National Day holiday entry and exit biosecurity reminder: It is strictly prohibited to carry animals, plants and genetic materials without permission

As the National Day holiday approaches, many people choose to travel abroad. Whether you are leaving or entering the country, you must tighten your biosecurity strings. These red lines must not be stepped on!

When entering and exiting customs, these things cannot be concealed privately.

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, my country implements quarantine approval, inspection and supervision of animals and plants, animal and plant products and other quarantine objects entering and exiting the country. However, there are still some people who have weak legal awareness and take chances, and carry relevant items into and out of the country in violation of regulations by concealing entrainment, making false declarations, etc., seriously endangering national security.

——Exotic pets cannot be petted at will. In recent years, some trendy pet lovers have started to raise "exotic pets", and the phenomenon of hiding and bringing them into the country without permission has been repeatedly banned. Throughout 2025, customs across the country seized 543 foreign species through entry, delivery and other channels. 9 batches; in the first quarter of 2026 alone, more than 1,000 "exotic pets" were seized, including arthropods such as beetles and spiders, amphibians such as frogs and newts, and reptiles such as lizards and snakes. The entry and exit of such live animals and specimens must complete complete quarantine and approval procedures.

——Don’t bring seedlings casually. In addition to "exotic pets", some overseas plants have unique shapes and are highly ornamental, and are very popular in the consumer market. Some people think that buying novel flower and plant seeds from abroad and planting them is purely a personal hobby; others take domestic specialty seedlings and seeds out of the country as "local specialties" and give them away. In May this year, my country's customs seized 50 packages of mixed seeds in mail declared as "personal items". Each package weighed 500 grams and contained a large amount of cannabis seeds. In addition, customs in various places have also discovered many cases of passengers bringing plant seedlings into the country by concealing them, disguising them as gifts, etc. These plant seedlings were not declared and quarantined in accordance with regulations, posing multiple national security risks.

——Genes cannot be leaked illegally. In the context of the rapid development of genetic technology, the national security boundary has expanded to the field of life information. In recent years, some overseas organizations have penetrated into my country's ecologically sensitive areas in the name of "tourism" and "scientific research", or illegally collected human blood samples through "medical testing" to steal my country's genetic resources and research data. In 2025, Guangzhou Customs uncovered a series of extremely large cases of smuggling blood samples from pregnant women, cutting off the cross-border black industry chain involving 23 provinces across the country, and effectively protecting the security of my country's human genetic resources.

Warning bells ringing to understand the dangers of illegal smuggling

Biosecurity is one of the key areas of the overall national security concept. Whether illegally bringing alien species into the country or smuggling native organisms and genetic resources out of the country, they will cause harm to the ecological environment, agricultural production, public health and biosecurity:

——Destroy the ecological balance. Invasive alien species usually lack the control of native natural enemies and are prone to rapid reproduction and spread, destroying the ecological balance by preying on native species, occupying ecological niches, and squeezing the living space of native organisms. If foreign genetic material penetrates into native populations through hybridization, it may lead to a reduction in the adaptability and genetic diversity of native populations.

——Threaten agricultural production. Invasive alien species may eat crops and damage agricultural and forestry facilities, resulting in reduced or even no harvests. The subsequent treatment costs are high and the cycle is long. The flow of my country's unique crops and wild germplasm resources overseas will weaken the core advantages of breeding and impact the foundation of national food security.

——Endanger biological safety. Biological genetic resources are national strategic resources, related to the survival and long-term development of the nation. my country's multi-ethnic human genetic resources and unique and rare biological germplasm are national core strategic resources. Once illegally exported, it will directly damage my country's biological sovereignty.

Work together to build a biosecurity defense line

Protecting biosecurity is protecting the homeland we depend on for survival. Let us work together to contribute to maintaining national biosecurity.

——Watch it rationally and do not carry it. When traveling abroad, please do not carry animals, plants, seeds, etc. without permission; when entering the country, do not "piggyback" biological materials. Our country's laws clearly stipulate that it is prohibited to bring or mail live animals and plants, seeds, seedlings, and biological genetic materials into the country without quarantine approval.

——Report truthfully and cooperate with inspections. If biological materials need to be introduced or exported for scientific research, teaching, etc., they should apply for permission in advance from the customs, agriculture and rural areas, science and technology departments, etc., declare truthfully and accept quarantine. Concealing or hiding is illegal and will be held accountable in accordance with the law.