11 December 2008
China: Incoming food shipments at Shanghai port will receive closer inspection following an import ban on Irish pork and problems with products from other parts of Europe and the United States.
The Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau will now check every batch of imported food rather than relying on spot-checking as has been done previously.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise trade commissioner in Shanghai, Jeff Shepherd, says New Zealand importers need to be aware of the increased inspections as they could slow down the arrival of shipments into the major Chinese port.
Irish pork has been banned from China after high levels of the chemical dioxin were found in some of the meat.
Irish pork products imported into China since 1 September 2008 are being recalled by Chinese authorities and Ireland has recalled all of its pork products made after that date.
Irish officials say the contamination source was a single animal-food maker in southeast Ireland that supplied feed to nine Irish pig farms.
Shanghai authorities are still tracking Irish pork imports into the city.
A number of products recently imported from the United States and Europe have also been found to contain chemical levels exceeding standards. These products have been returned or destroyed.
