Citing fears of infectious salmon anemia (ISA) and pancreas disease, China imposed new restrictions on farmed salmon from Norway on Monday. China’s ban on whole-salmon imports would potentially cut off one-fifth of Norway’s salmon exports to China.
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report, Norway’s food safety agency was informed of the decision by letter. The recent development further weakens already shaky trade ties between the two nations, which began in 2010 when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
“We believe there is no risk that Chinese salmon will be contaminated by the ISA virus because fish products from Norway go directly to consumption,” said Norway’s food safety agency in a statement to AFP. “The ISA virus is not harmful to humans.”
Salmon shipments to Russia, another important seafood trading partner for Norway, have also been curtailed since Russia’s import ban on western nations in response to sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.
