In today's rapidly developing white birch sap industry, we often ponder a question: What is the true moat of this industry?

Is it resources? Is it channels? Or is it scale?

QiChen Packaging's answer is: Innovation.

From the advent of the self-sealing collection bag of 【Qinon I 】, to the comprehensive upgrade of the sealed self-sealing collection bag of 【Qinon II 】 and the aseptic collection bag of 【Qinon III】, every step we have taken is marked with the imprint of independent research and development. And the most direct witnesses of these imprints are those heavy national patent certificates. 

 

I. Three generations of products, technological advancement

As of now, Qichen Packaging has obtained multiple national patent authorizations for its three generations of core products, establishing a complete technical barrier from the collection tube seat structure to the bag design.

l  【Qinon I】Self-sealing collection bag- ushering in the "self-sealing" era

This is the starting point of Qichen's innovation journey. In the era when ordinary open bags were still commonly used for collecting birch tree sap, we pioneered the self-sealing technology for the collection opening: after the collection was completed, the bag opening could automatically close, eliminating the need for additional sealing operations, effectively reducing the contact time of the tree sap with the air.

This innovation may seem simple, but it is based on repeated exploration of sealing structures and material properties. It laid the genetic foundation for Qichen products' "self-sealing" function and laid the groundwork for subsequent technological upgrades. With this technology, we obtained a national utility model patent authorization.

It should be noted that【Qinon I】Self-sealing collection bag uses ordinary silicone tubes as the collection medium, and cannot completely isolate the air during the collection process. It solves the problem of "how to quickly close after collection" rather than "how to isolate the air during collection". This characteristic also determines its positioning: suitable for routine scenarios with lower requirements for the sealing of the collection process.

l  【Qinon II】Airtight self-sealing collection bag- from "self-sealing" to "sealing"

Based on 【Qinon I】, we began to think: Can the collection process itself also be "cleaner"?

The answer is 【Qinon II】. Its core breakthrough lies in the comprehensive upgrade of the collection medium: replacing the ordinary silicone tube with an ABS hard collection tube. This change brings a qualitative leap - the precise cooperation between the hard tube and the collection opening enables better sealing during the collection process, minimizing the entry of air into the bag.

Therefore, we named it "Sealed Self-sealing Collection Bag" - "self-sealing" is the gene, "sealing" is the upgrade.

At the same time, 【Qinon II】 is equipped with the "Qihua III" new membrane body, with the single-side thickness upgraded to 7 filaments, and the toughness and puncture resistance performance improved by approximately 50%. Its core self-sealing joint structure also receives national patent protection.

l  【Qinon lll】Aseptic collection bag - ushering in the "sterile" era

For customers seeking the ultimate quality, 【Qinon lll】provides a higher standard option.

It continues the hard collection tube design of the second generation and achieves factory-ready sterility. Through stricter material selection and production processes, each bag reaches a sterile state when leaving the factory. Combined with its excellent sealing performance, it can achieve sterile control throughout the collection, storage, and transportation process.

The patent technology of the tree sap collection structure adopted by 【Qinon lll】ensures technical support for high-end raw material collection through the precise cooperation of the collection tube seat and the collection tube.

 

Identification Mark: All products of the Qinon series are clearly marked with the words "Qinon Patented Product" at the collection port. This is one of the important identification features of genuine products. 

 

II. The Persistence Behind Innovation

Behind every patent certificate lies the countless trials and improvements made by the R&D team.

Do you remember the development process of the【Qinon II】 hard collection tube? To find a balance point that could ensure airtightness while also facilitating field operations, we made no less than 50 mold adjustments. The elasticity of the hard material, the precision of the interface with the bag body, and its performance in low-temperature environments - every aspect needed to be repeatedly verified.

It wasn't until the 37th revision that the "just-right" feel finally emerged: insertion was smooth, locking was stable, and extraction was crisp. Everyone presents took turns testing, and everyone's face showed a smile.

Such stories abound in our R&D journey.

We persist in innovation not for the sake of being unconventional, but because we deeply understand: the quality of birch sap begins to be determined from the very first moment it leaves the tree. The collection bag, as the first "container" after the sap leaves the tree, every detail of it is related to the final quality of the raw materials. 

 

III. Chaotic Competition： When Innovation Meets Imitation

However, it is regrettable that as our products gain more recognition in the market， some unregulated phenomena have emerged.

Recently, we have discovered that there are multiple imitation products of our patented technology collection bags on the market. These products are similar in appearance to the genuine QiChen products,  but in terms of materials， craftsmanship， and sealing performance， they are significantly inferior. Some use poor-quality plastic， which easily cracks and deforms in low-temperature environments； some imitate the interface structure but lack precision， resulting in frequent leakage of tree sap；some even lack basic production qualifications and quality inspection reports.

What is more worrying is that these imitation products often attract customers with low prices， disrupting the market order while also posing risks to the quality and safety of the White Birch Tree Sap.

The risks brought by imitation products：

- Quality risk： Inferior materials may release harmful substances， polluting the tree sap

- Leakage risk： Inadequate interface sealing leads to sap loss and forest pollution

- Compliance risk： Unable to provide formal qualifications， making it difficult to pass procurement reviews

- Liability risk： Once quality issues arise， there is no way to seek redress 

 

IV. 2026: Stricter Regulation, Higher Standards

The year 2026 will mark a turning point for the birch sap industry.

