CCIC North America Consulting

07/10/2020 GACC

Recently, China Customs has found 6 coronavirus nucleic acids positive results on the imported frozen shrimp container inner and outer packaging samples from 3 Ecuadorian companies: Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila SA (Registration No. 24887), Empacreci SA (Registration No. 681), and Empacadora Del Pacifico Sociedad Anonima Edpacif SA (Registration No. 654).  The shrimp body and inner packaging samples were tested negative. After nucleic acid sequence analysis and expert judgment, the test results indicated that the environment of container and the outer packaging of the goods of the three companies had the risk of being contaminated by the coronavirus, which tells the company’s food safety management system was not in place. In order to eliminate hidden risks and protect the health of the people, according to the “Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China” and its implementation regulations, as well as the relevant customs regulations, the announcement is as follows:

1. Suspension of registration qualification of the above three companies in China.
2. Suspend the import of the products of the above three companies. Suspend the acceptance of the import declaration of the products of the three companies.
3. The importer shall immediately recall the frozen shrimps produced by the above-mentioned three companies after March 12th, and return or destroy the frozen shrimps produced by the above-mentioned three companies after March 12th. The importer shall provide the import and sales records of the goods to customs at the place of importation. If the above requirements are refused, the customs shall proceed in accordance with the “Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China” and its implementation regulations, as well as the relevant customs regulations.

This announcement will be implemented as of the date of publication.