No EU ban for imports of Chinese seafood
Thursday, July 5, 2007
THE European Union has no plans to ban imports of Chinese seafood, despite a US ban on shipments of farm-raised catfish, shrimp and other seafood from the Asian country, a spokesman for the EU's health chief said yesterday.
However, the EU said, it was increasing controls on Chinese food imports last week. The act was taken after the US Food and Drug Administration said it would not allow imports of the Chinese seafood, until suppliers proved that their shipments were free from harmful residues.
The EU control shows good results. "We are happy these controls meet the necessary requirements. So, no, we do not plan to ban Chinese seafood," Philip Tod, spokesman for EU Healrth Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, said yesterday.
"We will of course continue to analyse and monitor the situation and carry out regular reviews."
However, Tod confirmed that an the number of food products imported into the EU from China found that contain dangerous veterinary residues is increased, as compared to report last year.
"Last year there were three cases, this year so far there are nine. We have noted this lapse...and they have told us, they intend to rectify the situation immediately," Tod said.
A top US FDA official visiting Brussels also said that the ban would remain in place "in the short term".
"This is a short-term solution to what has been a long-term problem, and it needs to be sorted out once and for all. The Chinese authorities have told us they are working hard to to do just that," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, US Commissioner for Food and Drugs.
The US FDA said there was no immediate threat to the public because the seafood contained low levels of the substances, but serious health problems could emerge if the products were consumed over long periods.
Catfish, basa, shrimp, dace and eel will not be allowed into the United States from China until the importer can show products meet US requirements and safety standards.
US officials have uncovered a series of unsafe products imported from China, including a discovery of melamine, in US pet food, killing animals and prompting wide recalls earlier this year.
The EU banned all imports of Chinese seafood in 2002 over similar concerns. But it then lifted the embargo two years later, after the Chinese government agreed to implement stricter testing.
In a statement recently, Chinese government demand fair condition with trade partners.
Reuters
However, the EU said, it was increasing controls on Chinese food imports last week. The act was taken after the US Food and Drug Administration said it would not allow imports of the Chinese seafood, until suppliers proved that their shipments were free from harmful residues.
The EU control shows good results. "We are happy these controls meet the necessary requirements. So, no, we do not plan to ban Chinese seafood," Philip Tod, spokesman for EU Healrth Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, said yesterday.
"We will of course continue to analyse and monitor the situation and carry out regular reviews."
However, Tod confirmed that an the number of food products imported into the EU from China found that contain dangerous veterinary residues is increased, as compared to report last year.
"Last year there were three cases, this year so far there are nine. We have noted this lapse...and they have told us, they intend to rectify the situation immediately," Tod said.
A top US FDA official visiting Brussels also said that the ban would remain in place "in the short term".
"This is a short-term solution to what has been a long-term problem, and it needs to be sorted out once and for all. The Chinese authorities have told us they are working hard to to do just that," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, US Commissioner for Food and Drugs.
The US FDA said there was no immediate threat to the public because the seafood contained low levels of the substances, but serious health problems could emerge if the products were consumed over long periods.
Catfish, basa, shrimp, dace and eel will not be allowed into the United States from China until the importer can show products meet US requirements and safety standards.
US officials have uncovered a series of unsafe products imported from China, including a discovery of melamine, in US pet food, killing animals and prompting wide recalls earlier this year.
The EU banned all imports of Chinese seafood in 2002 over similar concerns. But it then lifted the embargo two years later, after the Chinese government agreed to implement stricter testing.
In a statement recently, Chinese government demand fair condition with trade partners.
Reuters
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