Ineligible Products

1. Egg products are not eligible for export to China.

1.  
   1. Sheep/lamb casings intended for processing (selection for size and quality) in China and subsequent re-export.
   2. Pork and pork products excluding those in the Ineligible Section B below.
      1. Effective March 17, 2020, pork and pork products slaughtered, further processed, and certified in facilities that have been added to the GACC website are eligible to export.
      2. Those facilities that have been exporting raw pork products and pork fat under HS code 020910 prior to March 17, 2020 may continue to export eligible product on inventory produced prior to March 17, 2020.
   3. Poultry and poultry products, excluding those listed in the Ineligible Section B below.
   4. Beef and beef products excluding those in the Ineligible Section B below.
      1. Effective March 17, 2020, beef and beef products from cattle of any age slaughtered, further processed, and certified in facilities that has been added to the GACC website are eligible to export.
      2. Deboned beef, bone-in beef including heart, kidney, liver, omasum, tendons, outside skirt, inside skirt, hanging tender, oxtails, beef bones, feet, cheek meat, head meat, oxlips, backstrap, tunic tissue, ground beef (made strictly in conformance with FSIS regulations excluding weasand meat), and tongues from cattle that are less than 30 months of age produced between May 24, 2017 and March 17, 2020 and prepared in establishments that participated in USDA, AMS Export Verification Program for Bovine for the People’s Republic of China.

         All beef must be derived from cattle that were either (a) born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States, (b) imported from Canada or Mexico and then raised and slaughtered in the United States, or (c) imported from Canada or Mexico for direct slaughter in the United States.
         
         A list of establishments that participated in the USDA, AMS Export Verification Program for Bovine for the People’s Republic of China. an AMS Beef Traceability Program can be obtained from the AMS web site.
         
         Each establishment that participates in the AMS EV Program for beef to China is required to maintain a unique product identification system, which can be accessed by authorized FSIS inspection personnel on Partner Web via the FSIS' Intranet.
         
         The following establishment has been temporarily suspended from all USDA Bovine Export Verification (EV) and AMS Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) Programs:

      • Est. 7041B and 7041 Beltex Corporation (Frontier Meats) Fort Worth, TX effective 09/12/2019

2.   The following is a list of products that are not eligible for importation into China, including when incorporated into further-processed products:
   1. Mechanically separated beef and distal ileum of cattle of any age.
   2. Sheep/lamb meat.
   3. Sheep/lamb casings other than those described in A.
   4. Feathers, heads, intestines, and tails of poultry that contain the uropygial gland.
   5. Wild boar meat.
   6. Beef and pork thyroid glands, adrenal glands, tonsils, major lymph nodes exposed during slaughter and cutting, laryngeal muscle tissue, lungs, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, uterus, hair, hoofs, and lactating mammary glands.
   7. Horns from cattle.
   8. Brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, and vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from cattle 30 months of age and older.
   9. Poultry meat and poultry meat derived from birds processed or slaughtered in the areas listed below unless heat processed according to the parameters in Poultry Processing Requirements.
       
      • The State of South Carolina before August 5, 2020.

Note to Exporters: Exporters are advised to work with the importers to ensure products intended for export are not restricted by China’s requirements.

Poultry products must be heat processed according to the following chart to be exempt from above restrictions.

Ractopamine Control Program (Eligible Pork Products)

Pork and pork products with FSIS export certificate issuance dates on or after July 1, 2014 must be derived from lots of hogs that are produced in accordance with either of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) ractopamine control program’s identified as the Never Fed Beta Agonist Program or a specifically developed, written ractopamine-free program. Pork and pork products that are not produced under one of these ractopamine control program options are not eligible for export to China and should not be certified. IPP must consult the AMS website for verification that the pork and pork products was produced in accordance with AMS’s Never Fed Beta Agonist Program as referenced in item B.1.c. below or obtain verification that the pork or pork products were produced in accordance with a specifically developed, written ractopamine-free program. Negative test results for the presence of ractopamine are not enough to satisfy this requirement, a ractopamine control program is required. Pork Products for export to China must be tested in accordance with those programs.

