COVID-19 virus detected positive on imported shrimp packages
On July 10th, China GAC announced to suspend the import qualifications (i.e. GAC registration approval) of three Ecuadorian manufacturers due to COVID-19 virus detected positive on the outside packages of imported frozen shrimps.[1]
Frozen shrimps produced after Mar. 12th by the three manufactures listed below should be recalled, returned or destroyed.[1]
Manufacturer | Registration number |
Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila S.A. | 24887 |
Empacreci S.A. | 681 |
Empacadora Del Pacifico Sociedad Anonima Edpacif S.A. | 654 |
Imported frozen food will be subject to more stringent supervision
At the press conference held on Jul 10th, Bi Kexin, director of Import and Export Food Safety Bureau of GAC stated that the following measures would be taken to regulate the source of imported frozen food to avoid epidemic input[2] :
Raise the request that the governments of the exporting countries/regions should urge local exporting manufacturers to optimize the food safety production management system.
Conduct long-distance video inspection on overseas manufactures' food safety management systems.
Suspend the product import from some meat and aquaculture manufacturers where COVID-19 clusters occurred. [3] By now, China GAC has suspended product import from 23 overseas meat enterprises, including Tyson and Tönnies.[4]
Concerns on customs clearance convenience
Regarding concerns on whether the additional inspection items will reduce the customs release efficiency, Li Xingqian, director of Foreign Trade Department explains that goods stranding at some ports is partly caused by increasing volume of agricultural products arrived recently. He adds that competent authorities will coordinate to expedite the customs release and minimize negative impact on the import business under the strengthened supervision. [2]