China | China To Implement Labeling Regulations For Wholesale Meat And Poultr...

China

China To Implement Labeling Regulations
For Wholesale Meat And Poultry Cuts

China has announced its intentions to implement new labeling requirements for meat imported in wholesale form. The new directive, part of China’s quarantine authorities’ “Measures on the Administration of Import and Export; Meat Product Inspection and Quarantine,” specifies that:

 “Outer packaging shall have clear English and Chinese marking to indicate varieties, specifications, sizes, origin, production date, life period, storage temperature, plant registration number and destination. Destination shall be stated the Peoples Republic of China. The container door shall be sealed with a one-time inspection and quarantine mark. Inner packaging materials shall be non-poisonous and non-harmful new packaging materials and marked with specific product name and registered plant number.”

The regulations are slated to go into effect October 1, 2002. USDA officials in Beijing have met with Chinese quarantine officials and have vigorously opposed the immediate implementation of the rules. Posted innocuously in Chinese on the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine’s (AQSIQ) website, the regulations leave little time for implementation, argues USDA. Many Chinese traders are still unaware of the new regulations. In a meeting on September 17 with AQSIQ’s Director General, USDA officials managed to obtain a verbal assurance that the new regulations would not disrupt trade and that “until we can clarify these issues and our trade can have a reasonable amount of time to adjust, quarantine officials will continue to allow meat imports into China using previous established procedures,” according to a letter FAS sent to AQSIQ’s Director General summarizing the discussion.

As of September 19, USDA/Beijing is advising U.S. exporters to continue shipping. It is understood that, at the behest of USDA, AQSIQ is studying possible uniform or model designs for the new labels, as well as for the quarantine seal. USMEF also requested, in conjunction with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), that USTR Ambassador Allen Johnson raise the issue of the new labeling requirements next week in Beijing and express dissatisfaction that inadequate notification was provided to the WTO on a regulation that will have a huge impact for all meat and poultry shippers to China. At the same time, a Deputy AQSIQ Minister will visit USDA in Washington early next week and similar protestations are expected. Exporters with specific design ideas for labels or other considerations should contact USMEF Denver Paul Clayton at pclayton@usmef.org or (303) 623-6328.

Click for USMEF Annual Board of Directors Meeting Information and Registration Form; November 6-8, 2002 - Long Beach, California