1. Ractopamine Residue Program
   1. Each lot of animals will be tested by the slaughter establishment.
   2. Testing will be done on a tissue (muscle, liver, or kidney) from a single representative animal from each lot.
      1. A lot is defined as animals arriving from a single production system (production sites under common management, but may be geographically dispersed) on a particular day.
      2. All pork and pork products exported to China must be from lots that have not tested positive for ractopamine.
      3. Testing will be conducted using an AMS-approved screening method listed on the AMS' website, AMS Export Laboratory Approval Program, found under "Business Listing of USDA-approved methods for Export."
   3. A copy of test results for the relevant lot(s) from the slaughter establishment or the FSIS transfer certificate from the slaughter establishment must accompany the FSIS Form 9060-6 Application for Export Certificate. Effective July 1, 2014, FSIS will issue a revised FSIS letterhead certificate for shipments with negative test results.
      
      Pork produced for export to China will be tracked from entry to the plant through issuance of the FSIS export certificates and shipment to China. Tracking will be conducted by using a copy of the testing results accompanying each shipment or an FSIS transfer certificate that identifies the product lots and corresponding test results.
   4. If a lot tests positive using the screening test, all product from the lot is either diverted for another use or a testable portion of the same sample is sent to an AMS-approved laboratory for confirmatory LC/MS testing which is listed on the AMS' website, AMS Export Laboratory Approval Program, found under "Business Listing of USDA-approved methods for Export." The laboratory confirmatory test must show a negative result for products from the lot to be certified for export to China
   5. Each establishment must have a written program detailing its controls, testing, and segregation procedures available for FSIS review.
2. AMS Never Fed Beta Agonist QVSP
   1. Pork and pork products produced under the AMS Never Fed Beta Agonist QSVP are exempt from the Ractopamine Residue Program requirements above.
      1. If a lot tests positive for a beta agonist, the establishment will follow the procedures related to positive findings stated in the program (Section 5.4.2).
      2. Approved product codes or alternative system identifier will accompany the application in place of test results or FSIS transfer certificates when the product was produced according the AMS Never Fed Beta Agonist QSVP.
      3. Information about establishments with approved AMS Never Fed Beta Agonist QSVP can be obtained from the AMS website. The unique product identification system can be accessed by authorized FSIS inspection personnel from FSIS' Intranet site.
      4. If FSIS inspection personnel, whether at the eligible slaughter, processing establishment or cold storage facility, are unable to verify the unique product code or alternative system identifier or become aware of concerns that an establishment is not properly executing its AMS Never Fed Beta Agonist QSVP programs, export certification should not be issued for the product in question and AMS should be notified at QAD.AuditService@ams.usda.gov. Inspection personnel should include their immediate supervisor on messages to AMS. The following information should be included in the message:
         • Establishment name, address, and establishment number
         • Product type, product code, and quantity of product
         • Date of production, lot number, and shift
         • Date and nature of observation
         • Name of country product is intended for export
         • Export certificate number (if applicable)
         • Any other information to verify claim
         • Name of inspection official

Please note that these labeling requirements do not apply to casing. The labeling requirements for casings have not changed​.

