CHINA: New Inspection Regime for Yellow Fever Prevention 



Chinese Quarantine Authorities Enhance Inspection for Vessels from Nigeria, Peru, Brazil (except Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe) In Order to Prevent Yellow Fever into China

As reported by WHO (World Health Organisation), yellow fever outbreaks have been notified by authority in Nigeria, Peru and Brazil. In order to prevent yellow fever into China, Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued an announcement on preventing yellow fever spreading to China on 19.01.2018.

Affected Area
Vessels or visitors from below countries/areas are covered by this announcement:
 
Nigeria, Peru, Brazil (except Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe)
 
Requirements to Crewmembers and Vessels
According to the announcement, any person at age of 9 months and above from above mentioned countries/areas shall present valid vaccination certificate against yellow fever to the entry-exit inspection and quarantine institutions when entering China. For those without valid vaccination certificate, a 6-day observation calculating from the date they left the above countries/areas at their domicile is required.
 
If any person from above mentioned countries is found having symptoms fever, chills, headache, muscle pain and other symptoms, declaration should be made to the entry-exit inspection and quarantine institutions and body temperature monitoring, medical checks, sampling testing and other health and quarantine work shall be conducted. Persons who suffer from above symptoms should seek medical treatment immediately and explain recent travel history to the doctor in case having aforementioned symptoms after entering the country.
 
Effective disinfection should be made to aircrafts, vessels and containers from the aforementioned countries/areas. In case insects are found in the containers, waste and used articles and cargo; or the aircrafts, vessels and containers are found without a valid disinfection certificate, a distance of no less than 400m should be maintained away from the land and other vessels before conducting disinfection treatment.
 
Having checked with China CIQ via phone, we note that a mosquito eradication proof is required if the vessel has called any of aforementioned countries/areas during the same voyage.
 
Validity Period
This Announcement shall be effective from 19.01.2018 and be valid for 3 months.
 
Implementation by Local CIQ Offices
Having checked locally, we note that requirements of local CIQ among different Chinese ports may vary.
 
At some ports such as Xiamen, mosquito eradication measures shall be conducted at berth whether a written proof on effective disinfection of mosquito has been presented or not when entering China. At some ports such as Hainan, Longkou, Laizhou, Yantai, Qingdao and Rizhao, mosquito eradication certificate shall be presented during port entry formalities; otherwise, local CIQ will require mosquito eradication measures be conducted at anchorage before ship’s berthing. The above requirements may change as epidemic situation develops.
 
The cost of disinfection may be different among different Chinese ports. So far as we know, disinfection may be charged by vessel GT, ship type or other standard.
 
Recommendations
Given the above, vessels that sail from ports within the affected countries/areas to China are recommended to obtain a mosquito eradication certificate before departure from affected countries/areas if possible. We also suggest owners check with local agent about local CIQ’s requirement before ship’s calling so as to avoid any possible delay or trouble when calling China.

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