June 22, 2020

Tyson US plant not permitted to export poultry to China following COVID-19 infection

A US-based Tyson meat processor has been suspended by China from exporting poultry products to the country after it was hit by the COVID-19 coronavirus, Reuters reported.

China's General Administration of Customs made the announcement on June 21 and said the action was implemented following Tyson's confirmation of the infection at the Springdale, Arizona, site.

China also suspended pork products from German pork processor Toennies last week following a coronavirus outbreak among hundreds of its workers. The country has recently stepped its oversight of imported foods following a new infection cluster linked to a local wholesale food market.

China started testing meat, seafood and fresh produce for the coronavirus last week while some ports were also opening all containers of meat to carry out coronavirus tests.

Additionally, customs authorities also want food exporters to sign a declaration that their produce is not contaminated by the novel coronavirus.

Imports of US poultry have surged since China ended an almost five-year ban on the trade in November 2019.

- Reuters