China GAC Implements Mandatory Coronavirus Testing on Imported Fresh Food

According to a GAC notification issued on Jun. 18, 2020 ^[1], from Jun. 11 to 17 Customs bureaus across China conducted inspection and quarantine procedures on eight kinds of food and agricultural products, including imported meat, aquatic products, dairy products, grain oilseeds, fruits, live animal, flower seedlings, and cosmetic products. 68218 were inspected, and 42 batches were found non-compliant.

Coronavirus testing was conducted on imported meat, aquatic products, fruit, vegetables, aquatic animals, and their packaging and operation environment. 8274 products were sampled, and all results were negative.

On Jun. 11, a new COVID-2019 cluster was discovered in Beijing. Extensive testing and contact tracing efforts conducted between Jun. 11, and Jun. 18. As of Jun. 18, 158 cases were confirmed ^[2]. Imported salmon was investigated as one potential source of the new cluster after testing fomites in the local wet market. This was linked to the infection. It showed a chopping board used in the preparation of salmon tested positive for Coronavirus (click here for the details).

Based on this investigation, both Chinese Customs and market supervision authorities have further strengthened the inspection of edible agricultural products. According to a routine press briefing held by the Ministry of Commerce on Jun. 18, China will control the quality and potential risks of imported food from the source, and all imported agricultural products shall conform to Chinese inspection and quarantine requirements.