September 21, 2007
US lifts restrictions on Chinese seafood producer
US health officials have lifted restrictions on a major Chinese shrimp producer since it banned Chinese seafood in June over contamination fears.
The ban was put in place after repeated testing of Chinese imports turned up contamination with banned drugs. Only producers able to show independent assessments that their products are free from these contaminants would be allowed.
Zhangian Guolian Aquatic Products Inc. Ltd. is the only Chinese exporter to seek and gain exemption from the FDA's import restrictions, an agency spokeswoman said Wednesday (Sep 19).
The restrictions covers five types of seafood: shrimp, eel, catfish, basa and dace.
About 700 Chinese seafood-exporting companies were affected.
The FDA allowed the company to resume exports after inspecting its processing plant.
The agency also received third-party analyses of shipments of shrimp that showed they were free of antibiotic residues, FDA spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said.
The Chinese government intends to use the company as a model for other Chinese seafood producers, Rawlings said.