1. Bulk Packaging
   1. Exterior Label (information may appear on an independent label or be present somewhere on the primary display panel): (Chinese and English).
      1. Product name
      2. Country of origin (in details to state/city level)
      3. Establishment number
      4. Production date
      5. Expiration date, storage period, or shelf life
      6. Storage temperature
      7. Country of destination
      8. Net weight (English)
      9. Inspection legend (English)
      10. Name and address of Company (English)
      11. Production Lot number (as defined by the exporter)
      12. Specification (refers to packaging type)
   2. Inner Label: English and Chinese
      1. Product name
      2. Country of origin
      3. Establishment number
      4. Production Lot number (as defined by the exporter)
2. Pre-packaged food directly delivered to the consumer (packaged for immediate retail sale) Labels in Chinese and English
   1. Product name
   2. Country of origin (United States of America)
   3. Establishment number
   4. Production date
   5. Expiration date, storage period, or shelf life
   6. Storage requirements (refers to temperature)
   7. Country of destination
   8. Net weight
   9. Inspection legend (English)
   10. Name and address of Company (English)
   11. Production Lot number (as defined by the exporter)
   12. Specification (refers to packaging type)
   13. List of ingredients (including food additives as determined by China’s national standards)
   The production lot numbers for the exterior and inner label must be the same.
   
   There are no restrictions on the label size, color, or any other format characteristics as long as the label is legible and easy to read. For additional specifications please refer to China’s labeling requirements in the Administrative Measures for Inspection, Quarantine and Supervision of Inbound and Outbound Meat Products and GB 7718-2011 listed below.
   
   For eligible beef and beef products, China confirmed that on the exterior package of eligible beef, product can be labeled with both chilled and frozen shelf-life dates on the same package, but the exterior package must be designated as chilled or frozen so China knows which date applies.
   
   For trimmings exported to China, China has agreed to accept the product provided trimmings are labeled as “pieces.” For example, “beef pieces” or “pork pieces.” China has agreed to temporarily allow the continued use of the terminology “trimmings” on the labels of small pieces of beef and pork trimming products that were produced on and before March 20, 2020.” Beef and pork trimming products produced after March 20, 2020 must be labeled as beef or pork “pieces."

For eligible meat and poultry products, the storage and transportation will be under suitable temperature maintaining the core temperature (inside temperature) of the frozen meat or poultry product no higher than -18°C/-0.4°F and chilled meat and poultry between 0°C/32°F and 4°C/39.2°F.

All FSIS export certificates accompanying the product (FSIS Form 9060-5, FSIS Form 9060-7, FSIS Form 9060-18, Letterhead Certificates 2630-9, and China specific FSIS Form 9295-1) must include on the date signed, the typed name of the certifying FSIS veterinarian, followed by their professional degree, and the signature of that certifying FSIS veterinarian exactly as typed. Do not hand print the name on the document. Veterinarians are to provide a wet signature on all export certificate documents.

Note: Product weight on certificates should be shown in kilograms and pounds to avoid excessive delays at the port.

Note to Exporters: When completing the 9060-5 export certificate, ensure the names of companies are fully captured in the designated “Company Name” field. In particular, ensure that the name of the consignee/importer is entered only on the “Company Name” field and not continued onto the “Address Line 1” field in PHIS.

1. Additional Information to be Collected on Export Certificates
   1. The number of the ocean vessel container or air cargo container/flight number (if container number is not available).
   2. The number of the shipper's commercial seal (not a USDA seal) applied to the container.
   3. The Ocean/Air Cargo Container Number(s) and Seal Number(s) must be indicated in the blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1, and in the “Remarks” of the FSIS Form 9060-5.
   4. The port of entry in China must appear in the “remarks” of FSIS Form 9060-5.
      Note to Exporters: For a current list of designated ports/inspection sites for imported meat please refer to GACC’s website at http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/ztzl86/302310/2394720/3252878/index.html (in Chinese).
   5. When the container number, commercial seal number(s), and port of entry in China are known, the export applicant must enter the information in PHIS in the designated area for each item. When the applicant enters the information in the designated areas within the application process, PHIS automatically transfers the information into the remarks section on the application and certificate once the corresponding remarks boxes are checked on the Submit 9060-6 Application page. PHIS will not allow application approval until the container and commercial seal numbers are entered in the designated areas in PHIS by the export applicant.
      
