HCMC – Local agro exporters have been told to proactively coordinate with Chinese business partners to ensure full compliance with China’s requirements over quality standards, quarantine approvals and food safety amid the new Covid-19 outbreak in Beijing.

The Asia-Africa Market Department, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on June 17, issued several recommendations over shipments of local agro and seafood products to the neighboring country. The department cited a National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China report as stating that the total number of new Covid-19 cases linked to the Xinfadi wholesale market in the capital city of Beijing climbed to 79 as of June 15. The authorities in Beijing and many other Chinese localities immediately inspected the compliance with food safety and product origin rules at the agro and seafood markets. Household businesses that trade imported agro and seafood items had to present quarantine certifications granted by the Chinese customs, said the department. Given the new outbreak, the Chinese authorities may carry out stricter inspections in terms of food safety, quarantine certifications and origin tracing for imported goods, especially farm produce, meats and seafood products at ports and border gates to prevent and control the Covid-19 infection. The ministry also expressed concern that the tightened control could affect the clearance progress at the Vietnam-China border gates.