China’s GAC Releases Second Revised Draft of Administrative Measures for the Quarantine of Imported Plant Propagation Materials for Public Comment
Published 4 September 2025
Yu Du
On 23 August 2025, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) released the second revised draft of the Administrative Measures for the Quarantine of Imported Plant Propagation Materials (Measures) for public consultation. The deadline for submitting comments is 22 September 2025.
Background
The current version of the Measures was originally issued in 1999 and has served as the cornerstone for regulating the quarantine of imported plant propagation materials for more than two decades. With China’s continued opening to international trade and the rapid growth of plant propagation material imports, the GAC faces increasing demands to not only safeguard biosecurity but also facilitate trade.
In light of this evolving landscape, the Measures have been revised to better reflect modern regulatory needs, consolidate past reform practices, and enhance the system’s adaptability. The revisions aim to 1) align with current trade practices and regulatory requirements, 2) institutionalize facilitation measures already in effect, and 3) optimize quarantine enforcement to improve flexibility and efficiency.
Key Revisions
1. Specified Ports of Entry for Plant Propagation Materials
The revised Measures clearly stipulate that plant propagation materials must enter China through ports designated by the GAC that meet customs regulatory requirements. This change aligns with the PRC Biosafety Law and ensures coherence with the current system of designated supervision facilities. It serves to reinforce risk control and ensure effective quarantine inspection.
2. Removal of Pre-Declaration and Pre-Filing Requirements
The revised Measures eliminate outdated requirements such as “pre-declaration seven days in advance” and “pre-filing 10-15 days before entry.” These practices no longer match the integrated and streamlined customs declaration processes currently in place. This update reflects a shift toward efficiency, reducing unnecessary procedural burdens for importers while maintaining risk control.
3. Enhanced Customs Responsibilities in Quarantine Supervision
Building upon GAC Announcement No. 152 (2024), which delineated the responsibilities among the GAC, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and forestry authorities, the new draft provides a more detailed specification of the GAC’s duties. This includes clearer standards for issuing quarantine certificates, defining non-compliance scenarios, and detailing disposal measures for non-conforming imports.
4. Consolidation of Related Regulations
The draft integrates relevant content from the now-superseded Administrative Measures for the Quarantine Nurseries of Imported Plant Propagation Materials [ https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2018-04/28/content_5723401.htm ], streamlining regulatory requirements. Notably, it removes the requirement for nursery registration, thereby reducing the regulatory burden on enterprises. Once the new Measures take effect, the former quarantine nursery regulation will be repealed.
Comment
The second revision of the Measures represents a significant modernization of China’s plant quarantine framework. By aligning with current trade realities and clarifying institutional responsibilities, the draft enhances both regulatory effectiveness and trade facilitation. For applicants intending to file for Plant Variety Rights (PVR) in China, the new version of the Measures eliminates the requirement for prior filing, optimizes the procedures for quarantine and isolation, and consolidates and simplifies the management of quarantine nurseries. Collectively, these changes significantly reduce the complexity and time costs of pre-import compliance, while improving the flexibility and predictability of introducing propagation materials. These improvements are expected to accelerate the import process of new varieties and, in turn, shorten the overall timeline for conducting DUS testing and obtaining registration authorization in China.
Background
The current version of the Measures was originally issued in 1999 and has served as the cornerstone for regulating the quarantine of imported plant propagation materials for more than two decades. With China’s continued opening to international trade and the rapid growth of plant propagation material imports, the GAC faces increasing demands to not only safeguard biosecurity but also facilitate trade.
In light of this evolving landscape, the Measures have been revised to better reflect modern regulatory needs, consolidate past reform practices, and enhance the system’s adaptability. The revisions aim to 1) align with current trade practices and regulatory requirements, 2) institutionalize facilitation measures already in effect, and 3) optimize quarantine enforcement to improve flexibility and efficiency.
Key Revisions
1. Specified Ports of Entry for Plant Propagation Materials
The revised Measures clearly stipulate that plant propagation materials must enter China through ports designated by the GAC that meet customs regulatory requirements. This change aligns with the PRC Biosafety Law and ensures coherence with the current system of designated supervision facilities. It serves to reinforce risk control and ensure effective quarantine inspection.
2. Removal of Pre-Declaration and Pre-Filing Requirements
The revised Measures eliminate outdated requirements such as “pre-declaration seven days in advance” and “pre-filing 10-15 days before entry.” These practices no longer match the integrated and streamlined customs declaration processes currently in place. This update reflects a shift toward efficiency, reducing unnecessary procedural burdens for importers while maintaining risk control.
3. Enhanced Customs Responsibilities in Quarantine Supervision
Building upon GAC Announcement No. 152 (2024), which delineated the responsibilities among the GAC, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and forestry authorities, the new draft provides a more detailed specification of the GAC’s duties. This includes clearer standards for issuing quarantine certificates, defining non-compliance scenarios, and detailing disposal measures for non-conforming imports.
4. Consolidation of Related Regulations
The draft integrates relevant content from the now-superseded Administrative Measures for the Quarantine Nurseries of Imported Plant Propagation Materials [ https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2018-04/28/content_5723401.htm ], streamlining regulatory requirements. Notably, it removes the requirement for nursery registration, thereby reducing the regulatory burden on enterprises. Once the new Measures take effect, the former quarantine nursery regulation will be repealed.
Comment
The second revision of the Measures represents a significant modernization of China’s plant quarantine framework. By aligning with current trade realities and clarifying institutional responsibilities, the draft enhances both regulatory effectiveness and trade facilitation. For applicants intending to file for Plant Variety Rights (PVR) in China, the new version of the Measures eliminates the requirement for prior filing, optimizes the procedures for quarantine and isolation, and consolidates and simplifies the management of quarantine nurseries. Collectively, these changes significantly reduce the complexity and time costs of pre-import compliance, while improving the flexibility and predictability of introducing propagation materials. These improvements are expected to accelerate the import process of new varieties and, in turn, shorten the overall timeline for conducting DUS testing and obtaining registration authorization in China.