      FSIS Form 9295-1 does not have a continuation sheet therefore multiple forms should be used if needed.
      FSIS Form 9295-1 is a watermarked form and must be ordered from the FSIS Field Supply Center. Photocopies of this form must not be used to certify product intended for China.
      
      Note to Exporters: For all certificate numbers issued to establishments exporting beef, pork, and poultry products, industry must ensure the container number, along with the seal number and port of entry, are included on FSIS Form 9060-5 in the “Remarks” section.
2. Pork and pork products - obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1. In addition, obtain a bilingual FSIS letterhead certificate with the statements below. FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) are to ensure that the export stamp showing the corresponding export certificate number is applied to the bottom of the Additional Certificate. The Application for Export Certificate must be accompanied by the test results, transfer certificate, or product codes described in the Ractopamine Control Program section of these requirements. The Ocean/Air Cargo Container Number(s) and Seal Number(s) must be indicated in the blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1, and in the “Remarks” of the FSIS Form 9060-5. The port of entry in China must be included in the “Remarks” of FSIS Form 9060-5.
   1. Influenza A/H1N1 is a disease that is included in United States animal disease surveillance activities.
   2. The pork meat and/or meat products were derived from pigs which were determined to be healthy on official ante-mortem (pre-slaughter) inspection, with no clinical signs of systemic disease, including A/H1N1.
   3. Pork meat and meat products will not be a source of A/H1N1 infection when they have been handled as required by USDA regulations which are compatible with good hygienic practices recommended by the WHO, FAO, Codex Alimentarius, and the OIE.
   4. This consignment of pork products was either derived from a lot of animals tested for ractopamine residues, or is derived from an animal produced under USDA’s Never Fed Beta-agonist Program.
3. Pork Casings - obtain FSIS Form 9060-7 (08/26/2011), Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-mortem, Post-Mortem, and Fit for Human Food Statements. In addition, obtain a bilingual Additional Certificate with the following statements. The FSIS inspector must apply the export stamp showing the corresponding export certificate number to the bottom of the Additional Certificate.
   1. Influenza A/H1N1 is a disease that is included in United States animal disease surveillance activities.
   2. The pork meat and/or meat products were derived from pigs which were determined to be healthy on official ante-mortem (pre-slaughter) inspection, with no clinical signs of systemic disease, including A/H1N1.
   3. Pork meat and meat products will not be a source of A/H1N1 infection when they have been handled as required by USDA regulations which are compatible with good hygienic practices recommended by the WHO, FAO, Codex Alimentarius, and the OIE.
4. Imported Pork Casings - obtain FSIS Form 9060-18, Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-mortem, Post-mortem, and Sound and Clean Statements. Do not place statements or other markings in the “Remarks” of this Form.
5. Sheep and Lamp Casings:
   1. For U.S. origin casings, obtain FSIS Form 9060-7 (08/26/2011) - "Animal Casings Export Certificate for countries requiring Ante-mortem, Post-Mortem, and Fit for Human Food Statements."
   2. For imported casings, obtain FSIS form 9060-18 (08/25/2011) - "Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-mortem, Post-mortem, and Sound and Clean Statements."
6. Pork exported to The People's Republic of China for further processing and subsequently exported to Japan - obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1. Upon the request of the exporter, the following information must be provided either in the "Remarks" section of FSIS Form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1, or on an FSIS letterhead certificate (which is signed by the same FSIS veterinarian signing the export certificate): Note: Listing of dates in the "Remarks" section of FSIS Form 9060-5 must be identified as shown above to be consistent with the term used on FSIS Form 9290-1 (05/20/2014).
   1. All products - Statements for products intended for re-export to Japan:
      "The meat and/or meat products described herein were processed under sanitary conditions in accordance with laws and regulations of the United States. The laws and regulations of the United States have been deemed to be equivalent to the inspection laws of Japan."
   2. For pork only, also include the following statement:
      "The USA is free of hog cholera; vaccination against hog cholera is prohibited; and importation of pigs vaccinated against hog cholera is prohibited."
      
