Special conditions are in place to control imports of rice originating in or consigned from China.  The conditions apply to rice imported for food and feed uses, and apply to other products which may consist, contain or be produced from rice.

These measures were introduced under Commission Implementing Decision 2011/884/EU as assimilated into UK law. A list of the rice products subject to the controls can be found in Annex I of the Decision. The controls are in place to ensure that rice products originating in or consigned from China are not contaminated with unauthorised genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The restrictions mean that controlled rice products can only enter the UK through specific ports and airports approved as Border Control Posts (BCPs). 

Import conditions

1. Prior notification by submission of a CHED-D in IPAFFS to the BCP of entry.

Prior notification should be at least one working day before the expected arrival of the controlled product.

Copies of all these documents must be uploaded to the CHED-D entry in IPAFFS:

• Commercial documents (bill of lading, invoice and packing list),
• Health certificate (see below) and
• Analytical report (see below)

Consignments that do not meet the prior notification requirement and which leave the port without Port Health checks will be referred to the competent authority inland and to the Food Standards Agency. The decision on the consignment options will be determined by the competent inland authority. However, retrospective endorsement of the CHED-D part II by SCPHA is not an acceptable option.

2. It is preferable for each lot to be accompanied by an original health certificate. The model health certificate can be found here High-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO): model health certificates – GOV.UK . It is the document titled “Chinese rice GMO GBHC212X”.

SCPHA do accept health certificates for rice and rice products from China with multiple lot numbers declared on the health certificate. However, we do require a CHED-D to be submitted for each lot (batch) number. If there are multiple lot numbers on the health certificate, then all the CHED-Ds should quote the same health certificate reference number. The test report number quoted on the CHED-Ds will be different (see next point), and will be used to differentiate the products.

3. Each lot to be accompanied by an analytical report in accordance with Annex IV of the Decision showing the results of sampling and analysis have been undertaken in accordance with Annex II of the Decision.

Important: SCPHA will not accept analytical reports with multiple lot numbers on for imports of rice and rice products from China.

4. Each individual bag, or other packaging form of the consignment to have the lot number applied prior to export. The lot number must be applied to every layer of packaging and must match the lot number on the health certificate and the analytical report.

5. 100% of consignments will have a Documentary check carried out by a Port Health Officer. Certain documentary check errors will result in the consignment being rejected at this stage, for example, absence of the required health certification.

6. 100% of consignments will be subject to identity and physical check and sampling by a Port Health Officer at the BCP (as instructed by Article 5.3 of GB Assimilated  Commission Implementing Decision 2011/884/EU ). Samples will be sent to the Public Analyst for analysis for the presence of unauthorised GMOs.

7. The release of each consignment will only take place when the following are fully completed:

• The documentary check is deemed to be satisfactory,
• The results of the identity and physical checks are deemed to be satisfactory,
• The results of sampling and analyses are compliant, and
• All Port Health charges have been paid.

Further information can be found here:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/high-risk-food-of-non-animal-origin

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/high-risk-food-of-non-animal-origin#emergency-measures