June 23, 2004

China Lifts Ban On 23 Suppliers Of Brazil Soybeans

China's quarantine authority has formally lifted its ban on 23 foreign suppliers of Brazilian soybeans in an online statement Wednesday.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, or AQSIQ, banned Brazilian soybean imports from 23 companies, including units of large multinational trading firms such as Cargill Inc. and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., since last month after a number of shipments were found to be contaminated with small amounts of fungicide-tainted seeds.

Scrapping all its previous statements related to the soybean embargo from the South American country, AQSIQ said it is now streamlining applications for quarantine inspection of all plant and animal imports, according to the statement.

All importers will have to apply for a quarantine inspection permit before signing any trade contract. The permit for quarantine inspection will be effective for the six months following issuance.

Soybean importers, in particular, must provide the names of foreign suppliers and exporters in the applications for quarantine inspection permits.

When signing the contract, the quarantine rules of related goods stipulated on permits will have to be included in the subsequent contract. All imports must comply with Chinese laws and food safety requirements, the statement said.

Port inspection agencies will only examine cargoes after receiving the permit for quarantine inspection.

Importers of any genetically modified products will have to present original copies of the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Import Safety Permit and the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Identification Approval Document.