June 12, 2012

China relaxes restrictions on marine food from India

China is relaxing restrictions on marine food products from India, about a year after new Chinese export regulations, which enforce food safety standards, are introduced.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) noted that it has given approval to 37 countries for the export of marine food products. Other Asian countries that were given clearance include Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Marine food shipments to China from several countries were suspended last year after a revision of safety regulations.

The revision was taken up following the concerns over shipments from Japan after the nuclear accident at Fukushima. The countries were given about one year to implement the safety regulations, reported the Hindu.

India is the eighth largest exporter of marine food products to China. Indian exports of frozen fish were valued at US$155.7 million in 2010. They declined to US$148.8 million in 2011. Indian officials expect the marine food exports to reach US$300 million in a few years, due to increasing demand from China.