      The following are also required for pork products:
      • Name, address, and establishment number of the slaughter (If product is quarter, half, or whole carcass) or processing plant (if packaged product).
      • "Date (Month/Day/Year) of Slaughter and Inspection," if product is quarter, half, or whole carcass or "Date (Month/Day/Year) of Manufacture," if cuts or processed products, i.e., pack date.
7. Beef Products - obtain FSIS form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1. The Ocean/Air Cargo Container Number(s) and Seal Number(s) must be indicated in the blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1, and in the “Remarks” of the FSIS Form 9060-5. The port of entry in China must be included in the “Remarks” of FSIS Form 9060-5.
8. Poultry and Poultry Products – obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 and FSIS Form 9295-1. The Ocean/Air Cargo Container Number(s) and Seal Number(s) must be indicated in the blocks on the FSIS Form 9295-1, and in the “Remarks” of the FSIS Form 9060-5. The port of entry in China must be included in the “Remarks” of FSIS Form 9060-5.

China now accepts replacement certificates for exports to The People’s Republic of China for the following situations:

• The original certificate did not contain required information;
• The original certificate contained typographical errors;
• The importer, exporter, consignee or consignor changed, but is within the same country that appears on the original certificate;
• The certificate is lost or damaged; or
• The port of entry changed.

  Note: The specific reason (listed above) for the replacement must be included in the “Remarks” section of the export certificate (9060-5 only).

Note: Exporters are advised to work closely with their importer regarding Chinese standards of meat and poultry products intended for export to China. The information presented below is not inclusive of all the details of the standards of composition and manufacture. Please contact the FSIS Beijing Office at BeijingFSISCorrespondence@usda.gov if additional assistance is needed.

Exporters should be aware that China has a zero tolerance for ractopamine in beef products.
Effective March 16, 2020, China has established the following maximum residue limits (MRLs) for zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melangesterol acetate in edible cattle tissues. Note: All levels are parts per billion (ppb).

1. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Fresh and Frozen Livestock and Poultry Products (GB 2707-2016)
2. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Cooked Meat Products (GB 2726-2016)
3. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Preserved and Cured Meat Products (GB 2730-2015)
4. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standards for Food Additives (GB 2760-2015, Part I and Part II )
5. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB 2762-2017)
6. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Maximum Residue limits for Pesticides in Food (GB 2763-2016)
7. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Canned Foods (GB 7098-2015)
8. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718 -2011, Part I and Part II)
9. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Edible Animal Fats (GB 10146-2015)
10. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Irradiated Cooked Meat of Livestock and Poultry (GB 14891.1-1997)
11. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Irradiated Frozen Packaged Meat of Livestock and Poultry (GB 14891.7-1997)
12. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Permitted Level of Moisture in Meat of Livestock and Poultry (GB 18394-2001)
13. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Food Irradiation Processing (GB 18524-2016)
14. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 28050-2011)
15. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Meat and Meat Product Management (GB 20799-2016)
16. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard of Pathogenic Limits for Food (GB 29921-2013)
17. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Edible Lard (GB 8937-2006)
18. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Fresh and Frozen Demi Carcasses (GB 9959.1-2001)
19. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, Standard for Irradiated Hog Carcass (GB 14891.6-1994)
20. Administrative Measures for Inspection, Quarantine and Supervision of Inbound and Outbound Meat Products

Note to Exporters: Exporters are advised to work with the importers to ensure products intended for export are not restricted by China’s requirements.

China will accept irradiated poultry products. Irradiation requirements outlined in 9 CFR 424.22(c), and levels outlined in 21 CFR 179.26(a) and 179.26(b) must be met.

