Date of Issuance: September 17, 2012

Issued by Ministry of Agriculture of China and State General Administration for Quality Supervision,

Inspection and Quarantine of China

　　

In recent years, Chinese exit and entry inspection and quarantine authorities have intercepted the Common White Snails (Cernuella virgata Da Costa) multiple times from wheat shipments imported to China from Australia and in containers entering China from Romania and New Zealand. The Common White Snails are mainly harmful to cereals, pulse crops, citrus and pasture. They feed on a wide variety of plants, reproduce fast and are highly resistant to unfavorable environment. Risk analysis results indicate that they are likely to spread via agricultural trade including cereals, fruit, vegetables, flowers and bonsai, and through wood packaging materials and transport means, and they pose serious threats to agricultural production and ecosystems.

　　

According the Quarantine Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Entry and Exit of Animals and Plants, it is decided to include Common White Snail (Cernuella virgata Da Costa) in the List of Quarantine Pests of the People’s Republic of China of the Entry of Plants. All the local entry and exit inspection and quarantine authorities shall, according to law, reinforce their respective inspection and quarantine of plants and plant products from countries or regions that have the Common White Snails. In the case of introducing varieties from abroad, competent agricultural authorities at the level of province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the central government shall strictly follow the procedures for pest inspection and application assessment and approval, and reinforce surveillance of pests in order to prevent introduction of the above-mentioned pest into the country.

　　

The announcement shall take effect on the date of issue.