Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Department of Agriculture No.0184/DOA

Vientiane Capital, date 31 January 2023

 

 

 

 According to the Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine No. 13/NA, dated 13 November 2016;

 According to Agreement of the Minister regarding the establishment and operations of the Department of Agriculture No. 0078/DOA, dated 12 January 2022;

 According to the Protocol on the Phytosanitary requirement concerning the export of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis from the Lao PDR to the People’s Republic of China, dated 03 July 2022.

In recent times, the government has promoted policies that encourage the production of crops as commercial goods, leading to increased exchanges and trade in agricultural products both regionally and internationally. Notably, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has signed an agreement with the General Administration of Customs of China regarding to the Phytosanitary requirement for the export of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis from the Lao PDR to Republic of China. It has been observed that Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulishas planted and harvested in various areas has generated income for the population and contributed positively to the socio-economic development of the nation. However, the promotion of these activities has not yet fully aligned with the agreement, particularly regarding production systems, monitoring systems, and the management of plant pests in orchards, treatment processes, cleanliness management of packaging house, and record-keeping procedures.

To ensure that the management of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis production and export becomes systematic, independent, transparent, and complies with the agreements on the Phytosanitary requirement for exports from the Lao PDR to the People’s Republic of China, along with the laws, regulations, and treaties on international plant protection that the Lao PDR and the People’s Republic of China are both parties.

 

Department of Agriculture guides:

I. Purpose and Objective

- To comply with the agreement on the Phytosanitary requirement for the export of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis from the Lao PDR to the People’s Republic of China;

- To provide guidelines on the procedures and methods for implementing the Phytosanitary requirement for exports in a consistent and independent manner across the country.

 

II. Plant Health Conditions for the Export of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis from the Lao PDR to the People’s Republic of China

1. Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis

1.1. The medicinal herb to be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China under the Protocol on the Phytosanitary requirement must be the dried rhizome of Smilax glabra, known scientifically as Smilax glabra Roxb. and commonly in English as Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae. It belongs to the Smilacaceae family and must be grown and initially processed in the Lao PDR.

 

1.2. The medicinal herb to be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China under the Protocol on the Phytosanitary requirement must be the dried rhizome of Smilax glabra, known scientifically as Spatholobus suberectus Dumn. and commonly in English as Spatholobi Caulis. It belongs to the Fabaceae family and must be grown and initially processed in the Lao PDR

 

2. Quarantine Pests

The medicinal herb (Smilax glabra) and Polygonum multiflorum to be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China must be free from grass roots, soil, and must not contain any quarantine pests, plant residues, or other contaminants.

2.1. The medicinal herb to be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China must be free from quarantine pests as specified by the Chinese authorities, which are listed as follows:

No. Science name Common Name Characteristics Pictures

1 Cussuta spp. Dodders It is a parasitic plant that grows by attaching itself to other trees and absorbs nutrients from the host plant. The vines are yellow with a central diameter of about 1 cm. The flowers grow in clusters, and each fruit contains 2-4 seeds.  

2 Mikamia micrantha Bittervine It has a vine-like structure, with the main vine branching into numerous smaller vines. Each vine is over 2 meters long and has fine hairs along it. The flowers grow in clusters, with each flower measuring 3-4 cm in length.  

 

2.2. Medicinal herb to be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China must be free from quarantine pests as specified by the Chinese authorities, which are listed as follows:

 

No. Science name Common Name Characteristics Pictures

1 Heterobostrychus aequalis Kapox borer It is a hard-winged insect with a dark red or dark brown color. The body length is 6-12 mm. The larvae are white or light yellow. Both the larvae and adults damage dried plants and dry wood.  

2 Trogoderma granarium Khapra beetle The adult is brown with an oval shape, and the head is dark brown. Its size is 2-3 mm. During the larval stage, it is covered with many soft brown hairs. Both the larvae and adults damage stored plants.  

3 Cuscuta spp Dodders It is a parasitic plant that grows by attaching itself to other trees and absorbs nutrients from the host plant. The vines are yellow with a central diameter of about 1 cm. The flowers grow in clusters, and each fruit contains 2-4 seeds.  

4 Mikamia micrantha Bittervine It has a vine-like structure, with the main vine branching into numerous smaller vines. Each vine is over 2 meters long and has fine hairs along it. The flowers grow in clusters, with each flower measuring 3-4 cm in length.  

3. Production, Processing, and Storage Measures

For medicinal plants and red vine intended for export to the People's Republic of China, there must be pest control and integrated garden management measures in place as follows:

1) During the production phase, it is necessary to carry out monitoring, prevention, and control of plant pests.

2) Managing plant pests in the garden requires Integrated Pest Management (IPM), such as: using pheromone traps and light traps, promoting garden biodiversity and maintaining environmental balance, collecting fallen pests, pruning and using beneficial plant-based insecticides, and if pests are found, applying biological control methods by collecting pests and using other appropriate methods.

3) Entrepreneurs must record details related to monitoring and managing plant pests, such as: name of the chemical, application season, chemical release, amount used, frequency of application, and other related information. The records should be kept properly and made available during inspection times.

4) Production sites must have preventive measures and controls to manage the spread of COVID-19 in relation to production and the personnel involved.

 

4. Packaging house

The internal management of the packaging house must be implemented as follows:

1) The Herbs and dried spices that will be sent to the People's Republic of China must be dried using drying equipment, not by direct sunlight;

2) Must go through fumigation with phosphine (PH3) and follow the procedures as outlined below:

3) The Herbs and dried spices that will be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China must not be contaminated with pesticides, soil, plant residues, other foreign substances, and should not contain harmful plant pests or other residues. They must not exceed the maximum residue levels as specified by the standards and regulations of the People's Republic of China.

