Zika – China relaxes fumigation requirements – FAS/USDA Posts Update

China has decided vessels originating from the United States, other than from the state of Florida, do not require a disinfection certification.  The Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted a September 2nd “Update” on the FAS website.

The update states this is not official USDA guidance regarding compliance with China’s new policies for shipments from Zika-affected countries.  This information may change as further clarifications and updates are made available to FAS from Chinese authorities.

It is highly recommended U.S. exporters verify the full set of import requirements with their foreign customers, who are normally best equipped to research such matters with local authorities, before any goods are shipped.

The requirements, which have been in place for months for many other countries, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, were extended in August to apply to shipments from the 50 United States by China’s Inspection and Quarantine Ministry in an attempt to prevent the Zika virus from spreading to China.

Zika is most commonly transmitted through the Aedes aegypti and albopictus mosquitoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 416,000 cases of Zika virus have been reported in 38 countries in the Western Hemisphere. In the United States, most of the 6,500 reported cases have come from U.S. territories, especially Puerto Rico.

If you have clients or contacts now impacted by this, please let them know that Livingston can help make the necessary arrangements.  They should contact their Livingston Freight representatives who are well-versed in fumigation requirements.

As always, your general questions regarding this posting may be directed to Livingston’s US Regulatory Affairs: usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com.