2.

Agency responsible: The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Organic growing media

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X] All trading partners

[ ] Specific regions or countries:

5.

Title of the notified document: Phytosanitary requirements for imported organic growing media. Language(s): Chinese. Number of pages: 4

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/CHN/24_03183_00_x.pdf

6.

Description of content:

1. Stipulate that the types of organic growing media allowed to be exported to China include 10 kinds of untreated or single organic growing media such as tissue culture medium, 10 kinds of other organic growing media treated by a combination of steam treatment, heat treatment, chemical treatment and other ways such as rice hulls/chaff (excluding soil), and mixed media containing or consisting of two or more of the above growing media;

2. Stipulate the requirements and procedures for the registration in China of recommended organic growing media manufacturers and the validity period of registration;

3. Stipulate the imported phytosanitary requirements for organic growing media exported to China, including being free of imported plant quarantine pests and other harmful organisms and exotic species that are seriously harmful to agricultural and forestry production and ecological environment, being free of substances other than components of growing media, never being used for growing or any other agricultural purposes, and being dry and unreproducible;

4. Stipulate the requirements for packaging, storage and transportation of organic growing media exported to China and requirements for pre-export official inspection and certification;

5. Stipulate the import inspection procedures for organic growing media exported to China and the treatment requirements for non-compliance.

7.

Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X] protect territory from other damage from pests.

8.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text):

[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number):

[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number): ISPM No. 40

[ ] None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[X] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): 1 August 2024

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): 1 August 2024

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): 1 December 2024

[ ] Trade facilitating measure

12.

Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 13 July 2024

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e‑mail address (if available) of other body:

WTO/SPS National Notification and Enquiry Center of the People's Republic of China

Tel: +(86 10) 5795 4645

 +(86 10) 5795 4642

E-mail: sps@customs.gov.cn

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e‑mail address (if available) of other body:

WTO/SPS National Notification and Enquiry Center of the People's Republic of China

Tel: +(86 10) 5795 4645

 +(86 10) 5795 4642

E-mail: sps@customs.gov.cn