A European Organization Opposes EU Ban on Import of Chinese Animal-related Food

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 06, 2002

A European Organization Opposes EU Ban on Import of Chinese Animal-related Food

Europe Importers' Association of Dried Fruit, Canned goods, Honey and Spice Products recently wrote a letter to the European Union Commission, pointing out that it is inordinate and improper for the Commission to fully ban the import of animal-based food products from China simply because it found chloromycetin in Chinese shrimp products.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Decision Inordinate and Improper

It is learnt from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation that Europe Importers' Association of Dried Fruit, Canned goods, Honey and Spice Products recently wrote a letter to the European Union Commission, pointing out that it is inordinate and improper for the Commission to fully ban the import of animal-based food products from China simply because it found chloromycetin in Chinese shrimp products.

Some products do not contain such a kind of antibiotics and are not included on the list of targets of the EU quick early warning system, it said.

Measures Theaten Subsistence

The Association said the measure would threaten the subsistence of EU companies which import other animal products from China. The restriction on the trade sector has gone far beyond a reasonable extent.

The import ban should be confined only to shrimp products and a time limit for execution should be clearly marked there if the EU Commission really wanted to settle the issue of shrimp pollution by chloromycetin.

Opposite Function on Genuine Objective

The Association maintained that the current EU practice of aptly imposing comprehensive sanctions on a third country can hardly make people believe that the third country can well understand and accept the EU food security policy and carry out good cooperation with it.

Sources say Europe Importers' Association indicated that the EU Commission's decision based on political factors or the measures directed against imports will not only destroy the reliability of its food security policy but will also exerting an opposite function on the genuine food security objective pursued by the EU.

EU Ban on Chinese Food 'Unacceptable'

Chinese foreign trade authorities have said the European Union Commission's ban on animal-based food products from China was "unacceptable" and might seriously affect bilateral trade between the two. China has urged that the problem be solved through negotiations.

The decision, based on an investigative report, was unfair and unreasonable because it was made solely by the EU side, without the consideration of the opinions of the Chinese side.

Plans for China-EU Trade Fair in 2002

A large-scale trade fair organized by China and the European Union (EU) is expected be held from November 7 to 8 in 2002.

EU has held trade fairs in Singapore, India and Malaysia since the late 1990s, all of which were quite successful, according to CCPIT.

By PD Online staff member Du Minghua

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Intensifies Quarantine over Imported Meat Products

China Vows to Continue Fight Against Fake Products

EU Ban on Chinese Food "Unacceptable"