China has barred access to several international seafood firms for what it alleges is noncompliance with United Nations recommendations on COVID-19 prevention.
The latest ban concerns Brazilian firm C Norte Pescados Ltda as well as M/s. Sagar Samrat Seafoods, an Indian exporter, and Indonesian firm PT. Cilacap Samudera Fishing Industry. Also impacted is Vietnamese firm Bahai Jsc.
The suspensions were issued despite China relaxing its code on frozen foods, under which many firms were prohibited from exporting to its market for various periods of time.
The bans are based on video inspections that showed the companies didn’t comply with the "COVID-19 Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of New Coronary Pneumonia in Food Enterprises,” a food safety guide issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), according to a statement from Chinese General Administration of Customs.
The statement said imports from the four companies will be suspended effective 2 August, but did not say for how long the ban will be effective.
Photo courtesy of China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