On February 24th, the Yichun City held a special meeting to study and deploy the high-quality development of the birch sap industry. The meeting emphasized the "implementation of the action for source governance of birch sap resources", "strengthening the full-chain supervision, closely monitoring each link of raw material collection, storage, processing, and circulation and sales, strictly implementing standards, improving the traceability system, and promoting the transformation of supervision from 'the end' to 'the front end'". 

The meeting required "strengthening resource protection, strictly implementing the collection management methods and rotational collection system, strengthening joint law enforcement, and safeguarding the foundation of industrial development". This means that in the collection season of 2026, compliance will become a hard requirement - only raw materials with clear sources and compliant processes can enter the regular circulation channels.

At the same time, the practices in various regions across the province are also confirming this trend. The Aomuer Forestry Bureau, during its survey work, strictly followed the principle of "prioritizing protection and scientific collection" in the "Trial Measures for the Collection of Birch Sap in Heilongjiang Province", focusing on the collection of birch resources with a diameter of 18 cm or above, and comprehensively mapping out the forest land inventory. The Tuqiang Forestry Bureau also emphasized "strictly implementing the three-year rotational collection system, always adhering to the bottom line of ecological protection priority".

These signals clearly point to the same direction: The birch sap industry is moving from being extensive to standardized, and from being unorganized to orderly. During this transformation process, the choice of collection tools is not just a procurement decision, but also concerns whether it can meet regulatory requirements, whether it can pass the procurement review, and whether it can provide reliable quality certificates to downstream customers.

It is particularly important to note: For orders that have activated the traceability service, we will affix a unique box code label on the outer box to achieve "box-bag" association. However, for orders that have not activated the traceability service, the outer box does not contain a traceability code - this also means that identifying genuine products requires relying more on the anti-counterfeiting features of the product itself, especially the "Qinon Patented Product" label at the collection opening. 

 

V. Our Firm Statement

Based on the above background, QiChen Packaging hereby solemnly declares:

1. Regarding Patent Protection

QiChen Packaging holds multiple national patents for the self-sealing collection bags of 【Qinon I】、【Qinon II】and【Qinon lll】, covering various technical points such as the structure of the collection tube seat, self-sealing connectors, rigid collection tubes, and bag materials. Without QiChen Packaging's permission, no entity or individual may manufacture, use, sell, or promise to sell counterfeit products that imitate the above patent technologies for commercial purposes. For any infringement of our patent rights, we will take necessary measures in accordance with the law to protect our own legitimate rights and interests.

2. Regarding Authenticity Identification

QiChen's authentic collection bags have the following features, which are provided for customers to identify:

- The collection opening is clearly marked with the words "Qinon Patented Product", which is the most obvious identification feature

- The bag body is printed clearly, with the barcode of 【Qinon II】 and the QR code of 【Qinon lll】clearly distinguishable

- The packaging indicates the production date, execution standards, and production license number, etc.

- We can provide the factory inspection report and related qualification documents

Special Note: Not all product outer boxes are equipped with traceability codes. Do not use "whether there is a traceability code" as the sole basis for determining authenticity. The patent logo at the collection opening is the most reliable identification feature.

3. Call for Compliance in Collection

In 2026, with the in-depth implementation of the "Heilongjiang Province Birch Sap Collection Management Measures (Trial)" and the strengthening of supervision in various regions, compliance in collection has become an industry entry threshold. We call on all practitioners:

Choose regular products and ensure legal collection. Regular collection bags not only concern product quality but also whether they meet the requirements of the collection management measures. Using counterfeit products without qualifications and standards not only faces quality risks but may also be in a passive position during regulatory verification.

Comply with the rotational collection system and achieve scientific collection. Protection first, scientific collection, is the foundation for the sustainable development of the industry. We support and call on all practitioners to strictly abide by the three-year rotational collection system, avoid excessive collection, and jointly protect this "green bank".

Respect intellectual property rights and reject counterfeiting and infringement. Innovation needs soil, but it also needs respect. Behind every patent is the wisdom and sweat of the researchers. We call on the entire industry to jointly maintain intellectual property rights, so that innovators receive the due rewards and counterfeiters pay the due price. 

 

VI. Final Words: Innovation and Compliance, Both Essential

The birch sap industry is standing at a crucial crossroads.

On one side is the rapidly growing market demand, on the other is the increasingly strict regulatory requirements; on one side is the quality improvement brought by innovation, on the other side is the market chaos caused by counterfeiting. How to take this path successfully requires the joint choice of every practitioner.

For Qichen, we choose to safeguard quality with innovation, record our footprints with patents, and respond to the times with compliance.

The 2026 collection season is about to begin. We look forward to working together with all those who respect innovation and fear rules, to lead the birch sap industry towards a more standardized and sustainable future.

If you need to inquire about the authenticity of the products or know the channels for purchasing genuine products, please contact the Qichen team. Let's jointly protect this forest and every drop of precious sap. 

Qichen Packaging Materials (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.

March 2026