To combat the spread of mosquitoes, Zika virus and other infectious diseases, Chinese authorities, on March 2, 2016, instituted specific import rules for Chinese ports. The rules stated that “port authorities shall adopt effective anti-mosquito measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, reducing the mosquito density of the port.” Additionally, inspection and quarantine authorities shall strengthen port health supervision to proactively address the spread of mosquitoes.
Per Chinese authorities on August 3, 2016, citing the World Health Organization (WHO), 55 countries and regions are experiencing Zika virus transmissions.
Africa (2): Cape Verde; Guinea-Bissau
Americas (43): Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Aruba; Barbados; Belize; Bolivia; The Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire); Brazil; Columbia; Republic of Costa Rica; Cuba; The Netherlands Antilles (Curacao); Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Salvador; French Guiana; Grenada; Guadeloupe; The Republic of Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Martinique; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Puerto Rico; St. Barth; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Sint Maarten (Netherlands Territory); Surinam; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; The United States; United States Virgin Islands; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Western Pacific (8): American Samoa; Fiji; Marshall Islands; The Federated States of Micronesia; Samoa; Tonga; The Philippines; Vietnam
Southeast Asia (2): Indonesia; Thailand
In addition to enhanced inspection and quarantine protocols, ports in China will be requiring a certificate of mosquito extermination for containers received from all countries with documented transmission of Zika virus – the certificate must contain:
- When and where the treatment was taken, the amount and the numbers of containers, the issuer, the exporter, the importer, cargo information as well as the effective ingredients, doses, instruction and duration of anti-mosquito agents.
For containers where no certificate is provided:
- Immediate mosquito eradication will need to be performed under the supervision of the inspection and quarantine authority, and strict quarantine and inspection measures on transportation vehicles, cargo, container, luggage and postal parcels are expected to be taken.
On August 10, 2016, the United States was placed on China’s list of countries which must take precautions to insure its shipments are mosquito-free. The situation is still developing and information on the cost to treat/fumigate has not been announced. Additionally, there exists the potential for exports to be delayed upon arrival at Chinese ports. Please send an email to Deringer’s Marketing Department withany questions