honey? (Customs Q&A)

Ningbo Customs:
Our company is a foreign trade enterprise in Ningbo. Recently, we plan to import a batch of honey from abroad. As we are new to this type of business, we would like to inquire: What are the things to pay attention to?
Mr. Liu, a reader from Ningbo
　　   
Mr. Liu:
Bee products refer to edible substances such as honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen, etc. produced during the life and reproduction of bees for human consumption, including products processed from the above mentioned products. Except for products whose unique natural properties are destroyed by artificially adding other substances.
The imported honey consulted by your company refers to the natural sweet substance made by bees collecting nectar, secretions or honeydew from plants, mixing it with their own secretions, and fully brewing it, which belongs to the category of imported bee products. To ensure the safety of imported terrestrial animal derived food, including honey, the customs implements inspection, quarantine, and supervision management on the import of related products.
1、 Admission requirements
Customs implements access management for imported terrestrial animal derived foods, including bee products. Imported bee products that have obtained admission are included in the "Catalogue of Foods Exported to China from Countries or Regions that Meet Assessment and Review Requirements and Have Traditional Trade", and can be queried through the website of the Import and Export Food Safety Bureau of the General Administration of Customs.
Imported terrestrial animal derived food sourced from unprocessed or processed animals that may still spread diseases, involving prohibitions on animal disease outbreaks, listed in the "List of Animals and Their Products Prohibited from Importing from Countries and Regions with Animal Disease Outbreaks" published by the Animal and Plant Inspection Department of the General Administration of Customs or warning notices to prevent the introduction of animal diseases, as well as those prohibited from importation in risk warnings issued by the Food Safety Bureau of the General Administration of Customs, cannot be imported.
2、 Qualification requirements
（1） Registration of Overseas Production Enterprises
Overseas production enterprises of imported bee products should be recommended for registration by the competent authority of the country (region) where they are located to the General Administration of Customs. Only terrestrial animal derived foods produced within the registration scope during the registration validity period can be imported.
The list of overseas production enterprises registered in China and their registered products can be accessed through the "Import Food Overseas Production Enterprise Registration Management System" (website: https://ciferquery.singlewindow.cn ）Conduct a query.
（2） Import and export merchant registration
Overseas exporters, agents and importers of imported bee products can submit filing applications to the customs through the "single window" of international trade or "Internet plus+customs", and food importers can also submit paper Application Form for Filing of Consignee and relevant materials to the local customs for filing.
The registration information of overseas exporters, agents, and importers can be queried through the "China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform" - "List of Specific Qualification Administrative Relatives" column.
3、 Required documents for declaration
The required documents for declaration include but are not limited to the following:
（1） Export the veterinary health certificate, electronic version or scanned copy of the health certificate issued by the official country (region), and the original certificate shall be retained by the recipient for future reference.
（2） Export the testing report issued by the official or third-party testing agency of the country (region) (when specified in the warning notice or relevant documents of the General Administration of Customs).
（3） If necessary, electronic scanned copies of trade contracts, full bill of lading, packing lists, container dynamic information tables, invoices and other documents must be provided (copies must be stamped with the consignee's official seal).
（4） Product list (listing the variety, corresponding factory number and production batch number, production date, provided by the importer or overseas manufacturer or exporter, except for those with detailed information in the health certificate).
（5） Commitment letter (a commitment from the importer or overseas manufacturer or exporter regarding the accuracy of the production batch number provided, the safety, hygiene, and quality of the product, if necessary).
（6） Proof of production area (if necessary).
（7） Other documents that need to be submitted.
Customs conducts on-site inspections of imported food, including honey, according to the needs of supervision and management. Imported food that has been assessed as qualified by customs is allowed to be imported. For those assessed as unqualified, the customs shall issue a certificate of unqualified.
The above content is for your reference only, hoping to be helpful to you.
(Wu Xue, Third level Director of the Food Safety Department of Ningbo Customs, and Chen Hao, Deputy Chief of the Import Department of Haishu Customs under Ningbo Customs)