China’s main quarantine and quality watchdog has issued consumers a warning against buying rare seafood species in advance of China’s busiest day for online shopping.
As China’s Single’s Day approaches on 11 November– the “11-11” phenomenon created by online commerce leader Alibaba to drive sales – an AQSIQ circular published in media across China warns that airline passengers importing sea cucumber and shark fins will be targeted by inspectors at airports, and that postal parcels will also be inspected.
The scale of China’s 11-11 consumption frenzy was apparent earlier this week after customs at Harbin airport in northern China seized ‘bird’s nest’ – the nests of swiftlets made of saliva and a sought-after delicacy in China, costing hundreds of dollars per nest. Authorities said the nests were intended for an 11-11 online sale and warned that the saliva posed a danger of spreading avian diseases in China.
