Frequently Asked Questions:

Ensuring Continued U.S. Soybean Exports to China

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

United States Department of Agriculture

Why is China requiring the United States to 

implement a systems approach for soybean exports 

to that country?

China, the largest importer of U.S. grain, expressed 

concerns in September 2017 over increased 

interceptions of quarantine weed seeds in U.S. 

soybean exports. In response, USDA assembled a 

federal-industry working group to develop practical 

recommendations for addressing China’s concerns and 

keep U.S. soybeans moving to China without delay. 

The recommendations included applying a series of 

measures, called a systems approach, across the 

soybean supply chain and in China to effectively reduce 

plant pest risk. In December 2017, China accepted 

USDA’s recommendations, ensuring the continued 

export of U.S. soybeans valued at $14.4 billion annually.

What will the systems approach include?

The systems approach for U.S. soybeans will begin at 

the farm level, continue through U.S. export terminals, 

and extend into China’s ports of arrival. Specifically, it 

will include:

1. Production and harvesting measures designed to 

reduce weed seed contamination in U.S. soybeans; 

2. Soybean sampling and foreign material analysis by 

USDA to monitor for weed seeds in China-bound 

U.S. bulk and container shipments; 

3. Notifying China when a soybean shipment exceeds 

1 percent foreign material by placing an additional 

declaration on the official phytosanitary certificate 

that says “this consignment exceeds 1 percent 

foreign material;” and 

4. Possible inspection, cleaning, treatment or other 

protective measures by China to mitigate pest risk.

Who will be responsible for implementing the 

systems approach?

Participants across the U.S. grain supply chain and in 

China will be responsible for implementing the systems 

approach. 

On Farm: USDA’s Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS), working with federal, 

state, and university experts, will develop specific 

recommendations based on weed seed control best 

practices. The recommendations will include production 

and harvesting measures designed to reduce weed seed 

contamination at the farm level. APHIS will provide these 

recommendations to U.S. soybean producers before the 

2018 growing season begins.

At Export: USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service 

(FGIS) will sample China-bound soybean shipments 

and analyze foreign material to monitor for weed seeds 

in U.S. bulk and container shipments. When FGIS 

determines that a consignment exceeds 1 percent 

foreign material, APHIS will include an additional 

declaration on the phytosanitary certificate that says: 

“This consignment exceeds 1 percent foreign material.” 

This action will allow all U.S. soybean exports to China 

to continue without interruption until the United States 

is able to fully implement the other parts of the systems 

approach during the 2018 crop year.

In China: China’s General Administration of Quality 

Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) 

has agreed to expedite agricultural clearance of 

shipments with 1 percent or less foreign material. They 

will determine whether any phytosanitary measures 

including inspection, cleaning, treatment or other 

protective actions may be appropriate to mitigate pest 

risk in shipments with more than 1 percent foreign 

material. AQSIQ will not hold or unnecessarily delay 

incoming shipments based solely on the volume of 

foreign material.

When will the United States and China implement 

the systems approach?

The United States and China will begin implementing 

the systems approach on January 1, 2018, starting 

with USDA including an additional declaration on the 

phytosanitary certificate for China-bound shipments of 

U.S. soybeans that have more than 1 percent foreign 

material. This action will allow all U.S. soybean exports 
to China to continue without interruption until the United 

States is able to fully implement the other parts of the 

systems approach during the 2018 crop year.

What is China’s standard for foreign material?

China’s standard for foreign material is 1 percent.

What will China do when it receives a U.S. soybean 

shipment that has an additional declaration on the 

phytosanitary certificate indicating that there is more 

than 1 percent foreign material?

China will determine whether shipments with more than 

1 percent foreign material may need additional inspection, 

cleaning, treatment, or other protective measures. 

China also may require importers to have a compliance 

agreement to manage phytosanitary risk. China will not 

hold or unnecessarily delay incoming U.S. shipments 

based solely on the volume of foreign material.

What about U.S. soybean shipments with 1 percent or 

less foreign material?

For those shipments that have 1 percent or less foreign 

material, APHIS will issue a standard phytosanitary 

certificate without an additional declaration, and China 

has agreed to expedite agricultural clearance of those 

shipments.

What information does an exporter need to provide 

APHIS to obtain a phytosanitary certificate?

The exporter must provide APHIS with a copy of Form 

921-2 from FGIS indicating whether the shipment exceeds 

1 percent foreign material.

Did China set a maximum limit for the volume of 

foreign material they will accept in U.S. shipments?

No, China did not set a maximum limit for foreign material.

Must all U.S. soybean shipments exported to China be 

accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate?

All soybean exports to China, including consignments 

from small volume exporters, must be accompanied by an 

official phytosanitary certificate from APHIS. To obtain a 

phytosanitary certificate, the exporter must request Form 

921-2 from FGIS indicating whether the shipment exceeds 

1 percent foreign material.

Does the requirement to include an additional 

declaration for shipments that have more than 

1 percent foreign material apply to container and 

bagged shipments of U.S. soybeans to China?

Yes, the requirement to include an additional declaration 

for shipments that have more than 1 percent foreign 

material applies to bulk, container, and bagged 

consignments.

Does the requirement to include an additional 

declaration for shipments that have more than 

1 percent foreign material apply to consignments that 

leave the United States before January 1, 2018?

Consignments of U.S. soybeans to China that leave the 

United States before January 1, 2018, are not subject to 

this requirement. 

Does China require U.S. exporters shipping soybeans 

to China to be registered?

Yes, China requires all companies exporting any 

commodity to that country to be registered. To meet this 

requirement for grain commodities, FGIS developed a 

list of all U.S. soybean exporters who ship to China. The 

list includes facilities that are required by FGIS to register 

under the U.S. Grain Standards Act as well as facilities 

that ship less than 15,000 metric tons and are exempt 

from FGIS registration. FGIS provided the list to China in 

December. A copy is available on the FGIS web site. FGIS 

will periodically update the list. 

When will the USDA-recommended best practices for 

weed control at the farm level be available?

USDA is consulting with federal, state, and university 

experts to determine effective production, harvesting and 

other measures that should be used at the farm level 

to reduce weed seed contamination in soybeans. We 

will provide specific recommendations before the 2018 

soybean growing season begins.

How will participants across the grain supply chain 

get information about the components of the systems 

approach?

USDA will work with federal and state agencies that 

facilitate grain exports, Extension, and affected industry 

stakeholder groups to create broad awareness about 

the systems approach. Interested stakeholders also are 

encouraged to subscribe to APHIS’ Stakeholder Registry 

for the latest updates.

How and when will China determine if the systems 

approach is effective?

Officials from USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and 

Quarantine and China’s General Administration of Quality 

Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine will evaluate the 

effectiveness of the systems approach in December 2019, 

with a mid-point assessment in December 2018.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Issued December 2017