   
  
G/SPS/GEN/1812  
 
14 July 2020 
(20-4804) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
INFORMATION ON COVID -19 TESTING OF IMPOR TED COLD CHAIN FOODS  
SUBMISSION  BY CHINA  
The following document , received on 10 July 2020, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of China . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.1.  In order t o implement the COVID -19 and Food Safety: Guidance for Food Business, jointly 
issued by the FAO and the WHO, and to prevent imported cold chain foods from being contaminated 
by COVID -19, the Chinese Customs has  under taken emergency  nuclei c acid testing for COVID -19 of 
imported cold chain foods, their inner and outer packaging , and containers.  
1.2.  On 3 July 2020, both Dalian and Xiamen Customs of China found COVID -19 nuclei c acid positive 
samples in three batches of frozen shrimp containers exported  to China, with one sample on the 
inner wall of the container, and five samples on the packaging of shrimps, indicating the risk of 
COVID -19 contamination on imported cold chain foods. These products are from  three enterprises  
of one of China’s import ant trading partners .  
1.3.  In order to protect consumers ' health, the Chinese General Administration of Customs has 
decided to suspend the import of products  from the above three enterprises , as well as their 
registration in China s tarting from  10 July 2020. T heir temporarily detained products will be returned 
or destroyed, and th ose products at risk of COVID -19 contamination will be recalled.  
__________  