November 3, 2005

South Korea, China strike fish safety deal

    
South Korea and China have agreed on measures that is hoped to improve the safety of Chinese aquaculture exports to Korea.

Korea's Minister of Fisheries Oh Keo-don, and China's quarantine administration head Li Changjiang, signed a final agreement in Beijing on Oct 26 for China to test ponds that are used to rear fish exported to Korea.

All farmed fish exports to Korea must now come from fishponds approved by China, after they are checked for malachite green, lead, mercury and for piscine diseases and viruses.

The Korean government will have access to test results and will have the right to freeze imports from any questionable farm.

China started its testing on Oct 15 after the two countries had signed a preliminary agreement in June.