PRC requires heat treatment of all packing material made of conifer materials as a preventive measure against pinewood parasites. This includes wood pallets. The ISPM 15 standard adopted by China and Form PPQ 553 is no longer needed. For more information about wood packing material, visit the USDA, APHIS Website at www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_exports/wpm/index.shtml. For China specifically, visit the USDA, APHIS Website at www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_exports/wpm/country/china.shtml.

Eligible beef, pork, and poultry products exported to China should not contain substances or compounds prohibited by China’s law and regulation. Beef, pork, and poultry shipments detected with prohibited substance or compounds at the port of entry will be rejected, returned to the U.S. or destroyed.

A list of prohibited substances or compounds can be accessed at the following link(s).

• • Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Announcement No. 176
  • Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, Announcement No. 193
  • Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Announcement No. 235
  • Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Announcement No. 2292
  • Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) Report Number CH11023
  1. 
     Warning: In addition to the list of prohibited substances, China prohibits the use of sulfathiazole in pork production. Processors of pork for export to China must assure that the product will meet Chinese MRLs. Shipments may be rejected due to violations of Chinese residue standards.
  2.  

1. Any establishment (i.e., slaughter, processing, cold storage) not currently listed on GACC’s eligible establishment list that is interested in exporting eligible beef, pork and poultry products to China must submit FSIS Form 9080-3 through PHIS. Establishments that are not using PHIS must submit a fully completed (not including FSIS signatures) 9080-3 Form to the FSIS Proxy for entry into PHIS. Information on sending completed 9080-3 Forms to the FSIS Proxy is available on the FSIS Export Library – Requirements by Country page or by clicking here.
2. FSIS will certify these establishments to GACC. U.S. facilities approved by FSIS for export to China must be listed on the GACC website before slaughtering and processing poultry and poultry products for export to China. U.S. facilities can only export to China poultry that are slaughtered and further processed after the facility has been added to the GACC website. Upon FSIS receipt of notification from GACC that facilities have been published on the GACC website, these establishments will be added to the current FSIS Eligible Plant List for Exporting to China. This list is available through the Export Library or can be requested from FSIS at (202) 720-0082 or (855) 444-9904. *
   
   GACC’s list of U.S. registered companies is available at http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/zwgk75/2706880/jckrljgzyxx33/2812399/index.html
3. For establishments that participated in the USDA, AMS Export Verification Program for Bovine for the People's Republic of China and AMS Beef Traceability Program, the program will no longer be required effective March 17, 2020. However, beef products produced from cattle slaughtered prior to March 17, 2020, can only be supplied from establishments that were in the AMS Export Verification Program for Bovine. A list of establishments in that program can be obtained from the AMS web site. Each establishment’s unique product identification system, which can be accessed by authorized FSIS inspection personnel on Partner Web via the FSIS' Intranet.

Meat and poultry and meat and poultry products produced or stored at the establishments listed below are not eligible for export to China until further notice. Meat and poultry products produced at other establishments from raw materials originating from these establishments are also not eligible for export to China.

Est. 31559, Meadowbrook Farms Cooperative, Rantoul, IL, effective May 7, 2008.
Est. 20744, Summit Cold Storage Inc., Summit, IL products shipped on or after April 25, 2016.
Est. 7041, Beltex Corporation, 3801 North Grove Street, Fort Worth, TX on or after September 12, 2019
Est. 7041B, Beltex Corporation dba FrontierMeats, 3801 North Grove Street, Fort Worth, TX on or after September 12, 2019
Est. P5842 Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR effective June 21, 2020.
Est. P165S Ok Foods, Fort Smith, AR effective September 13, 2020.

Unless specifically identified as restricted in the list, hog casings are not affected by the Chinese delistment actions and remain eligible for export from the applicable establishments listed above.

The following establishment has been temporarily suspended from all USDA Bovine Export Verification (EV) and AMS Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) Programs:

• Est. 7041B and 7041 Beltex Corporation (Frontier Meats) Fort Worth, TX effective 09/12/2019.