4) The materials used for packaging must be clean, not previously used, and must comply with the relevant health and safety standards for plant products as specified by the People's Republic of China.

5) Each package of herbs and dried spices must have printed or labeled information in a specified font size. The label must include the following details in Chinese and the scientific name: product characteristics, production date (day/month/year), quantity in the package, storage conditions, production method (factory), production location (province), registration code of the production site, and the country of origin (The People's Republic of China only).

6) The packaging of herbs and dried spices to be exported from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China must comply with the standards and regulations related to packaging set by the People's Republic of China.

7) After packaging, the products should be stored in a clean place to prevent contamination by plant pests and the risk of contamination."

 

5. Registration

Individuals, legal persons, or organizations involved in the planting, packaging, and storage of agricultural products must be registered or apply for registration with the relevant authorities according to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This should be done at each stage by submitting an application to the Department of Agriculture by the end of June each year.

The application for registration must include the following:

1) A completed application form as specified by the Agricultural Extension Office;

2) A copy of the permit for agricultural and forestry activities;

3) A copy of the certification for the latest annual environmental impact assessment;

4) Verification of the purchase and planting, and other relevant documents from the Health Sector;

5) Verification of business operations and other related documents from the Forestry Sector;

6) A manual for operations related to health and safety in agriculture and plant safety;

7) A certificate of ownership and a copy of the identity card for those submitting the application on behalf of others.

The registration certificate is valid for one year and can be renewed. Individuals who have registered and received approval will be published on the website of the Tax Administration of the People's Republic of China, which will include their name, address, and registration number.

 

6. Measures for Phytosanitary before export

Individuals, legal entities, or organizations recognized as authorized exporters by the Tax Administration of the People's Republic of China must implement the following measures:

1) A request must be submitted according to the specified format by the Department of Agriculture or agriculture sector in provincials, including all related documents. For conditions, procedures, and methods for submitting a plant safety certificate, it must follow the guidelines of Department Agriculture No. 2880/DOA, dated 11 November 2019;

2) In the case of an inspection revealing a quarantine pest as defined in Protocol II, Article 2 of this guideline, it is prohibited to export such consignments and must be reported to the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry immediately to resolve the production site issue and to search for possible solutions;

3) In the case where the responsible party for controlling plants does not find any pests based on the inspection under Protocol II, Article 2 of this guideline, they must issue a phytosanitary certificate for the shipment and must include additional details in the phytosanitary certificate, stating:

4) For Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae: "This consignment of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China and is free of soil and the quarantine pests concerned by China."

5) For Spatholobi Caulis: "This consignment of Spatholobi Caulis complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Spatholobi Caulis from the Lao PDR to the People's Republic of China and is free of soil and the quarantine pests concerned by the People's Republic of China."

6) The responsible party for controlling plants must list the import information required by the Chinese Customs Department at each stage.

 

7. Measures on quarantine at import border

When importing Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis products from the Lao PDR to the customs entry points of the People's Republic of China, the owner of the goods must submit documents to the relevant plant quarantine authorities of China for inspection of the related documents.

The importation of goods from production areas that are not registered is strictly prohibited.

If an inspection finds plant pests specified in Appendix II, Article 2 of this guideline, the goods will be returned, destroyed, or direct to plant quarantine measures to eliminate the pests effectively. The Chinese authorities will notify the Lao side immediately about the type of pest, the certificate number of the phytosanitary certificate, and other relevant information, including the place of origin of the watermelon products, whether from a farm or a controlled warehouse. The entrepreneurs must investigate the cause and take appropriate measures to prevent further occurrences.

If an inspection reveals the presence of chemicals or pesticides exceeding the standard level, or if pests exceed the allowed level in the consignment, and cause damage, the consignment will be rejected. Additionally, a report must be sent to the relevant Lao authorities immediately, similar to how pest findings are reported.

 

III. Implementation

1. Quarantine Division, Agriculture sector, in collaboration with other relevant departments, is responsible for supervising and monitoring the implementation of this guideline to ensure its effectiveness.

2. Quarantine Division must submit a list of individuals, legal entities, or organizations involved in the export of watermelon products to the People’s Republic of China for review, once a year or as necessary, in collaboration with the agriculture sector and their respective networks to assess the risk and implement measures to prevent plant pest outbreaks during the production season.

3. Quarantine Division should act as the central coordinator in working with the planting department and relevant agencies, consolidating reports related to the export of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis products from the Lao PDR to the People’s Republic of China and reporting to the Department Agriculture in each term.

4. The relevant authorities in Quarantine Division must rigorously inspect and confirm the shipment of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and Spatholobi Caulis products according to technical standards.

5. In organizing the practical implementation, any necessary issues, difficulties, or challenges should be promptly reported to the Department of Agriculture for evaluation and timely solutions

This guideline is effective from the date of its signing.

 

 

 

#	Title	Download
1	Guidelines on Plant Sanitation for the export of Smilacaceae and Fabaceae from Laos to China, No. 0184/DA, date 31 January 2023.	PDF
2	ຄໍາແນະນໍາ ກ່ຽວກັບ ເງື່່ອນໄຂສຸຂານາໄມພືດ ສໍາລັບການສົ່ງອອກ ຢາຫົວ ແລະ ເຄືອແດງດ່າງ ຈາກ ສປປ ລາວ ໄປ ສປ ຈີນ, ເລກທີ 0184/ກປຝ, ລົງວັນທີ 31 ມັງກອນ 2023.	PDF