Announcement on Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Imported Cowhides and Sheepskins from Jordan

 In accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China, as well as the provisions on quarantine and sanitary requirements for the export of cowhides and sheepskins from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (hereinafter referred to as hides and skins) to China agreed between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Chinese side) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (hereinafter referred to as the Jordanian side), import of Jordanian hides and skins meeting the following requirements is permitted with immediate effect.

I. Basis for Inspection and Quarantine

(1) Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China; (2) Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations; (3) Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Entry and Exit Non-edible Animal Products; (4) Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Cowhides and Sheepskins Exported from Jordan to China (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol).

II. Scope of Imported Products

 The hides and skins specified in this Announcement refer to skins produced and processed from cattle and sheep originating in Australia, slaughtered at Jordanian registered establishments, in compliance with the relevant quarantine requirements laid down in the Protocol.

III. Requirements for Production Establishments

 Establishments engaged in the production, processing and storage of Jordanian hides and skins (hereinafter referred to as production establishments) shall be approved by the Jordanian side and recommended by the Jordanian side to the Chinese side. Those passing the assessment by the Chinese side shall be registered. Production establishments shall satisfy the following requirements: (1) Maintain clean and tidy environmental hygiene. Premises for raw material storage, production & processing and finished goods storage shall be reasonably laid out, with flat and hardened ground, non-ponding walls and easy cleaning and disinfection. (2) Be equipped with necessary facilities and equipment for production, processing and stockpiling, and adopt effective measures for vector and rodent control. (3) Establish a complete traceability system including records of raw material receiving, processing, storage and delivery. (4) Have standardized production and processing procedures or operation guidelines. Production, processing and storage shall meet veterinary sanitary requirements, and mixing processing or storage with other animal products is prohibited. (5) Be subject to approval and routine supervision by the Jordanian side, and continuously comply with the veterinary sanitary requirements specified in the Protocol and Jordanian regulations.

 The registration of production establishments is valid for 5 years. The Jordanian side shall submit an application for registration renewal to the Chinese side 6 months prior to expiry. The Chinese side shall complete the renewal formalities in a timely manner in accordance with relevant provisions.

IV. Requirements for Imported Products

(1) Sanitary requirements for source animals

1. Born and raised in Australia, legally imported from Australia, and accompanied with animal health certificates issued by the official animal quarantine authority of Australia.
2. No cases of anthrax and lumpy skin disease have occurred within a radius of 50 km centered on the Jordanian entry isolation premises, slaughterhouses and hide & skin processing plants involved, for a period of 6 months.
3. Healthy animals that have passed isolation quarantine at approved Jordanian isolation facilities and are under relevant animal disease surveillance by the Jordanian side.
4. Not subject to movement restrictions due to outbreaks of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax, which can spread via hides and skins and endanger human and animal health.
5. Pre-slaughter inspection conducted by official veterinarians or approved veterinarians of the Jordanian side, showing no clinical signs of infectious animal diseases.

(2) Sanitary requirements for slaughterhouses of source animals

1. Reasonably laid-out premises with good environmental hygiene, facilities and equipment for pre-slaughter and post-slaughter quarantine and hide & skin storage, and effective vector and rodent control measures.
2. Have standardized operating procedures or guidelines for animal slaughter and hide & skin handling. Animals shall not be slaughtered on the same production line with other animals. The slaughter process shall comply with the animal welfare provisions of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
3. Establish a complete traceability system including records of animal receiving and slaughter, hide & skin storage and delivery.
4. Be subject to approval and routine supervision by the Jordanian side, and continuously comply with the veterinary sanitary requirements specified in the Protocol and Jordanian regulations.

(3) Production and processing requirements

Hides and skins exported to China shall be treated by one of the following methods:

1. Dried for at least 42 days at a temperature of 20℃ or above; OR
2. Brined with sea salt containing 2% sodium carbonate for no less than 7 days; OR
3. Wet-salted or dry-salted treatment for a minimum of 14 days.

V. Packaging and Container Requirements

(1) Containers shall be disinfected with effective disinfectants under the supervision of the Jordanian side prior to use. (2) The bottom of containers shall be made impermeable or lined with plastic sheets or other impermeable materials. (3) Hides and skins shall be stacked separately inside the container and wrapped with clean, leak-proof packaging materials. (4) The Jordanian side shall affix anti-counterfeit seals or marks to the containers, or supervise such sealing.

VI. Storage and Transportation Requirements

(1) Necessary measures shall be taken during product storage and transportation to prevent cross-contamination and maggot infestation. (2) For hides and skins treated by wet-salting, natural air-drying for at least 7 days after salting is required to avoid bloody wastewater leakage during transit.

VII. Pre-export Inspection and Certification Requirements

(1) The Jordanian side shall conduct inspection and quarantine on hides and skins exported from Jordan to China and issue sanitary certificates to certify that the products meet the requirements of the Protocol. (2) Each consignment of hides and skins exported to China must be accompanied by at least one original official sanitary certificate.

VIII. Entry Inspection and Quarantine Requirements

(1) Quarantine Approval

Where quarantine approval is required, the importer shall complete relevant procedures and obtain the Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit in accordance with provisions.

(2) Document Verification

1. For consignments requiring quarantine approval, verify the availability of the Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit;
2. Verify whether the goods come from registered production establishments;
3. Verify the authenticity and validity of the sanitary certificate.

(3) Cargo Inspection

 Chinese Customs shall carry out inspection and quarantine on Jordanian hides and skins exported to China in accordance with relevant laws, administrative regulations, rules and this Announcement. Goods passing inspection and quarantine shall be granted entry.

(4) Disposal of Non-compliant Goods

 Non-compliant goods shall be disposed of in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. For production establishments with serious or repeated non-compliance issues, the Chinese side may adopt measures such as intensified inspection and quarantine or suspension of imports.

Hereby announced.

General Administration of Customs September 7, 2026