China tightens pandemic control measures for container goods

China tightens pandemic control measures for container goods

By Lan Nhi

HANOI – The Department of Asia-Africa Markets, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has informed local traders that the Chinese authorities have started to inspect and disinfect goods transported in containers to prevent the cross-border spread of Covid-19 when the temperature decreases in the winter and spring.

The inspection measures include taking samples of imported goods in containers for Covid-19 testing, disinfecting the process of unloading imported cargo from containers and disinfecting empty containers after the goods inside are unloaded.

Trucks transporting the containers and goods packaging in the vehicles are also entitled to these inspection and disinfection measures.

However, these measures will not be applied to dangerous substances, food, animal feed, feed additives, unpackaged goods or packaged items that could be contaminated by disinfectants.

The pandemic control measures for containers transporting frozen goods remain in place in accordance with the regulations previously set by the Chinese customs.

The authority of Guangxi (China), which shares its border with Vietnam’s four northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang, also issued a number of requirements over the import of frozen food.

Specifically, frozen food must have four certificates—the certificate of quarantine for imported goods, the Covid-19 disinfection certificate, the certificate of origin traceability and the certificate of negative nucleic acid test result. Frozen food imported into Guangxi must undergo inspection and disinfection procedures even though it has completed such procedures in the other localities of China.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade advised local businesses that export agro and seafood products to China to step up monitoring the quality of goods and compliance with China’s regulations on quality standards, quarantine and food safety aimed at facilitating customs clearance procedures.

The ministry added that along with the relevant agencies, it is working with their Chinese counterparts to create optimal conditions for trading activities between the two nations.