City tightens up on checks for S.K. chickens, US beef
21/11/2003 18:20
Shanghai Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine has
seized 13 kilograms of South Korean-imported frozen chickens on a South Korean
ship in its latest check to block chicken imports from the country, where is
hardly hit by a highly contagious bird flu, today's Youth Daily reported.
The
authority, not having found any other South Korean chicken imports on the local
market, said chicken products in Shanghai are safe to eat.
Meanwhile, the
authority has revved up with the inspection and quarantine of US beef imports on
the report of a mad cow disease case in America.
But it hasn't banned the
beef import, as the central authority hasn't made such directives and the single
case in a country doesn't necessarily mean a wide outbreak of mad cow disease
there, local officials said.
China's Ministry of Agriculture and the State
Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine have jointly issued a
ban of South Korean chicken imports on a bird flu outbreak in the northeastern
Asian country.
Under the directive, local quarantine authority has launched a
citywide check and found 13 kilograms of frozen chickens on the Busan ship on
Monday. It seized the chickens immediately and disinfected the hogwash on
board.
The chickens were prepared for the crew to eat rather than for sale in
China, according to the Busan crew members.
With a growing number of people
in Shanghai planning to travel to South Korea in the upcoming Spring Festival,
local officials warned citizens against bringing chicken products
back.
Jane Chen/ Shanghai Daily news
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